RARE BLACK GOSPEL TEST PRESS 45 NorFolk Singers LISTEN

$

50

* * * * LISTEN * * * *

  ~ DESCRIPTION ~

Norfolk Singers, Black Gospel Quartet from Chicago, Illinois
"Michael Row the Boat / Joshawa"

Virtue Recording Studios TEST PRESS, USA, Philadelphia, c. 50's-60's

VG+ , 45 rpm 7”, Metal Disc, Acetate

                    Artist:                           Norfolk Singers

                    Title:                             Michael Row the Boat / Joshawa

                    Record Label:           Virtue Recording Studios

                    Catalogue #:              NONE, no numbers in dead wax

                    Release Date:            1950-196?

                    Country:                      USA, Philadelphia, PA

                    Genre:                          Gospel & Religious : Black Gospel Quartet

                 Vinyl Grade:             VG+, mostly shiny disc, on one side, there is a cloudy area in the disc,
                                                    which doesn’t affect play. There are several surface marks and scuffs,
                                                    but no deep scratches. There is a pointy indentation in the track,
                                                    like a puncture ‘wound’ which does not go through. Play in the area on
                                                    Joshawa side has some loss of sound and makes some noise here
                                                    (listen to clips of each side I recorded - unedited).  The disc is metal with
                                                    vinyl overlay.

                                                The labels are puckered a bit and discolored, with hand written labels.

                    Additional Info:       Up for auction is an original TEST PRESS Black Gospel recording by

                                                           the Norfolk Singers, with the title: Michael Row the

                                                           Boat / Joshawa , which was made at Virtue Recording Studios and
                                               has no number on label nor in dead wax, circa 1950's-1960's.
                                               This is a MEGA-RARE, One of a KIND, hard to find recording, 
                                               if there even exist another copy like it. You don't want to miss this

                                                           musical piece of BLACK GOSPEL history.

                                                            This is authentic BLACK GOSPEL Quartet from Chicago, Illinois,

                                                            TEST PRESS, of two songs by the NORFOLK SINGERS. 
                                                It appears that these songs were never released. This

                                                            makes this recording VERY collectible, RARE and likely one of

                                                            a kind. I have recorded each side for you to hear, WOW!

                                                            Fantastic genuine moving, soul stirring, GOSPEL music. A great

                                                            addition for any collector.

                                                            The test press was done by Virtue recording studios, 1618 N.

                                                            Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, Phone: PO 9-09479.

                                                            DATING THE TEST PRESS, the following is all I have to go on,

                                                            which would date it 1962 or later, assuming these facts are

                                                            correct. Which doesn't seem right because these groups were most
                                                popular in the 1950's in the Chicago area.

                                                            Frank Virtue was A bassist who was leader of the rock & roll

                                                            band, The Virtues, who had a #5 pop hit with "Guitar Boogie

                                                            Shuffle" on the Philadelphia-based Hunt label in 1959. He

                                                            opened Virtue Recording Studios in Philadelphia in 1962.

                                                            WHO WAS IN THE QUARTET?

                                                            Hard to find out, I found two names which at one time were

                                                            members and they are GREAT NAMES: Roscoe Robinson & Lou

                                                            Rawls. Wow! with talent like that no wonder they were so good. 

                                                            References:

                                                            http://www.justmovingon.info/ARTISTS/RoscoeRobinsonGospel.html

                                                            During the 1950s, the 'golden age' of Quartet Gospel, Roscoe

                                                            would sing with The Southern Sons, The Silver Quintette, The

                                                            Royal Quartet, The Kelly Brothers, The Norfolk Singers, The

                                                            Fairfield Four, The Gospel Jays and The Paramount Singers...

                                                            talk about a veteran!

                                                            Re: James Phelps,

                                                            http://www.soulcellar.co.uk/jamesphelps/Interview.html

                                                            "Despite this, James stayed the amateur soloist throughout his

                                                            time in Shreveport and it was not until he arrived in Chicago

                                                            that he became a group member, stereotypically within a gospel

                                                            outfit, initially this being the Gospel Songbirds. From there he

                                                            joined the Holy Wonders, through which Lou Rawls was also

                                                            coincidentally passing through. Lou Rawls, Sam Cooke, Johnnie

                                                            Taylor... we were all messing around Chicago, said James. Sam

                                                            Cooke had just left the Highway QC's and went with the Soul

                                                            Stirrers. Lou Rawls and I were with a group called the Holy

                                                            Wonders then Lou went to the Norfolk Singers and from there I

                                                            got to organise the Clefs of Calvary."

                                                            OTHER RECORDINGS BY NORFOLK SINGERS

                                                            (It is possible this recording was intended for Aristocrat label

                                                            release, perhaps its out there somewhere?)

                                                            From the Aristocrat Label (precursor to famous CHESS label) history page:

                                                            http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~campber/aristocrat.html

                                                            "In the spring of 1949, Leonard Chess and Evelyn Aron decided

                                                            to get back into gospel music (which up to now had been

                                                            represented only by the Seven Melody Men). They acquired two

                                                            sides by the Blue Jay Singers, then followed with new sessions by

                                                            the Reverend Gatemouth Moore and the Norfolk Singers."

                                                            The Norfolk singers recorded one record on the Aristocrat label

                                                            (906 A, 906 B), in September of 1949 (78 rpm). The company

                                                            sought to solidify its commitment to gospel music by recording

                                                            an ensemble called the Norfolk Singers, about whom we

                                                            unfortunately know nothing. Two sides of theirs, cut at United

                                                            Broadcasting Studios in July, appeared on Aristocrat 906.

                                                            They also appear on this recording which appears to have been a

                                                            collection of previous recording released much latter, and

                                                            includes the two songs by them from the Aristocrat label.

                                                            Glad I Found the Lord: Chicago Gospel 1937-47

                                                            Leading quartets, including the Famous Blue Jays Pilgrim

                                                            Jubilees, Norfolk Singers, and Kelly Brothers, span the years

                                                            1937 through 1957. ~ Opal Louis Nations, All Music Guide

                                                            Thanks for Bidding! GOOD LUCK! No Reserve!!!

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GRADING

SS (Still Sealed): Album is still sealed in ORIGINAL factory shrink wrap, it is unopened, record and sleeve should be near mint.

M (Mint): Cover shows no signs of wear or rings, shrink wrap removed, but record never played, perfection. We seldom use this grade.

M- / NM (Near Mint): Cover shows very minor signs of wear, no creases, no rings or split seams, the record can have a few scuffs or tiny light scratches, but it plays perfectly with no surface noise, the label is clean and unmarked.

VG++ / EX (Excellent): Cover shows slight ring, corner creases or edge wear, no wrinkles, puckers or seam splits, no writing on cover. Disc should have 6 or less fine scratches or scuffs , may have writing on label, and should play with hardly any surface noise. The condition of this vinyl is excellent. No skips!

VG+ (Very Good Plus): Cover is clean and will have SOME of the following flaws: writing, creases, frayed corners, edge wear, stains, ring, split seams, but NOT all of these to retain this grade. If too many flaws, it gets downgraded to VG. The disc will typcially have scratches and scuffs, good lustre and can have writing on label, but not deep scratches/scuffs that significantly affect audio quality, there should not be any skips. If we detect a deep scratch it is normal we play-grade through the scratch, to ensure we are not selling vinyl that has a skip.

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