Reviewed by Andy Cooper

Another reissue of vintage material from the pioneering Document Records, this time featuring two highly charged Chicago preachers. The word "raucous" is barely adequate to describe the barking delivery of Rev Robert Blakey. He is joined by un-named members of his congregation on backing vocals, but they only sing one or two lines at the beginning of each track as an introduction to the sermon. Then it is part sung, part hollered in a style mimicked in many a comedy film such as the Blues Brothers. There's even a "huh" at the end of each phrase and sporadic explanations of "Amen" and "Preach the Word" by the congregation. Rev M L Gipson is a bit more palatable to non-African American ears, using guitar or piano accompaniment, more skilled backing singers and a more melodic preaching style. Unfortunately it is difficult to appreciate the content of the sermons due to the aged recording quality (try listening to the radio in a tent during a rainstorm), while it's difficult to purely appreciate the music due to the mediocre and over repetitive melodies often used here. Consequently, this release is strictly for collectors and historians.or comedians?

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