Cd Reviews
Nat King Cole
A Christmas Song
Says Me: A LEGENDARY project! Timeless! Even Family Radio is playing tracks from this recording! 👏🏾 (They play a lot of good music, btw!) Just about all the major Christmas favorites are on this CD, including some songs you don’t hear too often (Caroling, Caroling & A Cradle In Bethlehem)!
CD 💎: Hard to pick one...but there’s nothing like a quiet evening with only the Christmas lights on and listening to Nat’s version of “Silent Night” (that ending is sooo beautiful!! You thought I was going to say “The Christmas Song”, didn’t you??😄)
😯: The title track is iconic. And you get 3 versions of it, including one with his legendary daughter Natalie! I love the Toys for Tots commercial too!
Israel & Newbreed
A Timeless Christmas
Says Me: You have to go into this listening experience knowing that Israel & co. are going to turn some things around! Lots of new music, fresh arrangements and just enough traditional “influence” to keep it Christmas-sy!
CD 💎: “Tidings”—Israel’s & Luther “Mano” Haynes’ reimagining of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is STELLAR! Period. Man...I love music...!!
😯: The collection of talent on the holiday standard: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”!
Ben Tankard
An Instrumental Christmas
Says Me: Going back a bit on this little piece of musical treasure from the legendary keyboardist. It is distinctively “Tankard” and the song list just adds a bit of “coolness” to all that holiday spice!
CD 💎: Pick one; Ben is pretty consistent. I just love the feel of the very first track: “Angels We Have Heard On High”. Can’t wait to wrap my gifts to this track while everyone is sleeping... 😴🎄
😯: There’s a spot in “Go Tell It On the Mountain” that gets me every time!! Love the reharmonization! 🎹
The Winans
Return
Says Me: This could be the legendary brothers’ best recording (I’ll talk about the other possibility later). Back then, getting a secular artist (Teddy Riley) to produce a gospel record was a big deal but the collaboration was a success! From the basically a capella title track (rap included) to a fabulous cameo by the one and only Stevie Wonder, this CD helped the music community at large to understand why the Gospel Music community loved the Winans so much!
CD 💎: I have a hard time with this one: The title track? “A Friend”? “When You Cry”? I’ll go with “Every Day the Same”!
😯: Teddy Riley, Stevie Wonder, Aaron Hall...there were some heavy hitters making contributions on this CD!
Todd Dulaney
Your Great Name
Says Me: Todd Dulaney has a unique, inviting style of singing and leading worship and pulls you in! The title track is phenomenal—it magnifying! It’s exalts our Lord in a way that just makes you want to join in and shout! Love it!! The whole recording is filled with great, high-energy praise songs and powerful worship anthems!
CD 💎: The title track...resistance is futile.
😯: There are some really good songs on this CD; CeCe Winans also recorded “King Of Glory” and Shana Wilson does a fabulous job here!
Cory Ashbury
To Love A Fool
Says Me: I am blessed by this man’s ministry! The project is filled with passionate songs of praise and worship. That’s what William McDowell does, with the help of anointed singers and musicians. It may not be his top collection of songs, but his heart comes through each and every song and you’re led into the atmosphere of worship. Case on point: “Here Comes the Glory”!
CD 💎: How Great—Still Moving. One word: POWERFUL! An encouraging reminder that GOD is real and still active in & through His church!
😯 Lots of wonderful guest psalmists!
William McDowell
The Cry: A Live Worship Experience
Says Me: I am blessed by this man’s ministry! The project is filled with passionate songs of praise and worship. That’s what William McDowell does, with the help of anointed singers and musicians. It may not be his top collection of songs, but his heart comes through each and every song and you’re led into the atmosphere of worship. Case on point: “Here Comes the Glory”!
CD 💎: How Great—Still Moving. One word: POWERFUL! An encouraging reminder that GOD is real and still active in & through His church!
😯 Lots of wonderful guest psalmists!
Andrae Crouch
The Journey
Says Me: The final offering from the Father of Contemporary Gospel Music: Andrae Crouch. There so much I can say about the man who paved the road for so many, but I’ll simply say that he finished strong!! With production assistance form Luther “Mano” Haynes, Pastor Crouch left us with another great collection of songs to sing, dance, clap and drive to!
CD 💎: I’m torn...most of you who know this project will go to the iconic “Let The Church Say Amen” led by the incomparable Pastor Marvin L. Winans. But Pastor Marvin lays down some fantastic vocals on the bonus track: The Promise (Marvin’s Testimony). The music and vocals are luscious! But my favorite is “Good Time”, #2 on your program! LOL!! Pick one!!!
😯 Love Luther Hayne’s production mastery...lots of fun, tasty stuff!!
Lauren Daigle
How Can It Be
Says Me: Lauren Daigle has this earthy, strong voice that is compelling and arresting. She commands your attention with every song. My wife got me listening to her and I’ve enjoyed the experience. As far as this album goes...
CD 💎: These are good, down-to-earth messages of confession and worship. Even though the title track is very popular, I love “FIRST”! What a great message for today—to seek the Lord first!!
😯: The a capella section of Revival! Love me some good vocal harmonies!!
Babbie Mason
A World of Difference
Says me: Wow...I really miss my yesterdays! Part of those good days was the music that I loved such as “A World of Difference” by Babbie Mason (1991). Great project and Babbie sang her face off on it! For those of you who like chords, Cheryl Rogers did great work at the production helm!
CD 💎: I can’t get over how well-sung, well-written, well-arranged and well-played “It Must Be Loved” is!!! Babbie is a fantastic writer but this may be her best ever. And “GOD Has Another Plan” always gets me...
😯: One thing I miss about today’s music: check the modulations on this album!!
Jonathan Nelson
Declarations
Declarations
Says me: Good recording! Contains all the energy and passion you would expect from Jonathan Nelson. Some of the songs are “too short” (needing another verse or a bridge) but Jonathan displays some wonderful vocal skill that we don’t always hear from him because he does a lot of “worship leading”. The musicianship on this CD is excellent!
CD 💎: “Jesus You Are Lord”!
Anaysha Figueroa Cooper leads the song. I don’t need to say anymore...🙌🏾
😯: Nice to hear “It’s Not Enough”, originally done by Jules Bartholomew & Judacamp—shout out to the Brooklynites!! Nelson should have repeated the 1st phrase and slowed it down a little...but it’s a good cover.
Switch
Symphony
Says Me: Switch takes its name from the Youth Ministry of Life.Church, a ministry that serves young people from 6-12 grade. It’s youthful, energetic, well-sung with solid lyrical content. Definitely a pick-me-up kinda project, yet prayerful in its focus.
CD 💎: Count Me In! Absolutely love this song; heard it on the radio and locked in the first time I heard it. Very encouraging for anyone serious about the Christ Life. Simply “produced” but very creative!
😯 Title track featuring Dillon Chase. “Even in the madness, there is peace...”
Ricky Dillard
Choirmaster
Says Me: Well, if you like choir music...you won’t be disappointed!! “Choirmaster” vividly reminds us of what we are missing—the power and unifying force of the church choir! Hopefully, we won’t take our gatherings and our choirs for granted anymore. This recording offers fun music, fine musicianship, powerful vocals and Ricky Dillard leading as only he can!
CD Jewels 💎: Glad To Be In the Service (wish I was in the room for that one!) & Release (with the anointed Tiff Joy!👏🏾)
😯: The arrangement & the soloist on Ricky’s masterful remake of the inspirational classic “Let There Be Peace On Earth”.
Tauren Wells
Citizen of Heaven
Says Me: I love his voice; first heard him on “Hills and Valleys” which is a great song! This is a Good CD; very energetic. You can hear the influence of Michael Jackson, but he’s at his best when his natural voice and style come through.
CD Jewels 💎: Famous For (ft. Jenn Johnson) & Until Grace (w/Rascal Flatts).
😯: Intro to “Close” (feat. Steven Furtick)
Take 6
So Cool
Says Me: Been a big fan since Day 1. This project is one of their finest vocal performances. Great songs, a return to their a cappella roots and everyone kills their leads (esp. Mark)! No lack for great Take 6 arrangements.
CD Jewels 💎: Sonshine & A Few More Miles
😯: Cedric puts down some great leads on 2 tracks!!