Reviewed by Andy Cooper

Almost nothing is remembered or known about the Biddleville Quintette, save that they came from around Charlotte, North Carolina. Even so, they left a legacy of interesting and innovative (for that time) recordings made during four sessions in Chicago and New York. There are four male and one female vocalists, sometimes providing tight harmonies, sometimes following the call-and-response formula, and sometimes trying to sound more like a church congregation by shouting encouragements such as "sing it", "that's right" and so on. Many of the recordings start with a small explanation of the subject or title of the song, followed by the singing itself, still always fitting within the three minutes or so, which was the maximum that would fit on one side of a record in those days. Of course there is plenty of hiss and crackle on these recordings and unfortunately the lyrics are therefore a little difficult to decipher at times, but there is still something inspiring to be drawn from these early recordings, some with familiar sounding titles such as "Way Down In Egypt Land", "This Train Is Bound For Glory" and "Didn't It Rain?" For collectors and those interested in the rich heritage of gospel music, this compilation is well worth investigating.

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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