Various Artists – Carolina Gospel Quartets Vol. 2 / Document CD-5562

Album Notes

Audio Remasterer: Gerhard Wessely.

Liner Note Author: Ray Funk.

Recording information: 04/1929-09/1938.

Document’s second compilation devoted to Carolina gospel quartets reissues 20 Bluebird recordings by three little-known a cappella groups whose sounds are worth experiencing. The Bright Moon Quartet was formed in Durham, NC in April 1929. They initially called themselves the Three Evenings, then decided upon the Bright Moons, wearing moon-and-star lapel pins when performing at churches in and around Durham. Their only known recordings (eight of ten are heard here) were made in Charlotte. Each man received $12.50 for his time, and there were never any royalties. The Bright Moons became very popular on local radio and were still singing over the air in the ’80s. They resisted all opportunities to go professional, keeping their steady paying jobs and remaining in the community where they were regarded as heroes. The Bright Moons consisted of lead singer Chester Clark, tenor James Douglas, baritone John Patterson, and bass singer John Wardell. Although some of the original records used here are very scratchy, others are all but immaculate, and all are worth experiencing, for this was a very fine unit. You can hear exactly why the people in Durham were so proud of them. The Capitol City Four cut their records in Rock Hill, SC in September 1938. Precise harmonies and intricate arrangements make each of their performances a marvel of collective coordination. When they really get rolling the words attain a life of their own as the voices cycle like meshing pistons. Also recording in Rock Hill in February 1939, the Moore Spiritual Singers, who appear to have been blood relations, named each of their songs after a biblical figure, including Satan. What sets them apart is a standard pattern of delivery used on each recording, where repetitive chanting loosens the bearings and spoken sections are accompanied by a deep droning which reappears from time to time and closes out each little sermon. With all that chanting and droning, when taken in succession, tracks 15-20 are practically guaranteed to have a warping effect upon the listener’s sense of reality, so it would probably be wise not to attempt to listen to this group while operating heavy machinery. ~ arwulf arwulf