Reviewed by Tony Cummings

No one would claim that either of these ensembles were top rate practitioners of pre-war jubilee singing though the 12 sides by each of these two male groups have their moments. Indicating the chaotic way in which early "race music" was issued by the companies banging out the 78s the Wood's group had a whole heap of recording nom-de-plumes. They were Wood's Famous Blind Jubilee Singers and Woods (sic) Famous Blind Quartette (on Paramount), Jacobs (sic) Blind Singers (on Broadway), Herwin Famous Jubilee Singers (on Herwin) and Harrisons (sic) Jubilee Singers (on Silvertone). We don't know their line up but they sang with a rough and ready aplomb and "Run To My Lord", with its mix of fast and slow passages, and "Seek And Ye Shall Find", with a rollicking piano accompaniment, are both enjoyable today. The Cotton Belt Quartet featured tighter harmonies and their 12 sides feature some of the best known spirituals like "Go Down Moses", "Give Me That Old Time Religion" and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", the latter far removed from the bayings of English rugby fans as it's possible to get.

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