Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Anyone who caught her stunning cameo role in The Fighting Temptations movie will know that gospel’s first lady can still wreck a church congregation like few others. And though it has to be said that these days the matriarch seldom hits the sublime heights she once did with the Caravans all those decades ago, it’s also true that Shirley can still belt it out with gutsy passion. Because of record company politics this album – where Shirley is joined by an impressive roll call of stars from the world of R&B and gospel for special guest performances – lay unreleased for almost two years. But here at last we have Shirley swapping licks with Oleta Adams, Kirk Franklin, Patti Labelle, Dottie Peoples, Gladys Knight and others. Not everything works, and there are too many histrionic ballads here for my taste. But Shirley and friends still have the ability to stir the soul.

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