Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

In 1976, Miami's legendary TK Records producer and owner Henry Stone teamed up with Timmy Thomas to form the Gospel Roots label and released over 50 LPs in just three years by an array of mostly undiscovered acts. The compilers of this set therefore had a wealth of material to choose from when putting together this 18-track anthology which has no doubt helped them in offering up a thrilling slice of funk and blues-tinged gospel as well as a snapshot of the short but incredibly productive life of an underrated record label. The overriding theme here is one of persevering and pressing on through the hope found in God with tracks like the still pertinent "Tell Me" by the Fantastic Family Aires and "Help Me To Carry On" by the Fabulous Luckett Brothers being cases in point whilst the striking title track by the Reverend Edna Isaac & The Greene Sisters encapsulates the earthly and spiritual persecution that believers may experience in their lives. Reflecting the soul and funk influences of the time, the disco-tinged "For The Children" by the Howard Lemon Singers and Jean Austin's "Spirit Free" - complete with a fantastic groove-filled bass line - are typical of the kind of quality found within the Gospel Roots roster and the sufficiently full sound of each track makes for a great listening experience. Whilst each act stands out in its own right, the Fantastic Family Aires - who provide just under a quarter of the songs on this fascinating release - are arguably the "stars" of the show.

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.