When the Rev. Charlie Jackson was a boy, he played sacred music on Sundays and blues the rest of the week. While Jackson himself saw no irony in this, his mother had little appreciation for her son playing electric guitar on both sides of the Lord's fence and quickly steered him toward the church. Little matter, that, for Jackson's odes to Jesus and his exhortations for others to follow his path have every bit as much grit, growl and bite as the most low-down tunes played on a Saturday night.
As a young man living in Amite, La., in the 1950s, Jackson fell under the spell of a guitar-slinging evangelist by the name of Elder Utah Smith. Elder Smith was well-known in certain circles for wearing angel wings in church and wandering among the pews, belting out sacred tunes on his guitar, which he played behind his back, between his legs and in whatever other manner he felt like. Elder Smith and Jackson struck up a friendship and began playing together in churches around the area, with Jackson incorporating some of Smith's flamboyance into his own act.
The pieces on "God's Got It" were originally released as singles and on one EP for a small label run by the Rev. Robert Booker, who specialized in gospel music. Recorded in a primitive basement studio during the early and mid-'70s, Jackson's music is incredibly varied, especially considering the only instruments are vocals, some background clapping and Jackson's trusty Fender Mustang.