Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As a wonderfully varied introduc­tion to the sounds of black gospel - at least how it sounded in the 1950s - this glorious dredge through the rich catalogue of Specialty Records is a 20-song gem. Wherever you look and listen there is musical history - Johnnie Taylor crooning about "The Love Of God" with the Soul Stirrers, many years before he crossed over to soul music; the original Five Blind Boys who were neither blind nor boys but knew a thing or three about how to holler up a storefront church; the Pilgrim Travellers showing the Woebe­gone Brothers how "Jesus Hits Like An Atom Bomb" should really sound, and that other Soul Stirrer Sam Cooke, soulfully crooning the sadly, prophetic "Pilgrim Of Sorrow". Dorothy Love Coates, Alex Bradford, Bessie Griffin, the Swan Silvertones, so many classics here ... how can I resist the maximum star rating?

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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