The Great Divide & Friends
Dirt & Spirit
Broken Records



by William Michael Smith

I usually don't have much use for "gospel" albums, finding most of them to be at best saccharine and false and at worst cynical and hypocritical. But Dirt & Spirit is a different kind of "gospel" album. A project of Oklahoma's The Great Divide, it pulls together some of the best Oklahoma and Panhandle "Red Dirt" musicians and songwriters (hence the title, Dirt & Spirit) in a loose, genuine, no-pressure setting. What emerges is a sunny set of limited-production, back-porch, camp meeting style performances that project sincerity and humbleness. There is a complete absence of false piety for public consumption.

The performers include Bob Childers, a songwriter of legendary status in Oklahoma considered to be the father of the Red Dirt music movement; Susan Gibson and Gary Thomason of the now defunct Groobies; two of Oklahoma's most popular bands, Cross Canadian Ragweed and Red Dirt Rangers; and Jason Boland, Tom Skinner and Stoney LaRue. The record serves as a vehicle for these artists to perform in new modes we had yet to hear them in.

The tunes on the album, all originals, are sewn together with Tom Skinner's folksy "Nobody Knows," which has been broken into three segments that are used as an intro, a bridge in the middle of the record, and as an outro. Of the other songs, some are less "gospel" songs or songs of praise than songs that simply include Jesus and have a spiritual aspect. Examples include The Great Divide's "Jail Burned Down," Skinner's "Jesus Took Me Fishing," the Red Dirt Rangers' "God's Blues," and Childers' "Burning Still." There are also songs like Ragweed's "I Know A Man" and Divide's "Deliver Us" that are more in line with traditional spiritual lyrics.

While the styles may vary ­ the Red Dirt Rangers give a raucous, raise-the-roof four-part old timey a capella rendition of "I'm So Glad" while Ragweed delivers "I Know A Man" in much the same rocking style they present material on their secular albums. Throughout the album, the spirit and attitude across the performers and their work is extremely cohesive and like minded. Whatever the type of song, the artists come across as believers without crossing the line into proselytizing or into any holier-than-thou posturing. The strength of the album lies in its common folks touch, which is enhanced by songs written in everyday language. There is even considerable humor on the album.

With Elvis Presley and Bill Monroe
Heaven's gonna rock and heaven's gonna roll
Better get ready 'cause you don't wannna miss it
Ain't savin' no seats for the sinful and wicked

Ain't nobody knows when Judgment's coming
Nobody knows
Ain't nobody knows but Jesus
Not the doctor, not the lawyer, not the business man
Not the Queen of England or Uncle Sam
Not even Jerry Falwell or Billy Graham
Ain't nobody knows
--- Tom Skinner

These aren't songs of hellfire and brimstone, these are songs that portray religion as a source of hope, as a cause for celebration and as a comfort to the common people. If gospel music is supposed to be a joyous expression of faith and hope, Dirt & Spirit is indeed a fine example of gospel music.

* Dirt & Spirit is available at the merchandise link on www.thegreatdivide.com




Contact William Michael Smith at: wms-at-rockzilla.net

 
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