Another 2002 presentation of Old Time Records, this time featuring the Charioteers exclusively, singing what were called, at the time, "Negro Spirituals," so a better title for this collection might be "The Charioteers Sing Sprirtuals."
The Charioteers were formed in 1930 at Wilberforce College in Ohio. Members were tenor lead Wilfred "Billy" Williams, second tenor Edward Jackson, baritone Ira Williams, and vocal arranger and bass Howard Daniel. After winning an all-Ohio quartet contest in 1934 they obtained a two-record contract with Decca and a short radio show on WLW in Cincinnati. The original group included Williams, Daniels, Peter Leubers, and John Harewood, but in 1936 when the group moved to New York Leubers and Harewood were replaced with Jackson and Ira Williams respectively. In 1937 they signed with Vocalion Records, launching their recording career. Most of their 1930s recordings were in the vein of jubilees, spirituals, and Negro folk tunes like Wade In The Water and Ezekiel Saw De Wheel. When they moved to Columbia in 1940, the label recorded the Charioteers as a pop group, similar to the Ink Spots, not an R&B ensemble, and national success was immediate. They appeared regularly on network radio, most notably Bing Crosby's show, and in movies, while also touring in the musical revue Hellzapoppin'. The Charioteers got their biggest hit with the 1947 sensation, a humorous novelty called Open The Door, Richard (number 6 pop), in which they competed on the charts with six other versions. The group received more national exposure with the double-sided hit, What Did He Say? (number 21 pop) backed with Ooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty (number 20 pop) in 1948, and A Kiss And A Rose (number 8 R&B, number 19 pop). In 1950 Williams left the Charioteers to form his own quartet and prospered immensely during the '50s. The Charioteers, on the other hand, persevered with new lead Herbert Dickerson, but gradually disappeared from the public eye before disbanding in 1957.
This collection is a compilation from two 16-inch Standard Transcriptions discs of approximately early 1940s vintage, originally available exclusively to radio stations. Instrumentation is relatively sparse, so that the music has an almost "acappella" feel. The harmony is tight - displaying true vocal skill.
Great listening!
Track listing:
1. Poor Little Jesus Boy (Standard #U-185)
2. Rock Hewed Out Of The Mountain (Standard #U-185)
3. When The Saints Go Marchin' In (Standard #U-185)
4. Great Gettin' Up Morning (Standard #U-185)
5. Dere's One More River To Cross (Standard #U-185)
6. Yes He Did (Standard #U-185)
7. When Death Comes A Creepin' (Standard #U-185)
8. I'm Bound For The Promised Land (Standard #U-182)
9. Balm In Gilead (Standard #U-182)
10. I Know The Lord Has Laid His Hands On Me (Standard #U-182)
11. In Bright Mansions Above (Standard #U-182)
12. My Good Lord's Done Been There (Standard #U-182)
13. I Stood On The River Jordan (Standard #U-182)
14. Jacob's Ladder (Standard #U-182)
15. I'll Be There In De Mawnin' (Standard #U-182)
16. Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho (Standard #U-182)
17. When I Lay My Burden Down (Standard #U-185)
18. Religion Is A Fortune (Standard #U-185)
19. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (Standard #U-185)
20. Jubilee (Standard #U-185)
