Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The six quartets presented here display a wide variety of styles and purposes, from promotional performances for a railroad, representing their local church, fund raising representatives of black colleges and anonymous groups formed to fill out "race records" catalogues. The Missouri-Pacific Diamond Jubilee Quartette offer four sides including the rather predictable "I've Been Working On The Railroad"; Mount Zion Baptist Quartet recorded in New Orleans after winning a talent contest and demonstrate smooth, though hardly outstanding, barbershop harmonies; The Novelty Four Quartet and Old Time Jubilee Singers were anonymous groups for Vocalion and Ajax Records respectively; and the Rigoletto Quartet Of Morris Brown University and the Rust College Quartet offer barbershop-styled singing with the latter even including a version of the dreaded children's song "Old McDonald Had A Farm". A good history lesson though in truth nothing here is really outstanding.

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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