Pitchfork

Awake, My Soul has been around for a couple years now, but the documentary about the old American folk/religious music known as Sacred Harp singing-- which you may have caught on Pitchfork.tv a few weeks back-- is just now getting a deluxe soundtrack to accompany it (not to be confused with the previously issued "companion" CD).

The soundtrack is a double-disc affair. The first disc, Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp, features recordings of traditional Sacred Harp songs from rural Georgia and Alabama.

The second disc, Help Me to Sing: Songs of the Sacred Harp, is apparently the very first collection of modern adaptations of Sacred Harp songs. Featured on this disc are Sacred Harp reinterpretations from John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Danielson, Richard Buckner, Sam Amidon, Wovenhand, the Innocence Mission, Doc Watson, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Murry Hammond (Old 97's), Liz Janes, Rock*A*Teens offshoot Tenement Halls, John Wesley Harding, and author Rick Moody, among others.

Awake Productions will release Awake, My Soul / Help Me to Sing on October 14. To get folks excited, there are a number of pre-release events in the coming days. On September 21, Brooklyn's Plymouth Church will host and house an "All-Day Sacred Harp Sing", followed by a listening party for the compilation. The next day, folks are invited to sing Sacred Harp at St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan.

Finally, on September 22, Atlanta's the Earl will host a Sacred Harp concert featuring a number of comp contributors, including the Good Players, Jim Lauderdale, Tim Eriksen, Sacred Harp singers, and Jeni & Billy, as well as a screening of Awake, My Soul. The latter four above-mentioned acts will also perform at Atlanta's Criminal Records earlier in the day.

Awake, My Soul / Help Me to Sing:

Disc 1 (Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp):

01 China
02 Russia
03 Stratfield
04 Jordan
05 Marlborough
06 Bear Creek
07 Abbeville
08 Corinth
09 Lloyd
10 Eternal Day
11 New Britain
12 Delight
13 Panting for Heaven
14 New Jordan
15 Restoration
16 Prodigal Son
17 Schenectady
18 America
19 Antioch
20 Norwich
21 Consecration
22 Poland
23 Idumea
24 Cowper

Disc 2 (Help Me to Sing: Songs of the Sacred Harp):

01 Rayna Gellert & John Paul Jones: "Blooming Youth"
02 Elvis Perkins in Dearland: "Weeping Pilgrim"
03 The Good Players: "David's Lamentation"
04 The Innocence Mission: "Africa"
05 Jim Lauderdale With Jeni & Billy: "The Christian's Hope"
06 Mac Powell: "Help Me to Sing"
07 John Wesley Harding: "Columbus"
08 Cordelia's Dad: "The Traveler"
09 Liz Janes: "Abbeville"
10 All Things Bright & Beautiful: "China"
11 Tenement Halls: "Essay"
12 Richard Buckner: "Windham"
13 Danielson: "Sermon on the Mount"
14 Doc Watson & Gaither Carlton: "And Am I Born to Die?"
15 Sam Amidon: "Kedron"
16 Wovenhand: "Consecration"
17 Rick Moody and Nina Katchadourian: "The Grieved Soul"
18 Tim Eriksen: "Vernon / Wrestling Jacob"
19 DM Stith: "Christian's Farewell"
20 Murry Hammond: "Bound for Canaan"