Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Definitely a where-it-all-began album. Long before Jessy became a contributor to Paul Simon albums and certainly long before he did those fondly remembered R&B-tinged albums for Light, Jessy was testifying raw and gutsy with the Chicago Community Choir. In 1994 he returned to the sanctuary and showed he's lost none of his passion. The opening "Trouble Won't Last Always" with the band kicking up a solid blues groove and, on the climax Jessy swapping call and responses with the mighty lunged Ethel Holloway (remember her album on IAM years back?) is a gem. Unfortunately some of the steam is dissipated by the death march slow "Give God The Glory" and some cuts where the Chicago Community Choir sing without Mr Dixon but it all works well again on "Destined To Win" (yep, the song Jessy originally cut duetting with rock gospel's Degarmo And Key) and the fiery "I Know What Prayer Can Do" (another duet with the sublime Ethel). Ten tracks with Jessy taking lead would have made a better album and one or two of the Dixon-composed songs are third division. But this still has some exciting moments.