help me get into gospel

A great introduction to the gospel choir is "Amazing Grace" by Aretha Franklin. It features some traditional works and other inspirational tunes. This is a great album by a phenomenal singer. Buy it-if you are not moved, sell your stereo, and get a therapist.

The Richard Smallwood Singers - Live at Howard University.
The Canton Spirituals - Live in Memphis.
Aretha Franklin - when she used to sing with Rev James Cleveland.
Walter Hawkins - Love Alive

Gospel music has changed quite a bit in the last 20 years. There's even Gospel rap and hip hop Gospel now (I know... I know).

The more you study Gospel music history the more you will clearly hear the connections between Gospel, Blues and Country music. They all "borrowed" things from each other. PBS did a documentary on Gospel music a few years ago. See if you can find it. Very enlightening.

Mahalia is still probably my favorite. She had something very special.

Lots of great bluegrass style gospel out there. Try the Cox Family w/Allison Kraus. Cant remember the CD title.

The Fairfield Four- "I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray"
Not Gospel but a great accapella group is Sweet Honey in the Rock, try their "Live at Carnegie Hall" album, it has several gospel songs on it including a great version of Wade In The Water.
Also, Aaron Neville "Devotion".

Here's one that I came across after reading a review in Sterophile magazine: "Sacred Steel:Traditional Sacred African American Steel Guitar Music in Florida". This is an absolutely great CD, but its a little hard to find. Anyone who is interested in hearing it please e-mail me.