Search - Carolina Gospel Quartets :: 1938-1939 Carolina Gospel Quartets

Give it a chance with repeated listening

Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 11/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although I'm originally from Spartanburg myself and know relatives of the people on this record, I'll be objective.These tracks from 1938-39 of groups from in and around Spartanburg, SC consist of what I call "your grandmother's gospel." Unlike the jazzy uptempo tunes of prewar Gospel Jubilee Groups like the Golden Gate Quartet, the Spartanburg groups tended to specialize in a slower, hymnlike style. This is not as accesible to the casual, modern listener as the GGQ, Soul Stirrers, etc. but give it a chance with repeated listening and the harmonies could be quite appealing. Check the Gospel Light Jubliee Singers pre-doowop stylings in "Go Where I Send Thee" and the Spartanburg Famous Four's vocal stylings on "Satan Your Kingdom Must Go Down" and you will tap your feet and sing along, if not as fast as you would to the more uptempo groups. Gospel fans may be intrigued to know that Robert Hardy of the Gospel Light Jubilee Singers taught Ira Tucker of the Dixie Hummingbirds how to sing.One minor complaint, like most Documet CD's this one suffers from being transferred from scratchy 78's without being "cleaned up." So beware of the clicks and pops."