Consisting of Archie Brownlee, Roscoe Robinson, Willie Kinard, Lloyd Woodard, Lawrence Johnson and Joseph Ford, the Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama were one of the quintessential gospel groups of the post-WWII delivery. Lead vocalist Brownlee gave the band it’s signature sound with his spewing fire from heaven gravely voice and their blues leaning harmonies. This 2 disc, 48 song collection is the second part of their anthology, with it’s material on Peacock records being from it’s halcyon days.
Brownlee belts it from the pulpit on jubilee shouters like “I’m A Rolling” and “Let’s Have Church”. The call and response of pieces like “Lord, Lord, You’ve Been So Good To Me” and “You Done What The Doctor Couldn’t Do” sway like it’s Sunday Morning. During the later years, the styles adapted to a more “soul” feel as on the passionate “I’ll Go” and there’s plenty of testifying about Judgment Day as on “That Awful Hour” and “Coming Home”, while there’s comfort for the trouble hearted on “One Talk With Jesus” and “Jeus Is A Rock In A Weary Land”.