Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir Like a Ship (Without a Sail)

Recorded in 1971 by a 27-year-old pastor and an after school program choir, Like A Ship is a stirring and powerful meditation on the wayward aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement. Tracked with the help of Chess/Cadet maestros Gene Barge, Phil Upchurch, and Richard Evans, the album is a mix of euphoric gospel and Mayfield-esque politcal soul, with sleigh bells, hand claps, and jazzy piano stabs. Sampled by T.I., Kanye, and Khalid, Barrett created a rapturous, crossover gospel classic that's still wildly relevant.