The Sensational Nightingales - On Peacock with Julius Cheeks: 1950s

A repost by request: 
The Sensational   Nightingales have been one of the top gospel quartets for more than 60 years.  There are many CDs and LPs available.  But you won’t find this one.  This collection assembles all of the Peacock 45s from their golden years from 1952-1959, during the time that Julius Cheeks and the Gales earned their reputation as the “Baddest Quartet on the Road.”    A handful of these tracks were reissued on MCA’s budget CD/LP entitled the Best of the Sensational Nightingales.   But here you have THE essential 75-minute Sensational Nightingales CD that was never released

The Sensational Nightingales were based in Philadelphia.  They recruited the legendary singer Julius “June” Cheeks from his hometown in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1950.   By the time that the Peacock recordings began in 1952, the tenor Ernest James had joined the Nightingales from the Dixie Hummingbirds as second lead.    In many ways, Julius Cheeks was the archetypical hard gospel singer, and a huge influence on many other singers, including Wilson Pickett, David Ruffin, and Otis Clay.  Cheeks sang so hard that his voice gave out after a decade, forcing him into early retirement.    He worked himself and audiences into a complete frenzy.  The additional powerful tenor of Ernest James delivered a 1-2 punch that few other quartets could endure.   Nobody wanted to follow the Sensational Nightingales on the Program.     

After leaving the Nightingales in 1960, Cheeks continued to work and make records with the Four Knights, but began to experience the increasing vocal problems that ended his career.    Here you have the true recorded legacy of Julius Cheeks in his prime.  

The Sensational Nightingales is still one of the most powerful remaining quartets today. 

I've added 3 other collections to the original post. KC