The Persuasions - Sing the Beatles (Hybrid SACD) * * *

The Persuasions Sing the Beatles on Hybrid SACD from Chesky Records

Dedicated champions of a cappella singing during an era when few others picked up the reins, The Persuasions steadfastly refused convenient classification as they embraced stardom-without using a single musical instrument. On The Persuasions Sing the Beatles, lead singer Jerry Lawson vigorously resisted any attempt to pigeonhole his group as a throwback doo-wop outfit, though they originally started harmonizing under Brooklyn street corner lampposts. Following three seminal 1971-72 Capitol albums (We Came to Play, Street Corner Symphony, Spread the Word), the classic lineup featuring Jimmy "Mr. Bass Man" Hayes, Jayotis Washington, "Sweet Joe" Russell, and Herbert "Toubo" Rhoad expanded their repertoire into uncharted territory, recording everything from children's projects to full tribute sets honoring Frank Zappa and the Grateful Dead.

An album-length homage to the Fab Four was a natural progression for the group's soul-soaked harmonies. Recorded between April 30 and May 2, 2001, inside St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Manhattan, producer David Chesky chose the pristine house of worship over a conventional studio to capture maximum organic warmth, depth, and spatial resonance. Down to a core quartet, the group brilliantly reimagined 14 Beatles classics-including "Eight Days a Week," "Come Together," "Oh! Darling," and "Yesterday"- positioning their voices in a semi-circle around a single microphone to wring every drop of emotion and soul from the singular songbook.

The Persuasions Sing the Beatles will be reissued on Hybrid Stereo SACD with new liner notes as part of the Chesky Original Masters series.