Take the High Road

The concept for the collaboration started with original Blind Boy Jimmy Carter's longstanding love of country music and his desire to do a traditional country-tinged gospel album. The idea blossomed when the Blind Boys were asked to curate a series of shows, including a country gospel night, at the prestigious Lincoln Center Festival last year, and was further ignited when the band met Johnson at the 2010 Alabama Music Hall of Fame dinner in Birmingham where they asked him to participate in the new album. The result is a remarkable recording of 13 songs, some time-tested and some brand new.

"There wasn't one person who didn't bawl like a baby or bust their heart open at least once," said Johnson in a recent New York Times interview, reflecting upon these historic Nashville sessions. New friendships formed quickly between the
artists, and soulful sounds were crafted out of a shared love of real and authentic spiritual music. Recorded live in just a few days at the old RCA soundstage, this album has the soulful feel of an old-school country-gospel classic.