Reviewed by Nigel Harris

This is the first of two volumes which span the years 1927 to 1930. Ford Washington McGee was born in Texas in 1890, moving to Oklahoma in 1911 where be became a pastor in the Church Of God In Christ, leading revival meetings across Kansas and Iowa and working with the legendary sanctified pianist and vocalist Arizona Dranes. These 22 recordings were made in Chicago where he held huge tent revivals from 1925. He and his Jubilee Singers accompanied Drane on her 1926 recordings and she then arranged for McGee's first sessions under his own name. She accompanies him on the first track on this CD, "Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah". Such was his subsequent popularity that his 78 recording on the Victor label "Jonah In The Belly Of The Whale" and "With His Stripes We Are Healed" reportedly sold over 100,000 copies. McGee's preaching/singing style goes beyond gospel to encompass hints of pop and hillbilly. On most tracks McGee preaches and then breaks into song accompanied by piano and guitar. Many of these tracks also showcase musicians and singers who remain nameless, but who contribute wonderful solo or duet pieces on songs such as "Sin Is To Blame For It All", "Three Ways" and in particular the apparently spontaneous worship that concludes "The Love Of God". Despite their age and the primitive recording technology used, these recordings, lovingly restored and preserved, are a powerful testimony to the power of McGee's preaching and worship which still sounds fresh and vibrant 80 years later.

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