Reviewed by Paul Poulton

This black gospel choir from Chicago are reported to be different from other choirs of the same ilk: "It Is evident," say the sleeve notes, "that the difference is the anointing... we all agree that there are a lot of good singing choirs around, but not many destroying yokes. In fact many times people leave feeling the same, just good singing." I can't help but wonder how does Bishop Morton, who wrote the notes, know that "many times" people leave the concerts of other black choirs feeling the same? Has he taken a comprehensive survey of all the other choirs' concerts and asked each member of the audience at each one to write down what their feelings were before and after the concert? So having listened to the songs do I think that the choir's singing is in fact anointed? Well, yes. Beginning the album with a prayer that reaches down into the soul of the listener they then attack the songs with as much gusto as a hungry lion capturing its prey. The hook lines of each song have more repeats than channel 4, but never become wearisome. Pastor Gordon is the talent behind the songs, having written 11 of them. The others being well known hymns: "It Is Well" and "Blessed Assurance", plus one track where people kind of shout over a very pleasant piano part, very nice shouting though! and a track called "Musicians Praise Mix", 16 in all. Recorded live in June 1994 it's taken a couple of years to surface, someone somewhere must have thought it worth releasing and to that person I give my thanks.

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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