Gospel Glory

Sony Music Special Products' Gospel Glory contains a selection of ten gospel tunes Johnny Cash recorded for Columbia Records over the years, including songs he sang with the Carter Family. It may just be a budget-priced collection, but it's surprisingly strong, containing such essentials as "Daddy Sang Bass," "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)," "Rock of Ages," "The Great Speckled Bird" and "Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)." That alone makes the disc worthwhile for budget-minded listeners, but it's also true that it's more engaging than the average gospel record from Cash, which may make it of interest as well to hardcore fans who already own all this material. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine