The Bluegrass Cardinals put a little bit of church in their down-home picking and country harmonies.
Sunday Mornin' Singin' is the group's 1980 album, a classic in the genre. Led by the father and son duo of
Don and
David Parmley, the Bluegrass Cardinals define bluegrass-gospel music with impassioned renditions of preacher tunes like "Crossing of Jordan," "Shine Hallelujah Shine," and "Touch of God's Hand." And, though the production is a little slicker, many of the numbers evoke the feeling of the Coen Brothers' old-timey O Brother, Where Art Thou? But the Bluegrass Cardinals prove they are just as devoted to gospel as to bluegrass and country; for example, their version of "He Is Near" is done a cappella, purely with vocal harmonies. This re-release of the album is the definitive version, with seven extra tracks, and even if it's not the number one choice for hardcore bluegrass collectors, listeners who appreciate both gospel and bluegrass will be in heaven.