Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Folkways is the department of the Smithsonian Museum that records, collects and distributes the music of America and on this recording we can hear how the many and various strands of folk, holiness and Pentecostal revivalism, traditional European hymnody and even minstrel show tunes could be stirred together to give us what would eventually become jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues and soul. In this fascinating collection we hear spirituals, guitar evangelists, "shout" bands, quartets and choirs singing out the sacred sounds of African American gospel music in the days before recorded music and radio slowly started to bring about something closer to uniformity. This collection spans over a half century of select recordings to paint a broad panorama of this cherished American musical tradition. Reverend Gary Davis, Sister Ernestine Washington, Sonny Terry, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and Elizabeth Cotten are among those featured on these 24 tracks of soulful song in a generous 75 minutes. The genres on offer are varied. Take the medley of "Dry Bones" and "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel" by The Missionary Quartet who sound not unlike The Golden Gate Quartet singing barbershop. Then jump to Rev Gary Davis giving us "If I Had My Way" with his remarkable guitar picking style and ask yourself what they had in common. Musically, not a lot but there is something much deeper than music at work here. Blues lovers will know some of the titles even if the music has been changed almost beyond recognition: from "Jesus Going To Make Up My Dying Bed" here sung by Horace Sprott to a Lead Belly medley of "Every Time I Feel The Spirit / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / They Hung Him On The Cross" there is something of interest for lovers of old time gospel, blues, and indeed anything that can be described as "African American Gospel". Some of the recordings show their age but the 32 page illustrated booklet is fascinating reading.

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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