Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This release is a follow-up to the much praised 'Fire In My Bones: Raw + Rare + Other-Wordly African-American Gospel (1944-2007)' reviewed elsewhere on this site. The compiler is the same Mike McGonigal and likewise the format is unchanged: three CDs and an informative booklet. The Tompkins Square website says this about the new release: "Get ready for fiery sanctified soul, heavy Pentecostal jams, drum machine gospel, slow-burning moaners, glorified guitar sermons and righteously ragged a cappela hymns! The music on this compilation was originally released on small label 45s, mostly in the 1960s and '70s. At least one-third of the records were self-released, paid for by a church congregation or the artists themselves. Others were on regional labels (typically run by one single producer) little known today outside of a small circle of collectors. This vibrant music is incredibly honest and almost criminally unknown." Amen to that. Frankly, I did not recognise a single name from the 72 acts represented here and none of them crop up in my trusty copy of Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia and yet there are some songs here that I am never going to forget. The title track is by Missionary Mamie Sample and there is a similar "May Be My Last Time" by Jerry and Naomi Jerkins with some seriously heavy guitar just about audible in the background. Then there is "On The Right Road Now" by the wonderfully named Crump Brothers, "I Believe I Will Go Home" by Big Dan and the Gospel Heavyweights with that rare bird, the bass singing the lead and so many others that I cannot hope to list them all. Even if I did the chances are that you haven't heard of any of them either. These are recordings that today would be on My Space or You Tube to promote the band, the preacher, or the church. None of them were hits and none of this matters. There are some great recordings here and although the sound quality is variable, it truly delivers the promised "fiery sanctified soul".

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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