Some of the most familiar of the old gospel songs remain among my favorites: "This Little Light," "Jesus Is On the Mainline," "Down By the Riverside," "Glory Halleluiah / When I Lay My Burden Down" . . . I never get tired of hearing and singing them.

Then there are the slow-moving lyrical pieces better suited for solo performance (and for listening) than for group participation: "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" are great ones.

I have a special place in my heart for Sam Cooke's "Touch the Hem of His Garment" because I had the rare experience, as a young child, of hearing Sam himself, with the Soul Stirrers, leading the congregation of a neighboring church through an incredibly stirring rendition. I won't quote the lyrics here, because for me the song was never about a verbal message but was rather an incredibly inspired exercise in group vocalization, completely transcending any merely literal message.