Search - Deloise Campbell, Barrett Sisters :: Best of

The best of Delois Barret Campbell and the Barrett Sisters.

T. A. Shepherd | 06/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the orignal album back in the 70's and loaned it out, never to return. When I saw it on amazon.com I was glad. Listing to this CD album will take you back in the day when radio stations would play all the great gospel albums like Shirley Caesar, Caravans, James Cleveland, Delois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters and more. This is a must have in your gospel collection. When I saw them in the early 70's live in concert at a local church, they sound just like the album. I remember listing to the radio and God So Loved the World by the Barrett Sisters was playing, it caught my ear at a distance. You will be blessed by this album."

A great comeback recording

T. A. Shepherd | Palmdale, Ca. 93550 | 04/28/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gospel Music in the early 70's was exciting because it brought back many of the classic artits that breathed new life into the genre in the late forties. Willie Mae Ford Smith came from New Orleans to Chicago and became the legendary vocal coach for Mahalia Jackson and Brother Joe May. But Gospel music also produced a wealth of new songwriters such as Thomas A. Dorsey and the great Roberta Martin. It was from the Martin singing group that Delois Barrett-Campbell honed her incredible skills. With a vocal range that could rival an opera singer, Ms. Campbell chose to stick to a jazz-like vocalese style in the tradition of Sarah Vaughan. With roller-coaster modulations and a soprano to die for, she turned every song she sang every way but loose. One moment she could be as sweet as a child, the next moment twice the barrelhouse bombshell that Bessie Smith was. Flash forward to 1964, when the Sisters cut three remarkable albums for the Savoy label: Jesus Loves Me, I'll Fly Away and Carry Me Back. These would be their only recordings until they signed to Nashboro, recording two fine albums on the Creed imprint: God So Loved the World and Coming Again So Soon. It is the former that this CD is made up of with three bonus tracks. Delois cut a fine solo album for Creed, "Through It All" of which the last two tracks are from. The other two Barretts, Rhodessa Porter (lyric soprano) and Billie Greenbay (alto) are classic singers in their own right, and they also have their spotlight. Unfortunately, no Savoy sessions are on this recording. I hope to see those re-issued shortly, but who knows? The Barretts strong three-part harmonies are heard throughout on "I Wanna Walk and Talk With Jesus" and the remake of "I'll Fly Away". A live remake of "Jesus Loves Me" is also included for good measure. Here Delois bares absolutely everything, taking the studio version to new heights. "It's a Long, Hard Way" is contemporary 70's as well as the updated "Nobody's Fault But Mine". Electric bass and drums, heretofore were unheard of in Gospel music, but they work well here. And--just to show they haven't left tradition entirely, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (my personal favorite) is sung exquisitely by Billie and "I Don't Know About Tomorrow" aka "I Know Who Holds My Hand" done by Rhodessa, round out the versaltality of this unique singing group. Vertually none of the second album is featured here, which is quite a shame. Their 70's renditions of "Free At Last", Tom Dorsey's "Watching and Waiting" and Roberta Martin's "Ride on King Jesus" should have been addressed. Their cover of Sam Cooke's classic, "Wonderful" on Savoy is one of the greatest accomplishments ever recorded. The Barretts recorded one album in the 80's, "What Should I Render (Unto God)" before making yet another strong comeback with "What A Wonderful World". They starred in the film, "Say Amen Somebody" with the O'Neal Twins, Sallie Martin and Willie May Ford Smith. They could have been perhaps the greatest R&B singers ever, or even jazz. But, like Mahalia Jackson and Roberta Martin they were sold out to the Gospel and remained true to the genre. I can't recommend this disc highly enough."