Saguaro Road

On Take the High Road, the Blind Boys of Alabama turns its attention from gospel to country music with the help of such guests as Hank Williams Jr., Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack and the Oak Ridge Boys. It is surprising that many of these collaborations didn’t actually happen sooner considering the spiritual connections and references that often characterize both country and gospel music. Overall, the pairings work – though, in places, the album country’s sounds outweigh the band’s trademark uplifting revival, such as on “Family Bible.” Yet, the twang of “Jesus Built a Bridge to Heaven” and “I Know a Place” suits the Boys well. There are also a couple of blues-oriented tracks that play better into the group’s a cappella strengths. No matter what direction the Boys go, it’s always a righteous affair.