Jesus on the Mainline

Ry Cooder, famous guitarist, has a favorite version of Jesus on the Mainline

A bluegrass, or blues  gospel, Jesus on the Mainline,  is part of the tradition of the music of the mountain people of the United States, the type often performed in Pentecostal churches but bears close resemblance to the gospel songs of African Americans.   The song has a unique history of different sounds played by different folks over the years, each of whom gave their own special sound linked to the song.

The film that accompanies this song in the video on this post includes video clips from the Internet Archives of the "Holy Ghosters" of Scrabble Creek, West Virginia in the 1960's, but many of the traditions remain in parts of the United States. 

Jesus on the Mainline is one of those traditional bluegrass gospel songs. Performed by such country elites as Randy Travis and Ry Cooder, it is also done in an old style, gospel blues style with slide guitar.

Despite the fact this is considered a traditional gospel, some writers speculate the lyrics may have been written in the 1920's, as the words seem to be similar to those of the blues tradition, of those blues composed during that time.  And the references about "calling Him up" also indicate the song to have been written in the 20th century early on.

Alan Lomax's recording by Mississippi Fred McDowell in the early 1950's is the first known one made of this song.  Afterward, however, many musicians have recorded/performed the song, including Wynona Judd and Randy Travis.  Ry Cooder's 1974 version is among the most famous.  Cooder is accompanied by The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces in his version, which has a ring of association with the original recording.

The song is underlined as an important one, linked with the struggles of the civil rights movement and of the traditions brought by African Americans, with its blues beat and rhythms.

Here it is done in a folk gospel style: