Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Specialty was best known as one of THE labels for make quartets but, as this expertly compiled anthology demonstrates, also recorded many of the great female vocalists of the postwar years. This 28-song album features cuts from (deep breath) Bessie Griffin, the Helen Robinson Youth Choir, Princess Stewart, the Argo Singers, Dorothy Love Coates And The Original Gospel Harmonettes, Lil Greenwood, Sister Wynona Carr, the Sallie Martin Singers and the Famous Ward Singers. The last two seminal groups were recorded for an obscure 'vanity' label Dolphin's Of Hollywood, the Martins being low-fi stormers the latter rather a dull 2 part version of the Ward's classic "How Far Am I From Canaan". The outstanding cuts here are six beauties from Bessie Griffin with "More Like Jesus" and "Whosoever Will" soulful classics; Princess Stewart who once played in the Black Nativity musical and whose astonishing voice is the nearest thing ladies get to bass singing and Sister Wynona Carr who's jazzy imbued, lightly swinging tracks have the same delightful feel as Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Wonderful vintage stuff for lovers of the roots.

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