The 18 numbers on Preachin' Prayin' Singin' come from the late '40s to early '60s, times when Nashville had not yet homogenized country music, and country radio still made both bluegrass and gospel lyrics part of its mainstream rotation. Another significant detail to note is that every track here was issued first as a commercial single-like you see a lot of those in bluegrass today (oh, hi, Alison Krauss!).
It wasn't too long ago that Bill Monroe virtually invented bluegrass, so much of what's on this album is the raw, uncut deal. Carl Story & His Ramblin' Mountaineers and The Masters Family forsake banjo-an acknowledged necessity of the form; the early Louvin Brothers' sides here aren't so much bluegrass as country with 'grassy instrumental inspiration; and The Osborne Brothers were among the first acts to update their instrumentation to include electricity and drums. Still, this is mighty traditional stuff.
The Louvins can't help but be their mournful selves. The Osbornes have a bluesy thang going on here'n'again. Flatt & Scruggs-long before the commercial moves Columbia would put them through, like recording "The Beverly Hillbillies" theme and Bob Dylan-might have the most ease about themselves among the featured acts here, but The Stanley Brothers might be squeaking by them in the high'n'lonesome vocal department. Carl Sauceman & His Hillbilly Ramblers' "The Pale Horse And His Rider" is the most haunting thing here, and Lowell Blanchard's "Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb"-a 1950 recording, so nuclear air raid fears played right into Blanchard's hand-is the most kitsch. Story makes for the right mix of joy, reverence, and plain old good times recording this music, and The Masters have a serenity about their cuts that acts as a counterpoint to the "hillbillies-on-speed" ambience of the best fast bluegrass to this day.
Twang-o-phobes and those for whom Shania Twain is as down home as they're gonna get won't have a lot of use for Preachin' Prayin' Singin', unless maybe they're already open to the simple sentiments of abiding faith these songs express in abundance. These recordings provide roots for the digging and inspiration, both music and spiritual.
