Reviewed by Philip Croft

For listeners hooked on contemporary urban gospel these acappella and decidedly crackly recordings will be a total culture shock. Recorded at a time when slavery in law was still a memory for some and an economic reality for most these songs are largely down and melancholy but underneath have a stirring positive hope and a passionate belief in a God who one day will bring justice into being which shines through despite what are expectedly very poor quality recordings indeed. At a time when we are celebrating 200 years since the end of slavery I can't help but think that there is something appropriate in releasing a CD which features artists with names like the Cotton Pickers Quartet before many of these recordings are lost forever. This fascinating compilation offers the 10 recordings made by the said Cotton Pickers between 1929 and 1931 not to mention two sides by the Belt Sacred Quartet, six by the CA Tindley Bible Class Bible Singers and single song rarities from The Camp Meetin' Three and the Carolina Brothers. The three sides by the Coleman Brothers stem from 1943 and, representing a later era of gospel, are a little out of place on this compilation. All in all though this is fascinating historic stuff though sadly most modern enthusiasts will prefer to listen to the pizzazz that gospel has become and simply ignore the opportunity to remember where it came from.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.