The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi

A remastered version of a Blind Boys album called The Tide of Life that was originally released in 1979 on Paula Records, an imprint of Stan Lewis' Jewel Records, this energetic set illustrates nicely how close hard Southern gospel is to secular soul, with tracks like "Please Remember Me" echoing a Stax Records feel and cuts like "Oh Well! What Can You Do" and "Thank the Lord I'm Singing Again" coming within a whisper of Motown. This is not the vintage version of the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi from the 1950s -- the one that was led by the great Archie Brownlee when the group recorded for Don Robey's Peacock Records -- but this configuration still does an admirable job on what is arguably the group's finest post-Brownlee recording. Just don't confuse this for a real best-of collection. The opening track, "The Tide of Life," though, is a gem. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide