Blind Boys of Alabama change directions, go country (gospel)

Jamey Johnson co-produced the album and performs on it along with Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Ann Womack and The Oak Ridge Boys.

"There wasn't one person who didn't bawl like a baby or bust their heart open at least once," Johnson told the New York Times recently.

"It's been a dream of mine to do a country gospel album and we couldn't have found a better partner than Jamey" said Jimmy Carter, the last original Blind Boy still touring with the band. "This album beautifully combines two of the seminal roots of the American music tree, gospel and country music."

The concept started with Carter's longstanding love of country and his desire to do a traditional country-tinged gospel album. Last year, his idea started to take shape when the Blind Boys were asked to curate a series of shows at the Lincoln Center Festival in New York.

One of the sold-out nights featured Ralph Stanley, Ray Benson (Asleep At The Wheel) and Allison Moorer. Soon after, they met Johnson and asked him to join them in singing the traditional song Down By The Riverside at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The band had already been planning to make a country record with their production collaborator Chris Goldsmith, who had enlisted the help of veteran Nashville drummer Chad Cromwell (Neil Young, Mark Knopfler). Johnson then brought in bassist Kevin 'Swine' Grantt (Brad Paisley, Daryl Worley) and guitarist Reggie Young.

Among the songs are Hank Jr.'s re-working of his father's I Saw the Light. The disc was recorded live in just a few days at Ben Folds' Javelina Studio.