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February being Black History Month, we decided to take another look at one of
the memorable CD’s from the legendary
Brooklyn All-Stars.
The CD is titled Memory Lane. It was released in 1992.
This was the first CD released by the group after the passing of members Hardie
Clifton (died 1990) and Sam Thomas (died 1991). Prior to their passing,
the group’s last recording in the 1980’s was the album Coming Home,
Nashboro LP 7249.
The Memory Lane is not a compilation CD wherein recordings are taken from
earlier masters. Although all of the songs had been previously recorded by the
group. The guys actually went in the studio in 1992 and re-recorded each
of the songs on the CD. In addition, they did not try to find ‘sound-alike’
singers for the members that had died. They used what members were left to
recreate a masterful recording of some of their earlier masterpieces.
The lineup for this recording featured Rev. Tommy Spann, Jerry Erwin, Garson
Pettiford, Timothy Spann, Johnny Burrell, Joe Yawn and Johnny Scott. Looking at
the lineup, you will notice that since this recording other members have cashed
in their ticket and moved across the river.
There are ten (10) songs on the Memory Lane CD. From our
in-house inventory it appears that (5) five appears to be from the group’s
Nashboro days, "No Cross No Crown" from the album The
Exciting Brooklyn Allstars
- LP-7064, "Family Prayer" from the album The Exciting
Brooklyn Allstars - LP-7064, "Too Close (to Heaven)" from
the album Sing Unto the Lord, LP-7073, "Move Across
The River" from the album
Sing Unto the Lord, LP-7073,
and "I Stood On The Banks Of Jordan" also from the album
Sing Unto the Lord, LP-7073.
Two songs appear to be from the group’s years with Jewel Records, "Confidential
God" from the album The New Sound of the Brooklyn Allstars,
LPS 0051, "Did You Stop To Pray This Morning" also from
the album
The New Sound of the Brooklyn Allstars, LPS 0051. The other songs on the
Memory Lane CD are “Good News,” “The Lord
Keeps Blessing," and “Heaven’s Grocery Store.”
Memory Lane is a good snap shot of the musical history of this
legendary group. There are many other songs by this group that are worthy of
being included in a trip down Memory Lane. However, the ten (10)
presented are a good representation of the group’s discography.
This is another one of those CDs
that may be hard to find in a few years. So, you just might want to get a copy
now. Years from now, you will be truly disappointed to not have added it to
your collection.
Even now, the CD may be hard to find.
You should, however, be able to download the songs by clicking
Memory Lane . We give
The
Brooklyn All-Stars'
Memory Lane a 9.5
out of 10. Click on the title to hear “No
Cross No Crown."
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