This Land

The Jordanaires made a pair of albums for Columbia in the mid-'60s: a secular one on which they covered The Big Country Hits, and This Land, which could be described as folk-gospel or gospel lite. The trademark sound the Jordanaires applied to countless recordings as background vocalists is not heard on This Land. Instead, the quartet sings an assortment of gospel and folk songs in an airy country-folk style halfway between the Brothers Four and the Browns. "Little Moses" showcases the talents of bass vocalist Ray Walker, and "Michael (Row the Boat Ashore)" doesn't seem blatantly religious since it was a huge pop hit for the Highwaymen. The album seems only vaguely religious despite the preponderance of gospel material because of songs like "Michael," the subtle "Much Bigger Than I," and the patriotic "This Land." The Jordanaires' precision is remarkable and effective in a folk context, but their restraint prevents the more rousing spirituals ("Didn't It Rain") from reaching their roof-raising potential.