Led by the awesomely talented tenor Billy Williams, the Charioteers were the most gospel-sounding of the great black pop vocal groups of the '40s, a sound that did not translate into the record sales that Columbia record execs-eager for an answer to Decca's Ink Spots-were hoping for. But to ears educated by the doo wop and soul groups to come, this group's stuff is mighty fine, definitely vocal pop but hinting of the left turn towards R&B that vocal music was soon to take in the '50s. We are proud to present the *first-ever* compilation on CD of their work, with notes setting the scene for these 24 great sides.