Leading gospel researcher Anthony Heilbut continues his splendid series of gospel reissues for Shanachie and its sister label, Spirit Feel, with this collection of 31 performances by 16 of gospel's greatest female vocalists, including some of America's finest singers in any genre. It begins with five of Mahalia Jackson's early recordings for Apollo, before she was tamed by Columbia, and continues with such legends as Willie Mae Ford Smith, Roberta Martin, Rosetta Tharpe, Clara Ward, Marion Williams, and Dorothy Love Coates as well as lesser known names. Heilbut's 16 pages of notes put it all in context. --Geoffrey Himes