Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Less recognised than their counterparts the Blind Boys Of Alabama, this gospel quartet are no less giants in their field. Contained within this two disc release are 43 tracks recorded over a good chunk of what is now known as Gospel's Golden Age and gives a good indication of how the group evolved during that period. Not surprisingly, lead vocalist Archie Brownlee's contribution stands out a mile with his trademark screams, yells and hollers - techniques some researchers say were introduced to various gospel acts to heighten excitement and increase revenue - and the sheer passion contained within these songs is electrifying. With hindsight, it's easy to compare James Brown to Brownlee in songs like "Somewhere Listening For My Name" but Brownlee's vocal versatility comes to the fore with his tempered performance in the tender "Must Be God Somewhere" - an early example of what would become, in a secularized form, doo wop. Elsewhere, other group members pull off performances of note - check out the delightful bass vocal of Joseph Ford in "When God Dips His Pen Of Love" - and the group's breathtaking vocal ability is exemplified in songs such as the wonderful "I'm Standing In The Safety Zone" and their biggest hit "Our Father". The sound quality of these recordings is undoubtedly poor which makes for tough listening at times. Nonetheless, this an enjoyable and hugely informative historical document - not least thanks to the potted biography of the group contained within the sleevenotes - and this will be a worthwhile addition to any gospel enthusiast's collection.

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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