A treasure trove for archivists, Earliest Negro Vocal Quartets (1894-1928) compiles 23 impossibly rare recordings spotlighting the African-American four-part harmony singing style which predated both jazz and the blues. The real treat here is the lone surviving recording by the Standard Quintette, 1894's "Keep Movin'"; a cylinder cut for Columbia, it is in fact the only black music recording of its time to survive into the 20th century, and as a piece of history alone it's invaluable. The first-ever commercial recordings by a black group, cut in 1902 by the Dinwiddle Colored Quartet, are included, as well, as are tracks by the Apollo Male Quartette and Polk Miller & His Old South Quartette. Understandably, the music here is buried under considerable surface noise; casual listeners may wish to pass, but for historians the release of Earliest Negro Vocal Quartets (1894-1928) is a major event. Jason Ankeny
Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. Before blues, before jazz, the tradition of black male quartets, four-part harmony singing by African Americans was an established tradition of richness and complexity. Little recognised, almost all of the earliest aural artefacts of music by African Americans were quartet selections. All known examples of these extremely rare recordings are presented on this collection. Several of these are the only copies of a particular artefact and the listener must appreciate that these recordings stem from the dawn of recording technology and many are in poor shape such as the only known surviving cylinder by the Standard Quintette, Keep Movin’. The Standard Quintette who recorded several cylinders for Columbia in 1894 were active on the concert stage at the time. This is the first Nineteenth Century recording of African American music that has been recovered and is an event despite the fact that what music remains is buried under a great deal of surface noise. While the Standard Quintette recorded cylinders, the first records by a black quartet were the six one sided discs issued by Victor of the Dinwiddie Colored Quartet. Recorded in New York in two sessions in October 1902, these recordings of spirituals show a close harmony style. Old South Quartette is a unique and important group of singers from Richmond, Va. who became well known while performing with white pharmacist and banjo player, Polk Miller. Miller had a show of “Stories, Sketches and Songs” of black life before the Civil War. He travelled widely with this show to excellent reviews. Mark Twain in response to a Carnegie Hall performance was lavish in his praise, referring to them as “about the only thing the country can furnish that is originally and uniquely American” and calling two of their selections, “musical earthquakes”. After Miller’s death the group continued to perform into the thirties as well as appearing on WRVA in Richmond. They recorded seven cylinders with Miller for Edison in 1909 and several records for QRS in 1928. Their varied repertoire goes well beyond spirituals to entertaining numbers like Pussy Cat Rag with its vocal imitations of cats and dogs and Oysters and Wine at 2 a.m..
The other groups represented here remain a mystery other their listings in the discographies. DOCD-5061
Tracklist :
1 Standard Quartette – Keep Movin' 2:55
2 Dinwiddie Colored Quartet– Down On The Old Camp Ground 2:26
3 Dinwiddie Colored Quartet– Poor Mourner 1:48
4 Dinwiddie Colored Quartet– Steal Away 1:53
5 Dinwiddie Colored Quartet– Gabriel's Trumpet 2:42
6 Dinwiddie Colored Quartet– We'll Anchor Bye-And-Bye 2:37
7 Male Quartette– The Camp Meeting Jubilee 1:46
8 Apollo Male Quartette– Swing Low Sweet Chariot 2:52
9 Apollo Male Quartette– Shout All Over God's Heaven 2:27
10 Polk Miller And His Old South Quartette– The Bonnie Blue Flag 4:01
11 Polk Miller And His Old South Quartette– Laughing Song 3:32
12 Polk Miller And His Old South Quartette– What A Time 3:46
13 Polk Miller And His Old South Quartette– The Watermelon Party 4:14
14 Polk Miller And His Old South Quartette– Rise And Shine 2:13
15 Polk Miller And His Old South Quartette– The Old Time Religion 2:04
16 Polk Miller And His Old South Quartette– Jerusalem Mornin' 2:01
17 Old South Quartette– Oh What He's Done For Me 2:44
18 Old South Quartette– Watermelon Party 2:50
19 Old South Quartette– Bohunks And Josephus 2:56
20 Old South Quartette– Oysters And Wine At 2 A.M. 3:15
21 Old South Quartette– Pussy Cat Rag 2:43
22 Old South Quartette– When De Corn Pone's Hot 2:37
23 Old South Quartette– No Hiding Place Down Here 2:37
