Reviewed by Mark Hewerdine

There can be few more appropriately named groups than the Mighty Clouds Of Joy and with this retrospective, bringing together some of the quartet's finest, you get a good blast of unbridled joy. The 'definitive collection' bit is of course completely inaccurate. You get no '50s material from their golden era at Peacock Records and nothing from their flirtation with disco in the '70s. But even if it's tracks from the last 10 years Joe Liggon and cohorts can still deliver. These 10 varied cuts, spanning a long and illustrious career, take in an impressive sweep of styles and moods, but with a contagious joy and faith uniting the collection. The songwriting, arrangements and musicianship showcased here are of the highest calibre with tight harmonies being matched by a soaring lead on the classic "Family Circle". "Everybody Ought To Praise His Name" shows a talent for perfect three-and-a-half-minute soulful pop, while live cuts "God's Love" and "Bright Side" slow the pace without letting up on the passion. Whilst this is without doubt a collection of timeless songs, the slap-bass heavy production of opener "He's My Rooftop" unfortunately dates what is nevertheless a taut, driving melody. No gospel collection can be complete without something from the Mighty Clouds Of Joy and this compilation, though misleadingly titled, could make a good Christmas present for some fans.

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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