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For the gospel quartet enthusiast,
what better way to celebrate Black History than revisiting some great gospel
quartet music from the past. So, for the month of February we take a look
at a CD that contains songs recorded as early as 1937.
The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartets
Rock My Soul is a collection of SOME of the recordings from their
repertoire for the period 1937 to 1946.
The year was 1934 when Orlandus Wilson, Willie Johnson, William Langford, and
Henry Owens organized The
Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet
in Norfolk, VA. The word Jubilee in their name is significant. In
that, their early sound was deeply rooted in the Jubilee spiritual style.
Jubilee was a style of singing gospel music that is attributed to
The Fisk Jubilee Singers.
It is believe that The
Fisk Jubilee Singers
created this style in the 1870s.
This group has a very rich history. Did you know that they sang at
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration in 1941? Did you know that
Columbia, SC played a significant role in the launching of the career of the
group? Did you know that they were featured in several movies? Do
you know when they changed their name to
The Golden Gate Quartet
and why? Did you know that they were the first black musical group to sing at
Constitution Hall? For a good summary of the history of this group visit
their website at
The Golden Gate Quartet.
Rock My Soul consists of 29 tracks. The songs are placed on
the CD chronologically according to the date of they were recorded. Golden
Gate Gospel Train, Gabriel Blows His Horn, Preacher
and the Bear, The (That Ol' Time Religion), Go Where I Send
Thee, "The Story of Job, and Stand in the Test
in Judgement were recorded on August 4, 1937 in Charlotte, NC.
Travellin' Shoes, and Take Your Burdens to God
were recorded on January 24, 1938, in Charlotte. To the Rock,
When They Ring Them Golden Bells, My Lord Is Writing All
the Time, Rock My Soul, and Saints Go Marching
Home were recorded on August 10, 1938, in New York. Notice that
the date and location of the recording for each of the songs is noted. That is
very difficult to do in the computerized techno recording system that is used
today. Often in the current environment the arrangement for a song is
done in several recording sessions. The background singers may be added
electronically and the lead singer may not have been present when the
arrangement or the background vocals are laid down. Therefore, it is an
added 'jewel' to the historian to be able to determine when are were a song was
recorded.
Continuing with Rock My Soul, Noah, was recorded
on November 15, 1938, in New York. Ol' Man Mose was recorded on
January 2, 1939, in Rock Hill, SC. Rock Hill was also the location for
the recording of I Looked Down the Road and I Wonder, I'm
a Pilgrim, and Every Time I Feel the Spirit. The date
of these recordings was October 6, 1939.
On December 26, 1939, My Walking Stick was recorded in New
York. On June 15th of the following year New York was also the location
for the recording of Pick a Bale of Cotton, On December 3,
1940, He Never Said a Mumblin' Word (The Crucifixion) was also
recorded in New York.
And, the remaining eight songs were all recorded in New York. The dates of
there recording were Sun Didn't Shine on Calvary's Mountain
(May 25, 1951), Anyhow (May 25, 1951), God's Gonna Cut 'Em
Down (June 5, 1946), Swing Down, Chariot (June 5,
1946), No Restricted Signs up in Heaven (June 5, 1946), Shadrach,
Meshach, Abednego (June 5, 1946), Joshua Fit de
Battle of Jericho (June 5, 1946), and Atom and Evil
(June 5, 1946).
This release of some of the
best from The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet is
an outstanding collection. You will definitely want to add this one to your
collection.
One day when it becomes hard to fine, you will be very disappointed that you
did not obtain a copy.
We give The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet's
Rock My Soul a 10 out of 10.
To purchase this CD click
here. Click on the title to hear
a clip from Go
Where I Send Thee." |
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