Triple Take Tuesday: Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up

What can I say about Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up, that hasn't been said before?... not much with the exception that what makes this song works and moves anyone who hears it is the lyrical and musical simplicity of it (a hint to those up and coming and/or established gospel artists) . It also doesn't help that you have a composer such as John Askew (composer of Jonathan Greer's He's Worthy) along with Thomas Whitfield putting his "Midas" touch on a song that continues to be a mainstay in churches everywhere nearly 30 decades later.

Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up first was recorded (as far as I'm aware of) by Thomas Whitfield and The Thomas Whitfield Company out of Detroit, MI, on their 1986 release, I'm Encouraged on the Sound of Gospel label. The song became a radio favorite and also ushered in a new era of contemporary gospel music way before it's time. Once you heard that the simple piano chord being played, followed by the electric guitar, all before the choir chimed in, you knew your soul was about to receive a blessing.

Just when you thought no one else could minister the song as well,Albert S. Hadley and his group, The New Orleans Gospel Soul Children proves you wrong. With the assistance of Whitfield on their 1986, release Gospel Soul Children of New Orleans, on Gospel Fame, the group of young people sung it with so much conviction. Fast forward nearly twenty years later and newcomer Earnest Pugh debuts nationally with this song as his first single. Does he add anything extra to it, nope because the song doesn't need it, it's just as fresh as when Whitfield and his group first recorded it. This just goes to show that this song will be around for many more years to come.


You can listen to the songs mentioned by clicking on the album covers. Here's an audio of Earnest Pugh singing Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up, from his debut album: