Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Shout, Sister, Shout: The Rock 'n' Roll Originator 1938-56

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Shout, Sister, Shout: The Rock 'n' Roll Originator 1938-56


Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a trailblazer—bringing electric guitar and rhythmic drive to gospel music long before it became rock. Artists like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and Eric Clapton credit her as a foundational influence on rock & roll.

The compilation collects her most electrifying recordings from a pivotal era when she blurred the divide between sanctified gospel and secular rhythm & blues—with intense vocal delivery and single-note guitar technique that paved the way for future music innovations.

🎧 Sample Track Highlights

Though the full track list isn't confirmed in published sources, standout songs included are:

  • “Strange Things Happening Every Day” — often recognized as one of the earliest proto-rock & roll records.

  • “Up Above My Head (I Hear Music in the Air)” — a call‑and‑response gospel song recorded in 1947, bursting with rhythmic vitality.

  • “Precious Memories” and “Silent Night”, showing her range in both spiritual and popular contexts.