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Jul 30, 2010 Web Exclusive By Nate Daly

Chicago pastor and African American activist T. L. Barrett's 1971 musical legacy Like a Ship, was never designed to move units or break big. Barrett's intentions were much more tangible, local, and admirable: he wanted to provide a constructive outlet for kids and he wanted to bring people into his church. Sold at community events, few copies ever made it out of the Midwest, but the album became a crate digger's grail and has now been reissued on CD and vinyl by Light in the Attic.

Gospel soul in the finest sense, Barrett leads his youth choir through eight songs here, but the clear standout is the opening, title track. Led by a simple, bluesy piano riff supplied by 17-year-old Gary "Snake" Riley, the track oozes authenticity. Clearly not the work of professional musicians (and that's not the point, is it?), the Youth for Christ Choir of Mt. Zion Baptist Church more than make up for it in feeling and heart, belting out a counterpoint to Barrett's lead vocals. As simple as it sounds, the slapping of tambourine eighth notes paired with the open and live recording provide a strange link to psych rock.

After a pair of more traditional gospel tracks, "Ever Since" and "Nobody Knows" pick up the beat, even bringing in a bit of funk flavor while still remaining resolute praise songs. And Loretta Lake's lead vocal over the pounding rhythm section on "Joyful Noise" would be enough to get me inside a church.

This album was the culmination of Barrett's zeal for keeping kids out of trouble in a rough Chicago neighborhood and if that goal was achieved by making music, all the better for us. Although he went on to make a few other albums, with tracks occasionally appearing on compilations, Like a Ship proved to be his musical zenith. (www.lightintheattic.net)

Author rating: 6/10