THE MCCRARY SISTERS Let’s Go
MCC
I first knowingly heard The McCrary Sisters on Etta Britt’s excellent Etta Does Delbert CD released last year. However, they have worked or recorded with many familiar names, among them Doctor John, The Black Keys, Jonny Lang, Robert Randolph and many, many others. Their father was the great Reverend Samuel McCrary, one of the founder members of The Fairfield Four, a long-standing gospel group who really hit their stride in the classic era of Gospel music in the 50s.
The present members put in a fine guest appearance here on Don’t You Let Nobody Turn You ‘Round, and certainly live up to their formidable reputation. The four McCrary Sisters – Ann, Deborah, Regina and Alfreda – obviously grew up surrounded by gospel music and went on to forge reputations as singers on an individual basis, before they formed their own group in 2011.
This album – produced by Nashville’s Buddy Miller, who also guests – is a gospel set and one which reflects their wide musical experience, from classic a cappella group sounds to the driving rhythm and blues inflected I Am Free, and Fire, an immensely powerful performance which sounds like it is accompanied by a modern New Orleans brass band.
He Split The Rock is a sacred number with a tough blues format and some blistering electric guitar by Marc Copley; if you are a little unsure about this set, try this track first if you can, but if you enjoy good, soulful music and have an interest in gospel or Americana, there’s no reason whatsoever to be uncertain about the value of this set.
NORMAN DARWEN
