STYLE: Gospel RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 12714-2098 LABEL: EMI Gospel EGD74204 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £2.50
Reviewed by George Luke
Over a couple of days in June last year, a handful of top gospel acts came together and did some performances in Michael W Smith's Rocketown nightclub in downtown Nashville. The proceedings were recorded and this is the result. So far, so good. There's only one question on my mind, though: What exactly is the point of this album? Live albums usually have some reason for being made, especially when you've got a line-up that includes Karen Clark Sheard, the Blind Boys Of Alabama and the Mighty Clouds Of Joy. But if there was some special occasion or obvious reason for the concerts captured here, EMI Gospel aren't telling us what it is. Did they just get these people together because they could? In that case, surely a video/DVD would be a better idea than a CD with no pictures.or is there a DVD available, and is Editor C just being mean and keeping it for himself? The album opens with a song from Vicki Yohe (the white lady who would have been Martha Munizzi, if GospoCentric had marketed her properly), then takes in a song each from the other 11 acts, ending with Smokie Norful singing his hit "Can't Nobody". With such a stellar line-up, the performances are, as would be expected, reasonably good. But the fact that you can hardly hear the audience weakens the whole exercise.
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