The Blind Boys Of Alabama, founded in 1939, were one of the pioneering and highly influential gospel groups of their era, forging a career through evolving group line-ups which lasted over four decades and eventually brought them international fame an recognition, winning a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Known also for part of their career as The Happyland Singers, and led during this era by Charles Fountain, they were a hugely popular group at ‘live’ concerts, and had a significant influence on singers who became important R&B and soul performers like Ray Charles. This 56-track 2-CD collection comprises just about all the A & B sides of their releases on the Coleman, Palda, Gospel and Specialty labels during this era, many of which were featured on their “Revival Time” and God’s Promise” albums. It includes releases as Clarence Fountain and The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and The Happyland Singers. Acrobat already has a single CD compilation by the group (“The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama 1948-51” ACMCD4204) and this release builds on that with extensive material from later years. It’s a collection which is uplifting and inspiring, and a fine example of their stylish and distinctive brand of gospel.

Tracks

CD 1
1. JESUS LOVE DIVINE The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Coleman 5983) 1948 
2. SEE EVERYBODY'S MOTHER BUT MINE The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Coleman 5983) 1948 
3. WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Coleman 5987) 1948 
4. WHAT MORE CAN JESUS DO The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Coleman 5987) 1948 
5. DON'T WONDER ABOUT HIM The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Coleman 5988) 1948 
6. I WANT MY CROWN The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Coleman 5988) 1948 
7. I'VE AN INTEREST OVER THERE Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 120) 1950 
8. BY AND BY Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 120) 1950 
9. LIVING ON MOTHER'S PRAYER Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 121) 1950 
10. RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 121) 1950 
11. WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 125) 1950 
12. ANYHOW Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 125) 1950 
13. DEATH HAS TAKEN MOTHER HOME Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 129) 1950 
14. HONEY IN THE ROCK Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 129) 1950 
15. POWER OF THE LORD Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 132) 1950 
16. IN THE VINEYARD Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 132) 1950 
17. MOTHER'S SONG Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 133)  
18. JESUS WON'T DENY ME Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 133)  
19. ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 136)  
20. GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 138)  
21. GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 138)  
22. GOOD RELIGION Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 142) 1951 
23. NO MORE TEARS, NO MORE DYING Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 142) 1951 
24. SINCE MOTHER'S BEEN GONE Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 146)  
25. COME OVER HERE Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 146)  
26. CANAAN LAND Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 147) 

CD 2
1. LEAVE YOUR BURDENS THERE Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 147)  
2. WHEN I LOST MY MOTHER (SOMETHING ABOUT THE LORD IS MIGHTY SWEET) Original Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 842) 1953 
3. OH LORD, STAND BY ME Original Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 842) 1953 
4. PRECIOUS LORD Original Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 850) 1953 
5. I'LL FLY AWAY Original Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 850) 1953 
6. MARCHING UP TO ZION Happyland Singers (Specialty 857) 1954 
7. DOES JESUS CARE Happyland Singers (Specialty 857) 1954 
8. SINCE I MET JESUS Happyland Singers (Specialty 870) 1954 
9. ALONE AND MOTHERLESS Happyland Singers (Specialty 870) 1954 
10. GOD’S PROMISE Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 876) 1955 
11. THERE IS A FOUNTAIN Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 876) 1955 
12. HERE I AM Happyland Singers (Specialty 891) 1956 
13. I CRIED Happyland Singers (Specialty 891) 1956 
14. LIVING FOR MY JESUS Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 894) 1956 
15. SWINGING ON THE GOLDEN GATE Five Blind Boys Of Alabama (Specialty 894) 1956 
16. GREAT CAMP MEETING Clarence Fountain and The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1027) 1959 
17. SIT DOWN AND REST AWHILE Clarence Fountain and The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1027) 1959 
18. HE'S SWEET I KNOW Clarence Fountain and The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1032) 1959 
19. GOD IS GOOD TO ME Clarence Fountain and The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1032) 1959 
20. MOTHERS ON THE TRAIN The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1036) 1960 
21. HILLS OF CALVARY The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1036) 1960 
22. HOP, SKIP AND JUMP The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1047) 1961 
23. SOMETHING GOT HOLD OF ME The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1047) 1961 
24. MY GOD CAN DO NO WRONG The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1053) 1961 
25. OUR REVIVAL TIME The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1053) 1961 
26. OH YES HE WILL - PART 1 The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1055) 1961 
27. WORKING ON THE BUILDING The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1061) 1961 
28. SATISFIED WITH MY JESUS The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1061) 1961 
29. COME TO JESUS The Blind Boys of Alabama (Gospel 1067) 1962