Pop Matters has reviewed Waxing the Gospel, saying “A masterpiece of scholarship and curatorship, this collection sets a new standard for the presentation of early recordings.”
From Ed Whitelock’s review:
Archeophone’s Waxing the Gospel: Mass Evangelism & the Phonograph 1890-1900 offers a fascinating and deep perspective into some of the earliest recordings of sacred music, the personalities behind those recordings and the early phonograph business, the collectors who have preserved that music, and the scholars who have uncovered the mysteries surrounding many of these fragile and forgotten sonic relics of an earlier time. The collection is a triumph, a truly incomparable set of archival music. . . Martin’s extended essays and individual performance notes are models of accessible and engaging scholarship. Martin’s clear prose flows effortlessly, making this a fast and fascinating read. The information about the early recording industry will be valuable to anyone interested in archival recording and sound. More importantly, the revised history of the foundation of recorded gospel will set the standard for all scholarship that follows.
Read the full review at Pop Matters