Decca Singles Vol 1 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1938-1941)

Ideated from: a Black History Month reminder that black artists largely built the modern world of music

Tharpe was a gutsy singer as well as a guitar player who influenced a lot of young minds. She rose in the late 30s performing gritty gospel songs, and added in some blues and jazz stylings for variety.

This is a collection of her early singles that show what she could do. She would be a major recording figure up through the early 60s, but these tracks show early examples of what she could do as an electrifying performer. She also took time to cut a few sides (of some of her less religiously-minded songs) with a jazz big band, sort of an early version of the “song you know, but with some strings” trend.

Tracks I Liked

Rock Me / That’s All - you get both the great guitar work of her solo versions of these songs, as well as the big band versions.