Splendid 2-CD compilation that contains the complete recorded output this legendary quartet recorded for King Records from 1946 - 1952. Formed in 1943 as a radio quartet in Cincinnati, the original group consisted of the Delmore Brothers, Grandpa Jones, and Merle Travis. Later members included Red Foley, Clyde Moody, and Red Turner. Their appeal was multi-faceted. Their vocal structures were taken directly from the old shape note gospel traditions. These were augmented by instrumental passages consisting of guitar solos by Travis, and later Alton Delmore. Mandolin — and occasionally banjo — breaks fleshed out later recordings. But, essentially, it was a marriage of great singing and superior material that has won them lasting fame. A quarter century after their demise, their influence was the model for the popular Hee Haw Gospel Quartet and popular entertainers such as Doyle Lawson continue to mine this great group for material. The group’s earliest recordings were cut direct to disc while later sessions were recorded on tape. Every effort has been made to give these masters — now over 50 years old — their best representation ever. It’s great to hear the tunes without the pops, ticks, and phony echo which plagued many of their earlier reissues. The discs come packaged with an 8-page booklet of notes detailing the individual recording sessions and song histories. An essential and long overdue reissue.

Disc One

Disc Two