Reviewed by Tony Cummings

In our enthusiasm for the Kirk Franklins, Smokey Norfuls and Out Of Edens let's not forget the history of gospel music and particularly the 1950s and 1960s when hundreds of professional and semi-professional groups and soloists travelled the Gospel Highway playing in churches and auditoriums for a strictly black audience. This 3 CD set lovingly compiled by soul music connoisseur and broadcaster Clive Richardson is a fascinating snapshot of singers and styles drawing from the vast catalogues of America's Malaco/Savoy and the UK's Charly. The music on the set is divided into three discs. 'No Tears' has its main focus on the classic male quartets so you've got church wrecking stuff from the 5 Blind Boys Of Alabama, quintessential soul gospel from Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, the only genuine quartet on this compilation still with us today the Jackson Southernaires and the goosebump-inducing music of Rev Claude Jeter And The Swan Silvertones. The female groups like The Caravans and the Argo Singers are there too, the former displaying a young Shirley Caesar in all her explosive power. Disc 2, 'People Get Ready', is slightly less focussed ranging from a Lou Rawls cover of the old Impressions hit "People Get Ready" to Malaco's hot female trio of the '80s, the Truthettes. Disc 3, 'Maybe The Last Time', offers us another pot pourri with standouts being the guitar-toting pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe and a VeeJay recording by The Staple Singers. There are also some fairly obscure items from the Gerald Sisters and the Dixons. Not everything here is grade A. But with a hugely generous 66 tracks there's bound to be some music here which will light your fire.

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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