Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The Selah Jubilee Singers of Brooklyn have one of the longest and most intriguing histories in gospel music. Formed in 1928 in a storefront holiness church they came to their creative peak during the second World War, as these recordings demonstrate. The war gave them the opportunity to offer some powerful comments on the world-changing events. Typical was the song written by the group's leader Thurman Ruth, "Wasn't That An Awful Time At Pearl Harbor?" There was also the passionate "Mother Don't Cry If Your Son Goes To War" complete with a sermonette in the style of the Southernaires. In 1941 the Norfolk Jubilee Singers broke up and the Selahs had the opportunity to bring into their ranks the Norfolk's first baritone, Melvin Colden and tenor Crip Harris. As this compilation's sleevenote rightly points out, "This added an even stronger sound to the group and these recordings represent some of the most complex and accomplished jubilee singing ever recorded, especially 'Let The World See Jesus In Your Life', 'Jesus Prayed', 'I'll Fare Better' and 'When Was Jesus Born'. If rock hype had existed at the time, they would have been called a super-group." The Selah's story didn't finish here, the group going on to record prolifically in post-war years and even becoming a successful doowop group as The Larks. But these gems show the group at their peak.

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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