Grace Outlaw, Sunset Four Jubilee Quartette - Plantation Days

pwilsonjr

Review by Paul Wilson Jr.

Plantation Days by Grace Outlaw & Sunset Four Jubilee Quartette: A Timeless Blues Journey Let me tell you, diving into Plantation Days feels like stepping back in time to 1925. This isn’t just an album—it’s a piece of history. Grace Outlaw and the Sunset Four Jubilee Quartette bring raw, unfiltered blues that hits you right where it counts. It's not polished or perfect, but dang if it doesn’t feel real. The record kicks off with “Plantation Days—Part I,” and oh man, this one grabs you by the soul. Grace Outlaw’s voice? Pure fire. She doesn’t just sing; she tells you something deep, like she’s spilling secrets from another era. You can almost picture her standing there, pouring her heart out while Andy Bryant and Fred J. Vaughan chime in with those rich harmonies. There’s no fancy production here—just voices and emotion colliding. When Grace belts out lines about life on the plantation, it’s haunting yet beautiful. Like…you don’t know whether to cry or cheer for her strength. That’s the magic of it. Then there’s “Plantation Days—Part II,” which is kinda like Part I’s wilder cousin. The energy shifts slightly, almost as if the group lets loose a little more. William "Hoss" Crawford’s vocals add this gritty depth that makes you sit up straight. Leonard Burton sneaks in too, weaving his voice through the mix so smoothly it’s like honey dripping over toast. These guys weren’t trying to reinvent anything—they were telling their truth, plain and simple. And honestly? That’s what sticks with you long after the track ends. What gets me most is how human this all feels. Back then, recording tech was basic at best, but somehow, these imperfections make it even better. Every crackle and pop adds character, reminding you that these songs came from real people living real lives. They weren’t chasing fame or trends—they were laying down stories they needed to share. Here’s the kicker though—listening to Plantation Days today feels bittersweet. On one hand, it’s a celebration of resilience and artistry. On the other, it reminds us of where we’ve been as a country and how far we still have to go. Blues has always been about survival, hasn’t it? And hearing Grace Outlaw belt her truths makes you realize just how powerful that legacy really is. So yeah, give Plantation Days a spin if you want music that’ll stick to your ribs. Just don’t expect perfection—expect honesty. And maybe keep some tissues handy because, trust me, it’ll hit you harder than you think. Funny enough, the whole thing leaves me wondering…if Grace could hear how her songs are still resonating nearly a century later, would she laugh or cry? Either way, I bet she’d be proud.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: grace-outlaw-sunset-four-jubilee-quartette-plantation-days.zip
  • MP3 size: 7 mb
  • FLAC size: 102 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Plantation Days—Part I
Plantation Days—Part II

Images

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Catalog Numbers

12309

Labels

Paramount

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Formats

  • Shellac
  • 10"
  • 78 RPM

Companies

RoleCompany
Record CompanyThe New York Recording Laboratories

Credits

RoleCredit
SoloistGrace Outlaw
Written-ByGrace Outlaw
VocalsAndy Bryant , Fred J. Vaughan, Leonard Burton, William "Hoss" Crawford

Notes

  • Side A = Mx. 2205-1
  • Side B = Mx. 2206-2
  • Both sides were recorded ca. July 1925 in Chicago, IL.
  • First advertised in The Chicago Defender on October 24, 1925.

Barcodes

  • Matrix / Runout (Side A Label): 2205
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): 2206

About Grace Outlaw, Sunset Four Jubilee Quartette

African-American singer, who recorded for Paramount in 1925-1926. "Despite the titles, these recordings are marginal items for inclusion in this work." (Blues and gospel records 1890-1943 (1997), p. 695)

Aliases

  • Laura Grayson And Fleetwood Jubilee Singers

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: Back in 1925, a blues album called *Plantation Days* hit the shelves. It was crafted by Grace Outlaw, a talented singer and songwriter from the U.S., and released under the Paramount label. The album features two parts of the same track, *Plantation Days*, with Grace’s soulful voice leading the way. She didn’t just sing—she also wrote the songs herself. Joining her were four other vocalists, including Andy Bryant and Fred J. Vaughan, who added rich harmonies to the mix. What makes this even more special? Albums like this were rare gems at the time, capturing a unique moment in music history when blues was shaping American culture.