When Cooke left the Soul Stirrers for a pop career in 1957, Paul Foster tried to carry on alone but soon realized he was most effective as a foil to a high tenor. So he hired Kansas City's Johnnie Taylor, and the 19-year-old tenor soon assuaged the disappointment over Cooke's departure with a sweet tone that seemed to make the lyrics hum as he soared up and down through the octaves. The 24 tracks on this album, recorded from 1953 to '59, feature 10 Foster leads, nine Taylor leads, and five split leads. Only two of these takes have been previously released. --Geoffrey Himes