Christmas Spirituals

Christmas Spirituals is the name of two albums recorded by American folk singer Odetta. The first was released in 1960 on Vanguard Records and is available to this day. The second, a new recording of mostly the same songs, produced by Rachel Faro at White Crowe Audio in Burlington, Vermont, was originally released in 1987 on Alcazar Records and was reissued digitally in 2007 on Ashe Records. Both albums feature Bill Lee, Spike Lee's father on bass. The second Christmas Spirituals' album cover, by artist Coleen Patterson, depicts a Black Madonna by the River Jordan with the Three Kings in attendance. She says these songs are traditional spirituals that emerged from the sufferings of slavery as a catharsis for the terrible wrongs that were committed.

Track listing

All songs Traditional unless otherwise noted.

1. "Rise up, Shepherd, and Follow" – 1:45
2. "What Month Was Jesus Born In?" – 2:25
3. "Mary Had a Baby" – 1:52
4. "Somebody Talking 'Bout Jesus" – 2:05
5. "Virgin Mary Had One Son" – 3:08
6. "Go Tell It on the Mountain" – 2:01
7. "Shout for Joy" – 2:31
8. "Poor Little Jesus" – 1:56
9. "O Jerusalem" – 2:51
10. "Ain't That A-Rockin'" – 3:20
11. "If Anybody Asks You" (Odetta Gordon) – 2:00
12. "Beautiful Star" (Gordon) – 2:54
13. "Children Go Where I Send Thee" – 2:45

Personnel

• Odetta – vocals, guitar
• Bill Lee – bass
• Lincoln Goines – bass
• Jeff Salisbury – percussion, drums

References