Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As the usually excellent sleevenote informs us, the Selah were New York City's pre-eminent jubilee quartet in the '30s. The group's sound was one of slow, lugubrious harmony quite different from the popular Golden Gate Quartet. When the group made these recordings they were given $12.50 per side and no royalties even though their versions of Thomas Dorsey's "Precious Lord", the Soul Stirrers' "I Want Jesus To Walk Around My Bedside" and the 1920s favourite "Royal Telephone" all sold well. Never able to give up their day jobs they nevertheless cut many fine tracks with "There's Something With Me" and their reading of Brumley's country-gospel classic "I'll Fly Away" standing out. The 24 sides here will still engage you if you've an ear for those smooth jubilee harmonies of yesteryear.

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