Reviewed by Tony May

See, the frustrating thing is that no matter what I say, or anybody else says, 99 per cent of you don't have the slightest intention of ever giving this sort of stuff a try. Do you, huh? The SS were exemplary practitioners of the noble art of gospel singing. They could produce smooth, tailored harmony with the best, and they could cut loose in a vocal brawl as heartily as most. Also, they possessed a real trump card in lead singer Claude Jeter whose legendary falsetto-style singing could put goosebumps on top of goosebumps! These 18 tracks major on the group giving it some stick, hollerin', screamin', letting the emotions go, and generally giving it their best shot. None of the tracks has been released before, 10 are live, with varying sound quality, generally displaying the tougher side of their repertoire. Certainly hot stuff, the versions of old standards like "Love Lifted Me", "Have Thine Own Way" and "Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross" are quite sweaty, with Jeter's acrobatics definitely unnerving at times, you feel concerned for him. Oh, it's wonderful stuff, gonna give it a try? Go on, I dare you.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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