Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Originally released in 2005 by Soho Records, this lovingly compiled three disc set of pre-war gospel blues and spirituals contains 60 songs that chart the breadth and depth of the genre. Whilst the compilers play it safe by opting to undergird this collection with a smattering of over-compiled recordings by gospel luminaries such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Blind Willie Johnson and Mahalia Jackson, the majority of the material on offer here will be fresh and illuminating to the casual listener. Discs one and two hone in on individual performers separated by gender with mainstream acts like Memphis Minnie, Barbecue Bob and Blind Lemon Jefferson (under the pseudonym Deacon LJ Bates) playing songs from the religious part of their otherwise carnal blues repertoire whilst the likes of spirituals singer Marian Anderson and the great Blind Roosevelt Graves give it their all on their respective discs. Disc three acts as whirlwind tour of the output of vocal quartets such as the Golden Gate Quartet, the Norfolk Jubilee Quartet and the Dixie Hummingbirds and proves that the world of gospel blues music is indeed a diverse one. Alongside the sheer quality of material on offer, the success of this compilation lies with the decision to include leftfield tracks such as Reverend AW Nix's epic syncopated hellfire and brimstone sermon "The Black Diamond Express To Hell 1&2" and the Washington Phillips' dulceola-led "Denomination Blues" - all of which makes for a rounded, disparate and fascinating compilation.

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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