The Radio Four – The Classic Decade – The Singles Collection 1952-62 – 2CD

Acrobat has recently been adding to its catalogue of collections featuring the gospel groups of the 1950s, who were part of the burgeoning gospel scene at a time when there were opportunities to perform at major venues and opportunities to record for labels with access to mass markets, and during an era when sanctified soul was laying the groundwork for the developing secular soul scene. The Radio Four, originally comprising various brothers from the Babb family, came from Kentucky, and after performing in different line-ups through the 1940s, first came to the fore around 1950 on radio WHOP in Hopkinsville, where one of the brothers Dr. Morgan Babb hosted a show. This led to their signing to the Tennessee label, with most of their recording being done for Nashville-based labels during this era. This 49-track 2-CD collection comprises most of their releases during these years on the Tennessee, Republic and Nashboro labels of which we are aware, only omitting titles of which mastering sources could not be located. It includes recordings made accompanying label colleagues Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke and Sister Lucille Barbee during this time, where they were named as accompanists on the record label. They were perhaps one of the less flamboyant and high-profile of the gospel groups of this era, but they were a highly-regarded ensemble, and in Morgan Babb had an outstanding lead singer.

Track Listing:

CD1:
The Gospel Five: 1. My Trouble Is Hard -   2. Elijah -   The Radio Four: 3. On My Journey Now -   4. Get Back Jordan -   5. I'll Meet Mother -   6. Leave It Here -   7. Sending Up This Prayer (Part 1) -   8. Sending Up This Prayer (Part 2) -   9. Blood Done Signed My Name -   10. Why Not Tonight -   11. Seek Seek Seek -   12. Somewhere -   13. Help Me Run This Race -   14. Never Too Late - Edna Gallmon Cooke: 15. Walk Through The Valley -   16. Amen -   The Radio Four: 17. I've Been Saved -   18. What More Can Jesus Do -   Edna Gallmon Cooke: 19. I've Got Religion -   20. Build Me A Cabin -   21. Evening Sun -   The Radio Four: 22. Whatcha Gonna Do -   23. God Don't Ever Change -   Edna Gallmon Cooke: 24. Somebody Touched Me -

CD2:
Sister Lucille Barbee: 1. Beautiful Tomorrow -   2. Call Him By His Name -   Edna Gallmon Cooke: 3. Come By Here -   Sister Lucille Barbee: 4. A Little More Faith And Grace -   The Radio Four: 5. An Earnest Prayer -   6. How Much I Owe -   7. My Imagination Of Heaven -   8. If You Miss Me From Praying -   9. The Christian Race -   10. You Must See Jesus -   11. Travelin' Through The Land -   12. All On Board -   13. You Can’t Hide -   14. Building A Home -   15. I Feel The Spirit -   16 There's Gonna Be Joy -   17. The Road's Rough And Rocky -   Edna Gallmon Cooke with The Radio Four: 18. Nobody But You Lord -   The Radio Four: 19. When He Calls Me -   20. I Received My Blessings -   21. Jesus Never Left Me Alone -   22. Walk Around My Bedside -   23. What He's Done For Me -   24. Whisper To Jesus -