The Unique Quartette • Celebrated, 1895-1896 (LP)

Unlike many of the white groups that frequented the recording labs of the 1890s the Unique Quartette was not just a studio group, they had national recognition as a salable act, putting on concerts mostly in the New York City area but also as part of touring theatricals. As the earliest Black quartet to reach a level of fame, and to leave behind recordings that we can enjoy, they have been the subject of quite a bit of research. In 2004 Tim Brook's released what is probably the masterpiece of American music research this century. Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry 1890-1919 is a massive and seemingly exhaustive survey, and yet it has become the jumping off point for additional research. He covers in eight pages everything then known about the Unique Quartette, and discusses their three known recordings, one of which was too rough to be released. The other two recordings appeared on an accompanying double disc from Archeophone, where they were fan favorites. New research has uncovered five additional recordings from this important group, released here for the first time. The sixth track, “Who Broke the Lock”, has received a much better restoration than was possible in 2004. It is likely sung by Ben Hunn, the brother of the songwriter Charles Hunn, who also wrote "I'm the Father of a Little Black Coon", which was recorded by former Quartette member Ch