Precious Memories: LaVern Baker Sings Gospel

Precious Memories: LaVern Baker Sings Gospel
Studio album by LaVern Baker
Released	June 4, 1959 (1959-06-04)
Genre	Gospel[1]
Length	35:55
Language	English
Label	Atlantic
LaVern Baker chronology
LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith (1958) Precious Memories: LaVern Baker Sings Gospel (1959) Blues Ballads (1959)

Precious Memories: LaVern Baker Sings Gospel is the fourth studio album from American rhythm and blues singer LaVern Baker, released by Atlantic Records in 1959.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
DownBeat	[3]

Editors at AllMusic rated this album 3.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Ron Wynn writing this work is "more magnificent and moving than at any time she had done jazz, blues, or R&B".^[2] In the 2004 edition of The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, this album was rated 5 out of 5 stars and the editors write Baker never sounded better than on this album, favorably comparing her vocals to Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.^[1]

Track listing

1. "Precious Memories" – 2:50
2. "Carrying the Cross for My Boss" – 2:29
3. "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" (traditional) – 3:12
4. "Touch Me, Lord Jesus" – 2:52
5. "Didn't It Rain" (Harry Burleigh) – 2:48
6. "Precious Lord" – 4:13
7. "Somebody Touched Me" – 2:36
8. "In the Upper Room" – 2:34
9. "Journey to the Sky" – 3:25
10. "Everytime I Feel the Spirit" – 2:21
11. "Too Close" – 4:06
12. "Without a God" – 2:35

Personnel

• LaVern Baker – vocals
• Abie Baker – bass
• Alex Bradford and His Singers – choir vocals
• Elliott Brodin – cover photography
• engineering
• Ahmet Ertegun – supervision
• Sticks Evans – drums
• Marvin Israel – cover design
• Phil Juhle – engineering
• Gary Kramer – liner notes
• Reggie Obrecht –
  conducting
• Bill Suyker – guitar
• Jerry Wexler – supervision

See also

• List of 1959 albums

References