Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

In defiance of the title of their one and only album, released back in 1980 on their own S&K Records label with only 500 copies pressed, short-lived Californian gospel group the Supreme Jubilees' legacy is far from finished thanks to the recent discovery of this nugget of gospel gold by music collector David Haffner. Lovingly remastered and re-issued with sumptuous liner notes by Light In The Attic Records under Haffner's supervision in 2014, this blink-and-it's-gone release from the Supreme Jubilees - founded by brothers Joe and Dave Kingsby with their cousins Phillip, Tim and Melvin Sanders just two years previously - is a tantalisingly short 34 minutes of laid back soul that mixes elements of funk with quartet gospel to great effect. Whilst the overriding theme of hope found in Jesus set to the backdrop (if not in word but in attitude) of the civil rights struggles of America's black population may be no different from the myriad of other gospel releases of the time, there is something inexplicably unique about the Jubilees' all too brief recorded output. Whether it's the assured soul groove of the title track or Dave Kingsby's unflappable vocals in the direct "Do You Believe" or the more upbeat quartet gospel of the likes of the "I Am On The Lord's Side" and the echoes of disco that grace "Don't You Know", this snapshot into the briefest of careers is one of gospel music's hidden treasures.

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.