Rolling through the alphabetical entries in Robert M.W. Dixon and John Godrich's Blues and Gospel Records 1890-1943, the fifth volume in Document's
Preachers and Congregations series presents two dozen vintage recordings released under the names of six individuals whose names began with the letters J through R. The earliest of these are four burlesques with titles like "Pistol Paul's Sermon," recorded by Philip "Jazz Baby" Moore and company in St. Louis and Chicago in 1926 and 1927. Reverend William Ransom made his records in Atlanta in 1927 with assistance from Sisters Callie Hunter and Pauline Tidwell and Brother William Christopher. Reverend R.M. Massey's two-part "Old Time Baptism" reenactment dates from early 1928, and Reverend H.B. Jackson's six titles from 1929 feature lots of singing with organ and piano accompaniments. Reverend J.M. Milton's set is filled with great narrative chanting -- note that "A Four Day Ramble" actually refers to a "Fore Day Ramble." Apparently based in Atlanta, Milton was a skillful and creative improviser. His "Damnation Train" is one heck of a narration during which he calls out the sinful "stops" along the way. Also from Atlanta, one Reverend Perkins and his congregation cut a record in November 1931 that stands as the "newest" offering in this compilation. An interesting footnote is that the Columbia file cards originally contained the words "with Deacon Magnum and Sister Buffard" but this information was subsequently deleted. ~ arwulf arwulf