STYLE: Gospel RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 755-21158 LABEL: Malaco MCD6032 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Dancin' Dave Derbyshire
Dorothy Norwood, the venerable diva from the Caravans, still has a fantastic voice. She can get so excited that she's yelling lyrics and exhortations but it sounds fabulous and I can pick out virtually every word. Backed by the Miami Mass Choir in a live setting gives this album a wonderful atmosphere of worship. All the themes that I have come to expect from the black gospel genre are present; there's plenty of encouragement, exhortation and unrestrained praises. Dorothy blends the voice-overs well with the songs so that the little testimonies and exhortations don't appear out of place in the middle of the songs. There is even a simple appeal to come into the aisles which for once doesn't sound whipped up, sentimental or drawn out. However, what is most bizarre are the exhortations that make up most of the last two tracks. Dorothy starts out singing "Let Us Adore Him", but doesn't get that far as she starts to exhort the congregation and continues for the rest of the track. This is still going on when we come back for the final track. I'm not sure how well this works, as she gets so carried away and lapses into jargon and emotionalism. But even without these last two tracks there are still 11 tracks of excellent gospel
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