Hallelujah: A Collection of Their Finest Recordings

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Recorded for Hob in the late '60s after Chicago label Vee Jay folded, these sides are the last great offerings made by the Swan Silvertones prior to the Reverend Claude Jeter's departure from the group. Founded as an a cappella quartet by hair-raising, Sam Cooke-forefather lead singer Jeter around 1938 in West Virginia, the Swan Silvertones were initially called the Four Harmony Kings, but changed their name in the early '40s upon taking a Knoxville, Tennessee, radio slot sponsored by the Swan Bakery. Hallelujah's tracks fairly evenly split and/or trade lead voice between Jeter and the gravelly growl of Louis Johnson, effectively marrying the group's hard, sanctified style with the soulfully smooth falsetto groove that gave the group its signature sound. Though the big hit "Mary Don't You Weep" is absent from this collection, the Silvertones lift the rafters with their revival versions of "Only Believe," parts 1 and 2, and the supreme Jeter-Johnson vocal duel on the guitar-, snare-, and bass-supported "Amazing Grace." Also outstanding are the velvety gorgeous "Jesus, I Love You," the gospel-soul slow funk of "I've Got Myself Together," and the intricate harmonies of "Leaning on Jesus." --Paige La Grone

Hallelujah: A Collection of Their Finest Recordings, Music, The Swan Silvertones, Black Gospel, Gospel, Gospel/Christian Music, Pop, R&B, Southern Gospel, Traditional Gospel

Average customer rating:

They do shine through !

Great music, amateurish recording

Hallelugah I finally found it

Hallelujah: A Collection of Their Finest Recordings
The Swan Silvertones
Manufacturer: Music Club
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
General | R&B | Styles | Music
Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Best of the Blind Boys

ASIN: B00000IWN2
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Only Believe - Part 1
Only Believe - Part 2
I Love The Lord
Amazing Grace
Call Him Up
Leaning On Jesus
Jesus, I Love You
In My Heart
He's Me Friend
I've Got Myself Together
Home In That Rock
I'm Going With Jesus
Walk With Me
Lord, Have Mercy
He's All I Need

Amazon.com

Recorded for Hob in the late '60s after Chicago label Vee Jay folded, these sides are the last great offerings made by the Swan Silvertones prior to the Reverend Claude Jeter's departure from the group. Founded as an a cappella quartet by hair-raising, Sam Cooke-forefather lead singer Jeter around 1938 in West Virginia, the Swan Silvertones were initially called the Four Harmony Kings, but changed their name in the early '40s upon taking a Knoxville, Tennessee, radio slot sponsored by the Swan Bakery. Hallelujah's tracks fairly evenly split and/or trade lead voice between Jeter and the gravelly growl of Louis Johnson, effectively marrying the group's hard, sanctified style with the soulfully smooth falsetto groove that gave the group its signature sound. Though the big hit "Mary Don't You Weep" is absent from this collection, the Silvertones lift the rafters with their revival versions of "Only Believe," parts 1 and 2, and the supreme Jeter-Johnson vocal duel on the guitar-, snare-, and bass-supported "Amazing Grace." Also outstanding are the velvety gorgeous "Jesus, I Love You," the gospel-soul slow funk of "I've Got Myself Together," and the intricate harmonies of "Leaning on Jesus." --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

They do shine through !.......2001-12-05

This has been one of my favorite CD's lately. The recordings are mostly live, featuring Claude Jeter's amazing vocal shrills and the groups endless timing. The interaction of the group with the crowd adds another aspect of beauty to the music.
The recording quality is mostly poor (except tracks 10-11) but I don't mind that. The soul quality does manage to shine through.
I am hooked on the Swan Silvertones, as I get special thrills whenever I listen to them. This CD is no exception !
So, for original gospel feeling - I highly recommand this CD.

Great music, amateurish recording.......2001-08-09

I fell in love with the Swan Silvertones when I heard their cut on the soundtrack of "The Big Easy" ("Saviour, Pass Me Not"). The harmonies, the singing, the tone of the voices were to die for. I looked forward to receiving this CD with great anticipation, but was sorely disappointed when I heard the sound quality. Most tracks (except for 10 and 11) sound like they were recorded by some guy who wandered in off the street with his portable tape recorder. The sound is so bad the magic of the group is totally missing on these cuts. Luckily, track 10 ("I've Got Myself Together") is almost worth the price of admission - it really cooks. There is no warning about the sound quality in the Amazon listing or on the CD cover. I'd like to buy other CDs by this group, but I'm afraid of getting cheated by unacceptable sound quality.

- Hunt

Hallelugah I finally found it.......2001-04-06

I first became aware of Swan Silvertones back in the late sixties when I heard a gospel sampler containing songs from the likes of Shirley Ceasar, and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The piece I heard by Swan Silvertones was "I Only Believe" and my eyes nearly teared up. That velvety smooth falsetto was so sweet and the harmony so beautiful I felt like I was listening to angels. This is the stuff from which sprang the doo wop sound of rock and roll. These are the roots of the groups many of us came to love like the Drifters and the Temptations.

After years of searching for that wonderful song I cannot believe my good fortune to have found it here. It goes to show you that "all, all , all, things, are, ah ah are, poss, cyble"

Hallelujah: A Collection of Their Finest Recordings
Average customer rating:

Great Singing But Bad Liner Notes

Hallelujah: A Collection of Their Finest Recordings
The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama
Manufacturer: Music Club
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000IWN4
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Something's Got A Hold On Me
When I Come To The End Of My Journey
Too Close To Heaven
The War In Vietnam
A Great Camp Meeting
Father, I Stretch My Hands To Thee
Come This Far By Faith
How Far Am I From Canaan
Too Sweet To Be Saved
Home In That Rock
I Got Jesus On My Mind
Lord's Been Good To Me
Alone And Motherless
Running For My Life
I Saw The Light

Customer Reviews:

Great Singing But Bad Liner Notes.......2002-01-19

Here we have a fine collection of selections from a few of the major albums recorded by the Blind Boys of Alabama during the late 1960s and early 1970s on the HOB record label. These selections were obviously taken from the masters and are flawless in sound quality. Featured lead singers include Clarence Fountain, Billy Bowers, and Freddie N. Smith. I mention this solely to introduce the down side of this CD. With much disrespect to Gospel and mainly Black Quartet history the compilers of this CD on several occasions neglect to cite the correct lead vocalist on selections. This serves as a great confusion to new listners not familar with the group. In fact, had it not been for years of listening to and studying quartet gospel music I would have fallen prey as well. No less than 5 of the 15 selections have the wrong vocalist listed as lead. For those who have little material on the Blind Boys from this era this collection is recommended. However, Beware of the song credits on the back CD cover, the accuracy terrible!!

Music:

Music

Music