Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It was back in '83 that I reviewed Jackie's "When The Saints Go Marching In" single for the old Buzz magazine. Little did I know it would take a decade for the album from which that was taken to find a UK release but thanks to clever ol' Ace for making the effort. Jackie is a part of gospel music history, one of the Famous Davis Sisters and a singer who was a huge influence on Aretha Franklin. Jackie's attempt to follow 'Retha into the R&B arena failed and Jackie returned to her beloved gospel. In 1983 she cut this album for Spring Records with hit soulman Joe Simon producing, but Joe resisted any temptation to soulify Jackie's authentic sound just bringing in top gospel, R&B and jazz talent (would you believe Charles Mingus on trumpet or one Houston E Whitney on backing vocals?) to give a solid accompaniment to gospel evergreens like "Lay My Burden Down" and "Can I Get A Witness". Timeless stuff and a minor classic of its kind.

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