The Persuasions remained a happy mystery in popular music for over five decades. While groups such as the Nylons, Pentatonix and Take 6 made slick, tight a cappella or nearly-a cappella sounds slightly more mainstream, the Persuasions defied every popular convention on their way to near cult status. Eschewing trends, they sang raw, soulful a cappella with clear gospel roots, never compromising – really never even changing their basic sound – over the course of their careers.
What they did do was apply their trademark sound to country, blues, pop, children’s music, rock, gospel and, of course, classic soul in their many albums. More amazing is that this group, which had zero hits and only barely charted an album in the Top 100 once (1972’s Street Corner Symphony), continued to record regularly over nearly a half century for more a dozen labels.
One of our favorite songs by this timeless group was their under-the-radar 1996 cover of “Five Hundred Miles,” an oft-recorded composition originally made popular in the 1960s as a folk song by The Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul & Mary. But Jerry Lawson’s lead here has such an aching quality that the sadness of being away from home is palpable. That, combined with the perfect harmonies of the group made for a version of this classic song that, for my money, is the best ever.
Take a listen below to this long lost gem.
By Chris Rizik
