Category: Reviews

“Love Is A God Word” – Samuel Obie

“Love Is A God Word”
Samuel Obie
From the CD, Cat-A-Fly (2019)
Available on all digital outlets 

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Samuel Obie foregoes excessive vocals and layers of synthesized sound to deliver the current single from his Cat-A-Fly CD, “Love Is A God Word.”

Obie is a songwriter.  His songs have been recorded by three of the biggest names in gospel music: Shirley Caesar, Edwin Hawkins, and John P. Kee.  Notwithstanding, in this particular composition, the only lyric you’ll hear shows up in the refrain and is the song’s title.  Perhaps this is because Obie is also a seasoned musician.  On this inspirational jazz piece, he chooses to put his organ chops front and center.  It’s a tasteful choice with nimble, expressive fingerwork that interprets love’s divinity in both melody and timbre while the supporting instruments know their place and contently ride the groove.

Obie is a native of Hillsborough, NC who presently resides in the Charlotte metro area.

“I’ll Never Stop Praising the Lord” – Northern Delaware Chapter GMWA Recording Choir

“I’ll Never Stop Praising the Lord”
Northern Delaware Chapter GMWA Recording Choir
From the album, God Be Glorified (2019)
Enon Music Group

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

The vibrant voices of the Northern Delaware Chapter GMWA Recording Choir declare, “I’ll Never Stop Praising the Lord.”  The uptempo O’Landa Draper-esque track is featured on the aggregation’s project, God Be Glorified.

Let the spirited declaration inspire you to do the same: never stop praising the Lord.  You know you may have missed a few church services and choir anniversaries, but let this choir – led by Minister Wayne Carter, Sr. – take you to church.  And definitely let the lively band energize you to pick ’em up and put ’em down.  The joy of the Lord is your strength! 

Get ready!  Get ready!  Get ready!  Praise God like the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order is over! 

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

 

Clark Sisters movie soundtrack highlights talent of cast, genius of Donald Lawrence

 
Various Artists
The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic
Soundtrack (2020)
Releve Entertainment
Available on Amazon
 
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
 
Clark Sisters fans’ prayers were answered when The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack dropped Friday, just a day ahead of Lifetime’s movie premiere of The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.  According to Donald Lawrence, producer extraordinaire and the movie’s music director, the decision to release the accompanying soundtrack was made only the week prior.
 
On film, Angela Birchett, Raven Goodwin, Christina Bell, Sheléa Frazier, and Kierra Sheard captivate viewers with their portrayals of Jacky, Denise, Twinkie, Dorinda, and Karen, respectively.  On the soundtrack, they amaze with their abilities to recreate the nuances of the sisters’ phrasing, tone, riffs, trills, growls, close harmonies, and the “one voice” (unison singing) that matriarch Dr. Mattie Moss Clark (magnificently portrayed in the movie by Aunjanue Ellis) helped her girls to perfect.  “I Can Do All Things Thru Christ That Strengthens Me,” “Name It Claim It,” and “Nothing to Lose” showcase the real-life vocal talent of the cast, thanks to Lawrence who made sure no element of “The Clark Sound” was overlooked.  Individually, the ladies’ lead vocals are impeccable, resulting in “Name It Claim It” and “What He’s Done for Me” sounding uncannily like the vintage recordings and “You Brought the Sunshine” sounding as if Twinkie herself stepped behind the mic to remake the group’s massive hit.
 
A fan and student of The Clark Sisters, Lawrence was meticulous about recreating “The Clark Sound” since the movie’s actors would be doing their own singing.  His thoughtful approach even included recapturing the distinctive character of Twinkie’s organ style and sound, which was a dominant musical component of The Clark Sisters’ recordings, especially throughout the 70s and 80s.  Lawrence was particularly intent on recreating the organ’s robust, big room feel for “What He’s Done for Me.” To do this, he and organist Andre Morris tracked the organ at a large church in Memphis with three Leslie speakers.
 
The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack features thirteen tracks, six of which are spoken-word segments from the movie.  The final spoken-word track is Sheléa Frazier’s spot-on reenactment of Dorinda Clark Cole’s memorable sermonette from the 1982 motion picture Gospel.  
 
In all honesty, the entire project feels like a tease, running at just 27 minutes.  Nevertheless, both emerging and longstanding Clark Sisters fans will appreciate that The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack is a superb salute to the highest-selling female gospel group in history whose story debuted as the highest-rated original movie of the year on all of television.
 
Favorites
“What He’s Done for Me” – “You Brought the Sunshine”
 
Fever Meter
SWELTERIN’ (5 of 5 Stars)
 

“I Can’t Make It Without You” – Beloved St. John Evangelistic Church

“I Can’t Make It Without You”
Beloved St. John Evangelistic Church
From the album, The Praise Worship Experience (2019)
belovedstjohn.org

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

“I Can’t Make It Without You” is the single from Beloved St. John Evangelistic Church Music and Arts Ministry’s full-length project, The Praise Worship Experience.  The upbeat praise track is fueled by a punchy bassline that showcases the bass player’s chops and manages to stay out of the way of the singers and other musicians.  Meanwhile, the vertical lyrics, penned by Scot Stevens and driven by enthusiastic vocals of Beloved St. John Evangelistic Church, underscore our dependence on God and remind us perhaps now more than ever in our nation’s dark and divided days that we can rely on Christ to bring us through any situation. 


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“Unpredictable God” – Zak Williams & 1/AKORD

“Unpredictable God”
Zak Williams & 1/AKORD ft. David Wilford and Thomas Clay
From the album, The Next Chapter (2019)
www.zakwillmuzik.com

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

With upbeat contemporary instrumentals, Zak Williams and 1/AKORD are united together to uplift the word of God through “Unpredictable God.”  This is one melody that will get you into the praise and worship mood.  Founder and front-man Zak Williams has created and cultivated a spirited vocal choir with original and unhindered delivery of the lyrics that resound, “You’re the awesome One / A sovereign God / A holy King of Kings / Unpredictable God!”

You will tap your toes, lift your hands, and sing along while the expressive lead guitar interlude ushers you to unpredictable lyrics: “Oh! Oh! Oh! You are!  Come let us adore Him!”  It turns out to be a surprising yet pleasant aural demonstration of how unpredictable God is.  Keep on tapping your toes and worshiping Him.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"Isaiah Song" – Yemi Ayeni

“Isaiah Song”
Yemi Ayeni (2019)
WTL Records
www.yemiayeni.com

Yemi Ayeni cover art for "Isaiah Song"By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

The sultry voice of Yemi Ayeni in “Isaiah Song” evokes profuse peace and calm as you marvel the holiness of the Lord of Hosts.  It is a mode of worship–inspired by Isaiah 6:1-3–that has the capacity to release you from the anxiety and stress of any current situation, redirecting you to join in with Yemi in seeing the Lord “high and lifted up.”

By the time “Isaiah Song” ascends to its climax, you are likely engulfed with praise and chanting with the background chorus of celestial voices, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts / The whole earth is filled with His glory!”

Yemi is a UK-based singer-songwriter and youth and music minister, and “Isaiah Song” is from her forthcoming worship EP.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“Wind and Waters” – Native Kingdom

“Wind and Waters”
Native Kingdom (2019)
www.nativekingdom.com

Wind and Waters cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Native Kingdom’s “Wind and Waters” puts passion and prayer to song with resounding hope and joy.  The warm melodious instrumental and intimately personal lyrics rejuvenate your spirit like the refreshing waters of a brook on a hot summer day, offering an encouraging message for anyone currently in the midst of a fiery furnace or a tempestuous storm. 

The Native Kingdom Collective is based in the Pacific Northwest and was founded by Ryan and Haley Smith and Reuben Wai.  “Wind and Waters” is Native Kingdom’s first original single. 

Whether you are relaxing or exercising, put your earbuds in for a natural mood booster.  “Wind and Waters” will usher you into praise and worship of the One who will be with you to the end.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“I Am More Than A Conqueror” – Tonya Lewis Taylor

“I Am More Than A Conqueror”
Tonya Lewis Taylor
From the forthcoming EP, I Am More Than A Conqueror (Available 2019)
www.tonyalewistaylor.com

I am more than a conqueror artwork

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Scriptural affirmations frame the premise for Tonya Lewis Taylor’s self-written and produced single “I Am More Than A Conqueror.” 

The mid-tempo contemporary track features Taylor and her backing choir engaging in vocal interplay to proclaim, “I am more than a conqueror; through Christ, I can do all things!”

Taylor seamlessly melds ministry and uplift in her music, including her other singles “I’m A Winner” and “Delayed But Not Denied.” It stands to reason; the singer is also a minister and empowerment coach.  

If you’re itching to hear another good choir tune, Tonya Lewis Taylor’s current single “I Am More Than A Conqueror” is sure to be music to your ears.

“Hallelujah” – Doyin Johnson

“Hallelujah”
Doyin Johnson (2018)
For more information, email [email protected]

Hallelujah cover art

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
Get ready to close your eyes, raise your hands and usher in the presence of the Holy Spirit through worship! Doyin Johnson’s “Hallelujah” is an energizing, powerful worship song with lyrics that will lure you closer to Jesus.

Worship is a powerful spiritual exercise in anyone’s life. As you listen, worship and rejoice, for God’s grace has been lavished on us. We have received a generous, over-abundance of God’s love, grace and favor! Doyin invites you to join her along with all that was created to bring God glory—the 24 elders, ocean, mountain, and trees—to give God the highest praise, “Hallelujah!”

Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“I Can” – Adaora ft. Papa San

“I Can”
Adaora feat. Papa San (2018)
Available at iTunes

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
Encourage yourself with “I Can” from Adaora Nwokoye’, popularly called Adaora. Pop it into your ears when you head off to work, school, or play. When you listen to this song, you’ll not only want to find the lyrics so you can quickly learn and sing along, but you’ll want to share it to lift up somebody else.


“I Can,” with its Reggae style and Caribbean feel, reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, according to the scriptures. We can start our day positively, and remain positive no matter what the enemy throws our way. Keep singing it: “I can do all things through Christ my Saviour / Nothing can hold me back or take my place!”


Adaora’s uptempo inspirational single features world renown Reggae maestro Papa San and is produced by US-based Nigerian music maker Lexisuger.

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.