In certain parts of the South (mainly Alabama & Georgia), Sacred Harp singing was a very important part of religious life, and evidently there was enough interest and demand for it to capture the attention of most of the major record labels in the 1920s. Really more of a participating, community music, there are groups that gather to sing ancient hymns from the various Sacred Harp books even today. But for some old-time music devotees, it is not their "cup of tea", and for those not familiar with this music we suggest getting to listen to a few songs before ordering something like this 4-CD set --even as much of a bargain as it is. (County Records has two separate Sacred Harp CDs that will give anyone a very good idea of what the form is all about). There are over a dozen songs by Allison's Sacred Harp Singers --one of the best and best-known of the Alabama groups, as well as tracks by Dye's Sacred Harp Singers, Denson Quartet, Lee Wells, Georgia Sacred Harp, and the Alabama Sacred Harp Singers that recorded some wonderful examples of the genre for Columbia. The Allisons' examples were recorded with just a few voices, and maybe the most listenable of the bunch. The old 78rpm records that yielded these are almost all exceedingly rare. Quite a set for lovers of Sacred Harp music. There are 81 cuts on 4- CDs .

DISC 1:

DYE'S SACRED HARP SINGERS

• AMAZING GRACE
• HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION

DENSON QUARTET

• SOAR AWAY
• SABBATH MORNING

FA SOL LA SINGERS

• REJOICING ON THE WAY
• JESUS WALKS WITH ME
• HAPPY ON THE WAY

ROSWELL SACRED HARP QUARTET

• WEEPING MARY
• ODEM

ALLISON'S SACRED HARP SINGERS

• BOUND FOR CANAAN
• ANTIOCH
• SWEET ROSPECT
• THE OLD SHIP OF ZION
• SWEET CANAAN
• EXHILARATION
• LONG SOUGHT HOME
• WEEPING PILGRIM
• THE LOVED ONES

ELDER GOLDEN P. HARRIS

• MY GOD THE SPRING OF ALL MY JOYS
• MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS IN BONDS OF LOVE

DISC 2:

ALABAMA SACRED HEART SINGERS

• ROCKY ROAD
• PRESENT JOYS
• RELIGION IS A FORTUNE
• CUBA

DENSON'S SACRED HEART SINGERS OF ARLEY, ALABAMA

• THE HAPPY SAILOR
• PROTECTION
• NINETY FIFTH
• THE CHRISTIAN HOPE

MIDDLE GEORGIA SINGING CONVENTION NO. 1

• BELLS OF LOVE
• WALKING WITH MY KING

OKEH-ATLANTA SACRED HARP SINGERS

• RETURN AGAIN
• PENICK
• EDOM
• PARTING HAND

HUGGINS & PHILIPS SACRED HARP SINGERS

• BLOOMING YOUTH
• LOVERS OF THE LORD

LEE WELLS & HIS JASPER ALABAMA SACRED HARP SINGERS

• THE CHRISTIAN'S FLIGHT
• NORTH PORT

PIONEER SACRED HARP SINGERS

• THE PROMISED LAND
• RAYMOND

DISC 3:

ALLISON'S SACRED HARP SINGERS

• THE HEAVENLY PORT
• HALLELUJAH
• THE GOLDEN HARP
• HEAVEN'S MY HOME
• I'M A LONG TIME TRAVELLING AWAY FROM HOME
• I BELONG TO THIS BAND
• SHARPSBURG
• MURILLO'S LESSON
• JEWETT
• PISGAH
• PRIMROSE HILL
• WEEPING MARY
• PENICK
• SWEET MORNING
• ESTHER

DANIELS-DEASON SACRED HARP SINGERS

• PRYEL'S HYMN
• HALLELUJAH
• PRIMROSE HILL
• CORONATION

BASSETT QUARTET

• JUBILEE
• I'M NOT ASHAMED OF JESUS

DISC 4:

DYE'S SACRED HARP SINGERS

• LAND OF BEULAH
• CALVARY
• VICTORIA
• BETHEL

DENSON-PARRIS SACRED HARP SINGERS

• CONVERSION
• THE GOOD OLD WAY
• THE HEAVENLY PORT
• BLOOMING YOUTH
• RAGAN
• RAYMOND

DENSON QUARTET

• CHRISTIAN SOLDIER
• I'M ON MY JOURNEY HOME

GEORGIA SACRED HARP QUARTET

• WONDROUS LOVE
• WINDHAM

MOODY BIBLE SACRED HARP SINGERS

• LIBERTY
• IN THAT MORNING

ORIGINAL SACRED HARP CHOIR

• SOFT MUSIC
• CANAAN'S LAND
• PLEYEL'S HYMN
• NEW BRITAIN