Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s landmark 1956 album, Gospel Train, is set to return on vinyl as part of the Verve Vault Series, with the reissue cut from the original master tapes, per udiscovermusic.com.
The album will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl and mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound. Like other releases in the Verve Vault Series, the reissue is entirely analogue and is now available for pre-order.
Gospel Train holds a significant place in both Tharpe’s catalogue and vinyl history. It was her first album for any label to be released on 12-inch vinyl, a relatively new format at the time.
The album combines gospel, spirituals, blues and jazz, showcasing Tharpe’s powerful yet intimate vocals and guitar playing. She wrote much of the tracklist herself, while the album also includes “Two Little Fishes, Five Loaves of Bread,” composed by Bernie Hanighen.
Initially well received, Gospel Train has continued to gain critical recognition. It was included in Tom Moon’s 2008 book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, which highlights essential recordings across popular music.
Tharpe, who died in 1973, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as an Early Influence. Her impact on rock and popular music has been widely acknowledged, including by Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.
The Gospel Train reissue is the latest release in the Verve Vault Series, which brings significant recordings from the label’s catalogue back to vinyl.
•Featured image: Cover-Courtesy of Verve Records