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This month we review the compilation CD of
the
Harmonizing Four.
This CD is Volume 18 of Calvin Records' This Is Gospel series. The title of this
CD is I Shall Not Be Moved. According to the information contained
in the liner notes, this recording represents the
Harmonizing Four
tenure with the HOB label.
Very little has been written about the
Harmonizing Four. From liner notes and
obituaries one can deduce that the group was organized in Richmond, Virginia in
1927. The members of the group during their formative years were Thomas "Goat"
Johnson, Joseph "Gospel Joe" Williams, Jimmy Jones and Levi Handly. It is
believed that Lonnie Smith joined the group in the early 30s. Tommie Ellison
(The Superstar) was also once a member of this group. And, by the way, Lonnie
Smith was the father of Jazz legend Lonnie Liston Smith.
The
Harmonizing Four
has been considered one of the top gospel quartet groups of the postwar era.
Their repertoire includes some of the most lasting gospel recordings ever.
For collectors of gospel music any recording by the
Harmonizing Four
is priceless. Therefore, it is likely that this CD will become a
collector's item.
There are twenty (20) tracks on this CD. They are Let God Abide, Mothers
Prayer Has Followed Me, Where He Leads Me, Jesus Is A Friend To Everyone,
I Shall Not Be Moved, Working For The Lord, Oh Lord,
Stand By Me, Lift
Every Voice, Protect My Loved Ones," "Ill Never Turn My Back No More, Say A
Word, Keep Me All The Way, You Ought To Know The Lord, Good Lord Bless,
Blessed Jesus, When I Am Gone, I Am On The Battlefield For My Lord, Gods Gonna Move This Wicked Rain, Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown, and I
Started In Jesus.
There is a bonus track on the CD that is actually a video of presenting about
six (6) minutes on the history of gospel music. For anyone wanting a jump start
on learning the history of gospel music, the bonus track is a good starting point.
There is no way to single out any particular song from this CD. All the songs
have a powerful message and will certainly have you yearning for more from this
group of years gone by. If there is one theme running through all of the tracks
on this CD it would be HARMONY. The harmony is just awesome. It is even more
profound when you realize that the tracks were original done on early analog and
long before digital. Yet, the vocals on each track are clear. The
instrumentation sounds just as it did when the tracks were originally recorded.
The group may no longer exist, but there music will love on forever. If you ever
wanted to add a recording from the
Harmonizing Four
to your collection, this is
definitely the one. We give the
Harmonizing Four's
I Shall Not Be Moved a
9.5 out of 10.
You may not be able to find this CD
in your local record store. You should be able to purchase it by clicking on
I Shall Not Be Moved. Click on the title to hear I
Am On The Battlefield For My Lord."
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