Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As the sleevenote by gospel experts Opal Louis Nations and Doug Seroff spells out, "The Fairfield Four are perhaps one of the most significant jubilee quartets to come to prominence in the Southlands during the 1940s." For my money they might not quite be up there with the Swan Silvertones, Spirit Of Memphis and The Blind Boys Of Mississippi but they still left behind plenty of stunning music and this compilation lovingly brings together many of their rare and ancient 78s, originally released on labels like Bullet, Delta and Dot. Particular gems on this 47-song celebration of vintage gospel are the group's "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" with Sam McCrary's soulful lead and "wind-up" vocal effects and their impeccable readings of Kenneth Morris's "Does Jesus Care" and the old hymn "His Eye Is On The Sparrow".

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