Charles McLean - Straight From Heaven

Sunday 1st July 1990
Charles McLean - Straight From Heaven
Charles McLean - Straight From Heaven

STYLE: Gospel
RATING 4 4 4 4
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 11355-VTI2814
LABEL: Miracle MIR5022LP
FORMAT: 12 inch vinyl Album
RRP: £4.99

Reviewed by Dulcie Dixon

Although Rev McLean has an acrobatic voice, it becomes monotonous and screechy at times. The opening song "Sweet Home" is a pleasant number and sung with real feeling and less screeching. Rev McLean is helped by backing vocals on some of the tracks and as a harmony altogether, they could almost sound like the Mighty Clouds Of Joy. If you're able to bear the screeching you'll enjoy "Thank You Lord" and "All Things Work Together For God", a nice, up-tempo arrangement. Rev McLean also quickens the tempo for Richard Smallwood's "Jesus, You're The Centre Of My Joy". On the last song Rev McLean ministers in a prayer. He gives thanks, he gives praises and he remembers our youth involved in drugs and a mother who's praying for her child. He begs for peace for us all. Amen to that, though it's sadly still only a four-square album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Walt in Largo, Fl @ 06:20 on Feb 26 2007

Charles Mclean, as far as I'm concerned, was an innovator in that stimulating style of peaking out with a falsetto flourish of the first tenor part, often copied or similarly used by many gospel groups. The man can certainly sing. You listened for him when he sang with the Gospelaires on each number, because, in gospel especially, there is the expected excitement that happens near the end, when the rote of background harmonies suddenly becomes freed up to gut feelings and spiritual drive. Like Claude Jeter and others who blessed us with great falsetto parts, Mclean should always be known for his specialty. Without those special people in the genre, I wonder how far gospel music would have gotten in popularity. To me, good harmonies, great falsetto flourishing, along with exciting leads sound good to both religious and secular audiences, which is a good thing. If you can get 'em in the door, why not try to keep them there for awhile?



Posted by b.kin in Georgia @ 05:45 on Dec 16 2006

rev. charles mclean is the greatest fallsetta to hit the airways. thst is the correct term for the scheeing as you call it. please let us know whrre the music is being played



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