The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, led by the charismatic Clarence Fountain, have recently taken their fervent quartet-style gospel sounds beyond church audiences to new fans at festivals, concert halls, and nightclubs around the world. Even during the Fifties, when they were kings of the gospel circuit, they were open to experiment, and this collection of 27 tracks, all but two previously unissued, finds them mixing jazz, Latin rhythms, and even comedy into their repertoire. Besides veteran group members Fountain and George Scott, it features the chilling voices of four singing preachers--Paul Exkano, Samuel K. Lewis, George W. Warren, and Percell Perkins. |