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Without Sun Records, the face of popular music, indeed popular culture, would be markedly different. Record collectors know Sun Records as the birthplace of rockabilly, and a source of valuable early '50s blues, country and R&B records. But gospel music?

Not surprisingly, no one has singled out this segment of Sun Records for systematic attention until now. Despite the fact that Sun made its home in a hotbed of gospel music activity, relatively little of it was recorded by label-owner Sam Phillips. He had his reasons. Sam Phillips learned early on that it was difficult to promote and sell gospel records unless that was your only business. ''It certainly wasn't intentional neglect,'' Sam Phillips explained years later. ''But you have to compromise. There's no telling what I could and should have done with gospel music from the Memphis area. I'm ashamed to say I barely touched the surface.''

This collection examines, for the first time, just what that 'surface' looks like. Although not very extensive, it has a surprisingly rich texture. Gleaned from a relatively brief period (1950-1962), this is a cross section of the gospel recordings that lie within the Sun tape archives. There is some wonderful music here in a truly dazzling array of styles. The most obvious differences are racial, stemming from a segregated southern society. But race does not tell the whole story. Men and women, white and black, urban and rural, alone and in groups are all here for a common purpose: to praise the Lord and testify to their faith. And in the process, to see their names on a yellow Sun label. Here, together for the first time, are their stories.

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