Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Having gone on record to say that the Swan Silvertones are possibly the finest vocal group ever to step into a recording studio, readers will hardly be surprised to find I am somewhat enthusiastic at a CD wherein two albums, (one of which I was once prepared to pay exorbitant dosh for as an import) are available on one glorious, digitally remastered 24-track compilation. These sides recorded in 1952 and 1953 capture the group at their prime with those two startling voices Claude Jeter - he of silk-smooth soulfulness, and Robert Crenshaw - who could out-rasp and holler any soulman you can name - encased in marvellous layers of stentorian harmony. Sometimes they go into church-wrecking overdrive, sometimes they stay cool as any band of street-corner doowoppers while the songs, though sometimes merely devices to get to the call-and-response excitement never deviate from the old, old story. Classic stuff.