1946-1951
This double disc collects all the earliest sides recorded by the fabulous quartet act the Swan Silvertones. Led by insanely 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." And those just might have you weeping if you're not careful. This is a very powerful and much needed selection of this great group's 78 RPM recordings. Oh, happy day!–Mike McGonigal