Sister Rosetta Tharpe is often referred to as "the godmother of rock and roll" for her pioneering guitar technique, use of distortion/reverb, and a 1963 UK tour with Muddy Waters that has been cited as a huge influence by Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Jeff Beck. Though she reached more widespread notoriety across the world in the '50s and '60s thanks to the folk/blues revival and her beloved status among UK blues and rock musicians, it's her early recordings from the late '30s and early-mid '40s that are the most brilliant, visceral, and emotional of her career. This excellent collection on CLEAR VINYL compiles 18 of those amazing gospel and R&B sides into one place. Essential. SIDE 1: 1. Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air 2. Ain't No Grave Hold My Body Down 3. Didn't It Rain 4. Trouble In Mind 5. Stand By Me 6. Sit Down 7. Jesus Is Here To Stay 8. The Natural Facts 9. The Devil Has Thrown Him Down SIDE 2: 1. Bring Back Those Happy Days 2. Stretch Out 3. Beams Of Heaven 4. Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend 5. Teach Me To Be Right 6. This Train 7. That's All 8. Nobody's Fault But Mine 9. Shout, Sister, Shout