1930s to present day
The beginnings and first commercial steps
The beginnings and first commercial stepsThe beginnings and first commercial steps
1931 There are reports about their first recording, "You Better Run, Run, Run."
Early 1930s (possibly 1933): "Vanity recordings" for sale at performances, including "You Better Run to the City of Refuge."
1934/1935 Further early recordings, which initially received little attention.
First commercial recordings with Decca Records in 1937
On May 21, 1937, Mahalia Jackson became the first gospel artist to make commercial recordings for Decca Records at the Chicago Furniture Mart. She was accompanied by Estelle Allen on piano and organ – the latter a pioneering achievement in gospel music. She received $25 for these four songs.
"God’s Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares"
A success in the south.
"God Shall Wipe All Tears Away"
Particularly popular in their home city of New Orleans.
"Keep Me Every Day" (Orgelbegleitung)
Als "Gospel-Meisterwerk" bezeichnet
"Oh My Lord" (auch bekannt als "Sing On, You Singers")
A piece with a "jazzed-up" character.
Despite regional successes, sales figures in Chicago were disappointing, leading to the termination of their contract with Decca. However, their distinctive style was already clearly recognizable.
Between 1937 and 1945, there were no further recordings.
The breakthrough with Apollo Records
The 1940s marked Mahalia Jackson's national breakthrough, particularly through her collaboration with Apollo Records.
Early Apollo session, October 3, 1946
Mahalia Jackson began working with Apollo Records, a label that wanted to expand its repertoire to include gospel music. She recorded four songs with pianist Rosalie McKinney:
"I Want to Rest"
"He Knows My Heart" (Apollo 145)
"I'm Going to Tell God All about It"
"I'm Going to Wait until My Change Comes" (Apollo 110)
These first publications initially sold slowly.
Second Apollo session, September 12, 1947: The million-seller
At the urging of talent scout Art Freeman, Jackson was given another chance, which led to her greatest success.
"Move On Up a Little Higher"
Released in January 1948, it was her breakthrough and, according to reports, the first million-seller in black gospel. In Chicago, 50,000 records were sold within four weeks. She was accompanied by James Lee (piano) and Herbert "Blind" Francis (organ), although the piano part was omitted from the recording.
"Even Me"
Also recorded in 1947, it sold over a million copies.
"Amazing Grace"
Also recorded for Apollo at the end of 1947.
Further Apollo photographs in the late 1940s
1949
"Let the Power of the Holy Ghost Fall On Me"
"Dig a Little Deeper"
"I'm Tired"
"In My Home Over There"
"I'm Going to Wait on the Lord"
"Ain't That Good News"
In her first six sessions for Apollo, until autumn 1950, Mahalia Jackson sang exclusively gospel songs, traditional African-American spirituals and Baptist hymns, often compositions by Thomas A. Dorsey, W. Herbert Brewster or Kenneth Morris.
International recognition and transfer to Columbia
The 1950s were marked by continued success with Apollo Records and a groundbreaking move to Columbia Records, which brought her national recognition.
Apollo Records (1950-1954)
Following the success of "Move On Up a Little Higher," Mahalia Jackson continued her recordings for Apollo.
1950
"I Can Put My Trust in Jesus" b/w "Let the Power of the Holy Ghost Fall on Me"
(Single, erhielt 1951 den Grand Prix du Disque in Paris)
"In the Upper Room"
"Just Over The Hill"
"Amazing Grace"
Christmas carols: "Silent Night", "Go Tell It on the Mountain".
Inspiring songs: "I Walked Into the Garden", "Bless This House", "The Lord's Prayer".
1951
"How I Got Over" (great success of the 1947 recording)
"It Is No Secret" (published in October)
"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" (published in October)
Reissues in Europe by Vogue Records:
"In My Home Over There"
"Since the Fire Started Burning in My Soul"
1952
"Said He Would" (mit den Selah Jubilee Singers)
"In the Upper Room" (Second double-sided hit, with the Selah Jubilee Singers)
"Get Away Jordan"
1953
"I'm Going Down to the River"
"One Day"
"Consider Me" (Lloyds Records - B-Seite: "I Believe").
"No Matter How You Pray" (Lloyds Records - B-Seite: "My Cathedral").
"I Believe"
"Hands of God"
"Move On Up a Little Higher, Part 1 & 2" (New recording / New arrangement).
"I Want to Rest"
"I'm Going to Tell God"
"He Knows My Heart"
"Dig a Little Deeper"
"Amazing Grace"
"Come to Jesus"
"Didn't It Rain"
1954
Last Apollo recording session in June
"I'm on My Way to Canaan Land"
"My Story"
"I'm Willing to Run All the Way"
"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"
1954 Contract with Columbia Records
1955
Album: Mahalia Jackson, The World's Greatest Gospel Singer
(published in early 1955, based on November 1954 recordings)
Singles Recorded in November 1954, released in January 1955
"A Rusty Old Halo" / "The Treasures of Love"
"You'll Never Walk Alone" / "One God"
"Walk All Over God's Heaven" / "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well"
Other singles from 1955
"I See God" / "His Hands"
"A Satisfied Mind" / "The Bible Tells Me So"
"You're Not Living in Vain" / "The Lord Is a Busy Man"
Christmas album
Sweet Little Jesus Boy (published later in 1955), u.a. mit "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear".
1958
Black, Brown, and Beige
With Duke Ellington, recorded on February 5, 1958
Live at Newport, 1958
(Soundtrack-Album ihres Konzertes beim Newport Jazz Festival), u.a. mit "Didn't It Rain", "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", "I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song", "The Lord's Prayer".
Expansion of sound and stylistic adjustments
In the 1960s, Mahalia Jackson continued recording for Columbia Records and expanded her sound to appeal to a wider audience. The accompaniment increasingly included orchestras, electric guitars, and background singers.
1960
The Power and the Glory
Produced by Irving Townsend, considered one of their best albums, featuring Percy Faith and his orchestra.
1961
"Mahalia Jackson“
Recorded live in Europe during their last concert tour and released in 2001 as Columbia Legacy.
1962
Great Songs of Love and Faith
This album won a Grammy Award in the Gospel category in 1963 and contained newly recorded songs.
1963
Further studio recordings in winter at Columbia Records in California.
Späte 1960er
Recording of "We Shall Overcome," sung at every concert.
Columbia Records aimed to diversify Mahalia's repertoire by recording generally inspirational and patriotic songs alongside gospel compositions, such as "You'll Never Walk Alone," "Trees," "Danny Boy," "My Country 'Tis of Thee," and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Although this "watered-down and polished" sound, which Mahalia Jackson herself described as "sweetened water stuff," differed from her rawer live performances, she created her own style for these studio recordings.
Late publications and posthumous honors
Mahalia Jackson's active singing career ended in 1971. Her death in January 1972 led to a series of posthumous releases, which were mainly compilations or earlier live recordings.
1972
The Great Mahalia Jackson (Columbia Records, compilation)
1973
The Life I Sing About
(New Orleans Memories with Jules Schwerin) (Caedmon Records), u.a. mit "I'm Gonna Live the Life I Sing About in My Song", "Didn't It Rain", "God Put a Rainbow in the Sky", "The Lord's Prayer".
1976
How I Got Over (Columbia KC 34073, produced by Jules Schwerin and Tony Heilbut, won a Grammy Award for Best Soul/Gospel Performance in 1976), including "How I Got Over," "I Been 'Buked and I Been Scorned," "Move On Up a Little Higher," "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."
1976
Got To Tell It, cassette (Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings, also released in 1992, produced by Jules Schwerin), including "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," and "The Lord's Prayer." In addition, many of her recordings were re-released in later years as compilations or remastered versions, such as "Mahalia Jackson: The Apollo Sessions, 1946-1951" (1994) and "Mahalia Jackson, Live at Newport, 1958" (1994).
In addition, many of her recordings were re-released in later years as compilations or remastered versions, such as "Mahalia Jackson: The Apollo Sessions, 1946-1951" (1994) and "Mahalia Jackson, Live at Newport, 1958" (1994).
1998 / 2018
Complete edition on 18 CDs
INTEGRALE records “Frémeaux & Associés“
2004
The Forgotten Recordings
2 CD´s Compilation
acrobatmusic
2006
I Sing Because I´m Happy
CD pressing of the LP of the same name released in 1976
Smithsonian Folkway Records
Interview und Songs
2016
Moving on up a little higher Newport
Newport Festival 1957 - Home of Mahalia Jackson 1955 - CBS Television 1956
Produced by Antony Heilbut. CD
Shanachie Entertainment Corp.
The Worlds Greatest Gospel Singer
Compilation / JAZZ IMAGES 2016
CD 24 bit Remastered.
2018
Jazz On a Summer´s Day / Newport 1958
Mahalia Jackson, Anita O´day, Thelonius Monk, Jimmy Giuffre Trio, Sonny Stitt u.a.Charly records (mcps) Buch mit Fotos, 2 LP´s und 2 CD´s.
2015
Mahalia Jackson recorded live in Europe during her last concert tour. Two original Albums.
Recorded live, April 25, 1961, Sweden / Frankreich, England, Dänemark.
Vinyl Passion Doppel LP.
2023
Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel
Not Now Music, 180g LP.
2025
Moving on up a little higher
Newport Festival 1957 - Home of Mahalia Jackson 1955 - CBS Television 1956
Produced by Antony Heilbut. Farbiges Vinyl.
Shanachie Entertainment Corp.
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