The Fairfield Four: Robert Hamlett, Isaac Freman, James Hill, Joseph Rice, Walter Settles.
Additional personnel: Elvis Costello, Pam Tillis (vocals); Garrison Keillor (spoken vocals); Larry Knechtel, Catherine Styron (piano).
Includes liner notes by Elvis Costello.
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
I COULDN"T HEAR NOBODY PRAY won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Traditional wSoul Gospel Album.
The roots of the Fairfield Four go back to Nashville in the '20s, and although the group's personnel has changed somewhat, those roots can still be heard loud and clear. Through the ups and downs of many decades--the group found national acclaim during the '40s but then nearly vanished for 30 years--the Four have kept alive their distinctive a cappella sound and repertoire of church hymns and spirituals. Renewed interest in the group reached a high point with this 1997 recording, which was awarded the following year with a Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, as well as other industry honors. On I COULDN'T HEAR NOBODY PRAY, the group performs a number of gospel standards including "Noah" and "Four and Twenty Elders"; added to this are appearances by Elvis Costello, Pam Tillis, and Garrison Keillor. While these high-profile stars may be doing their friends a favor, it's also clear they have their work cut out for them. Includes liner notes by Elvis Costello.