Reviewed by Tony Cummings

To start with a peculiarity - the Southern Gospel Singers aren't a Southern gospel group (in other words this group who recorded five sides for the Bronze label were black rather than white harmonizers). In fact, there's considerable historical significance in these sides as the Southern Gospel Singers' numbers included Wilmer 'Little Axe' Broadnax (one of gospel's great vocalists who later served with The Spirit Of Memphis Quartet, the Fairfield Four and the Blind Boys Of Mississippi) and J W Alexander (who moved on to the Pilgrim Travellers and later ran SAR Records with Sam Cooke). And the music? Well, once one gets over the 'frying eggs' sound of some battered and rare 78s, it's good stuff as here was a group developing the nascent "hard" gospel style. Despite the album's title, the next 11 tracks (previously unissued) are by the Hall Johnson Choir. The choir went on to be heard in motion pictures like The Green Pastures and Lost Horizons and in truth their take on old spirituals (and rather incongruously "St Louis Blues") are rather stilted though intriguing examples of black choral singing. The final tracks on this compilation are four tracks each by two male groups, the Jubileers and the Galilee Singers of which little or nothing is known. And pretty average they are too. All in all though, another fascinating compilation from the Document guys.

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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