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Acclaimed vintage gospel reissue series from UK’s Acrobat Records. These collections come
with comprehensive liner notes by Opal Louis Nations and many rare and never-before-
seen illustrations.
Please send payment (check or money order) to:
Opal Louis Nations
PO Box 27468
Oakland, CA 94602-2331
For questions, e-mail gospel@pewburner.com
U.S. shipping:
$4.00 for shipping the first CD; for each additional CD, please add $0.50 per item
International shipping (Airmail):
$12.00 for shipping the first 1–4 CDs; for each additional CD, please add $1.00 per item
FREE shipping (First Class Mail for U.S. or Airmail for International):
On orders of 5 or more; without jewel cases, in paper sleeves; includes tray & jay cards
2-disk set with 36 songs believed to have been recorded by Mahalia in June/July 1961 and
issued only in France (no recording dates were provided on the original albums.) Includes
such songs as “Blessed Quietness” written by Doris Akers. Mahalia is completely at ease
and fully confident on this number. A pared down recording of “Somebody Bigger Than
You and I” evokes the spirit of the Apollo recordings and is probably one of the earliest
recordings in the group. Tom Dorsey's “Hold Me” is done at a faster pace than the 45
version and doesn't quite match the jazz/blues feel, but it shows that, like her jazz
counterpart, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia never sang a song the same way twice. She handles
“Lord, Don't Move That Mountain” like the pro she is, giving a nod here and there to
Inez Andrews. Roberta Martin's “He Knows Just How Much We Can Bear” is done in her
usual dignity and respect for the gifted songwriter. Mahalia's own standards are
generously revisited here as well as some surprises. Some truly amazing recordings.
$17.98
43 Tracks on Double CD Recorded Between 1945 and 1950 by the Legendary Blind
Boys of Mississippi. Most comprehensive overview of the group ever released. The
lead vocals are performed by the incomparable Archie Brownlee, whose vocal
prowess was an inspiration to scores of R&B and Soul singers who grew up
listening to him. These titles were recorded for America's premier gospel labels
Peacock Records, and some of the earlier tracks were recorded for the Coleman
Label owned by the Coleman Brothers. $17.98
This double CD collects all the earliest sides recorded by the fabulous Swan
Silvertones quartet. Led by amazing and talented tenor/falsetto Claude Jeter,
the Swan Silvertones are simply one of the best bands to have ever sung gospel,
or put more succinctly, to have ever sung, period. From originals to traditional
hymns, this collection is fierce, fiery, and brilliant throughout. No one matches
Jeter's far-reaching voice. Songs like "I Done Made It Up In My Mind" and
"All Aboard" end just as it sounds like they're about to explode in an ecstatic
frenzy. That control, that ability to bring a song to its near dissolution then
back away, is in full effect on nearly every song here, with the exception of the
slow numbers such as "I'm Tired" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." This is
a very powerful and much needed selection of this great group's 78 RPM
recordings. $17.98
Two CD set containing 54 recordings from one of the greatest of Gospel
quartets. The Harmonizing Four began as an unaccompanied group but soon
enlisted guitarist Lonnie Smith father of Jazz-Funk legend Lonnie Liston
Smith. Smith’s searing guitar work is featured on most of the tracks. Although
there have been several Harmonizing Four CDs in the past, this is the first to
present such a detailed overview of their early career containing as it does all
but a handful of all the commercial recordings they made between 1943 and
1954. Fully illustrated 16 page booklet includes a detailed history of the group.
$17.98
This self titled CD features 18 tracks. One of the most exciting singers of the
early fifties, Brother Cecil Shaw made only 18 recordings in his short career,
all of which are presented here, but they were hugely influential over the
groups that became popular in the later Fifties. Ray Charles was a big fan,
and there is a brief mention of Shaw’s congregation in the recent Ray movie
as his first wife was a member of the Union Spiritual Harmonizers. Blues and
Rhythm Magazine featured a three-page article on Shaw. all of which is
reproduced in the booklet notes. You will not have heard vocalizing as
powerful and unrestrained as this in a long time. $14.98
2 CD set. This set presents 47 of their much sought after recordings
produced between 1949 and 1953. Fantastic gospel music from the genres
golden era of the late '40s and early ‘50. There is no doubt the Spirit of
Memphis were one of the leading and certainly most influential church-
wrecking quartets. Their forte was a solid "front line" of shared-lead singers
who blended a soothing, satisfying and sanctified approach. $17.98
This album showcases Gospel music in the 40's and early 50's and features
one of the great quartets of them all, The Bells of Joy. The group enjoyed
great standing on the Gospel circuits of America but without the commercial
success of some of their contemporaries. Indeed it was not until 1980's and a
reissue of this material in Japan that they became acknowledged as one of
the most exciting Gospel groups of all time. The final eight tracks on the
package have only previously been issued on vinyl release in Japan. $14.98
A Gospel duo created in the early '20s by the pastor of Fairfield Baptist Church
in Nashville to occupy his sons, Harry and Rufus Carrethers. The group was
transformed into a jubilee quartet by the '30s and they began the first of
numerous personnel changes. During the 1940s, they were among the top-
ranked Gospel quartets. They were known for their reinterpretations of
standard hymns, featuring bright, close baritone and tenor harmonies. When
the Fairfield Four sang, they utilized the full extent of their voices, moving
easily from deep, rolling bass lines to the staccato upper peaks of the tenor
range, all executed with precise, intricate harmonies and ever-shifting leads.
$14.98
One of the most influential gospel acts of all time, The Five Blind Boys Of
Alabama, have been performing and recording now for almost 60 years. Today
they are at the height of their fame with world tours and best selling CDs as
well as the support of rock stars such as Peter Gabriel. This collection gathers
together 28 tracks recorded from 1948-51, These first recordings of the
legendary gospel quintet feature the Five Blind Boys of Alabama performing a
variety of classics, including "What Manner of Man Is This," "What More Can
Jesus Do," and "Honey in the Rock," mostly a cappella or with minimal organ
or guitar accompaniment. Made at the start of a career that was to stretch well
into the 21st century, these early sides display a vitality and simple faith that
still sounds emotionally moving decades later. $14.98
This fascinating compilation fills in one of the most surprising gaps in gospel re-
issues as this seminal group of harmonizers based in New Jersey were a hugely
important group who until now had never made it onto CD. The 29 recordings
here show them to be a fascinating bridge between the disciplined harmony
sound of old school jubilee singing and the modern "hard" style of the '50s
quartets. These recordings made for the group's own Coleman Records plus
sides they recorded for Decca, Manor and even a CBS radio transcription
demonstrate the group's winning ways with cool, doomy ballads and syncopated
finger-snappers. Dubbed from old and rare 78s. $14.98
A collection of gospel groups that recorded for Don Robey’s Houston-based Peacock
label between 1951 and 1953. The title refers to the label’s Texas location, not
necessarily the origin of the groups. The collection kicks off with The Christland
Singers, represented here by four 1951 sides made for Peacock. Lead vocalist R.H.
Harris is an amazing talent, and it is easy to relate his style to those who followed
his example–on “I Know My Jesus is the Light” he sounds like Sam Cooke, who
replaced him in The Soul Stirrers. In “In a Few More Days” Harris sounds like Ray
Charles, and Charles later made a specialty of Harris’s song “Walk Around.” These
four songs with The Christland Singers remain especially precious testaments to
Harris’ vocal artistry.
Other groups include The Southern Wonders, Gospel Tone Singers, Swanee Spiritual
Singers, Golden Harp Gospel Singers, Stars Of Hope, Gospel Travellers and the
Wilson & Watson Singers. $14.98
Second collection of rare black gospel quartets from the legendary Don
Robey/Peacock Records archives features 24 tracks from 1953 and '54, including The
Christland Singers, Southern Tones, Sunset Travelers, Mid South Singers, Heaven
Bound Four, Southern Wonders and The Christian Travellers. $14.98
NEW! LIMITED QUANTITIES!
3-CD box set , 85 tracks
The third collection of recordings made for the most important post war
independent gospel label Peacock features three CDs with 85 tracks recorded
between 1951 and 1957 and includes some of the greatest post war gospel
recordings. Songs by Sister Jessie Mae Renfro (including sides with Br. Cecil
Shaw and The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi), The Sensational Nightingales,
Dixie Hummingbirds, Rev. Cleophus Robinson, The Bells Of Joy, Original Five
Blind Boys Of Mississippi, Spirit Of Memphis Quartet, and The Gospelaires of
Dayton Ohio. One classic gospel track after another. Set comes with 60 page
booklet with extensive notes on the history of Peacock Records by Opal Louis
Nations with biographies of all the performers and many rare photos. $28.98
Daddy Grace and his "House Of Prayer For All People" was located on the famed
corner of 125th Street and 8th Avenue in N.Y.C on the 2nd floor. For those lucky
enough to have passed this intersection, they would have been blessed with hearing the
sounds blasting from this ancient building. There were no rules, no musical restrictions
and the invitation extended was for one and all to join in and become part of the
experience. These recordings were available in limited form during the mid-1950s. It
has been generally assumed that no more than 500-1,000 LPs were ever pressed and it
has been out-of-print, completely unavailable, since the late 1950s. Information
concerning the original label is nowhere to be found.
These recordings are full of rousing singing, piano, and handclaps, as well as heaps of
blazing horns. The closing "Jericho March" is over 11 minutes of glorious collective
honk. The CD booklet includes informative liner notes written by Opal Louis Nations
that detail the history of Daddy Grace and his church, along with several photos of a
Grace baptism service. $14.98