Original Valentin Choral Club Quintette, Sunset Four, Grace Outlaw, Bessemer Mel - Black Vocal Groups Vol 1 1924-1930 Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order

Published Thursday 19th June 2008
Original Valentin Choral Club Quintette, Sunset Four, Grace Outlaw, Bessemer Mel - Black Vocal Groups Vol 1 1924-1930 Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order
Original Valentin Choral Club Quintette, Sunset Four, Grace Outlaw, Bessemer Mel - Black Vocal Groups Vol 1 1924-1930 Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order

STYLE: Gospel
RATING 6 6 6 6 6 6
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 21433-11944
LABEL: Document DOCD-5340
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RRP: £9.99

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

This anthology is in the words of the sleevenote "highlighted by the strong acapella performances by the Sunset Four and the Bessemer Melody Boys. The 13 sides by the Sunset Four are both polished and diverse. As well as some well known spirituals ("Wade In The Water", "Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John") there is also a tribute to "Barnum's Steam Calliope", an extraordinary imitation of that once famed machine which toured the US with the circus. The Bessemer Melody Boys were one of many groups spawned in Jefferson County, Alabama. Particularly impressive are the improvised bass passages on "Didn't They Crucify My Lord" and the six tracks they have here show them to be a much more interesting group than the Original Valentin Choral Club Quintette (two tracks) and Grace Outlaw (four tracks), the former singing in rather stolid white sounding harmonies and the latter sounding like they were plucked straight from a vaudeville stage.

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