...music?

There have been many threads here about the missing R&B/Soul element in today's music. I am in total agreement.
I've also noticed the lack of unbridled joy & happiness along with an uplifting spirit that was prevalent in much of "Old School" R&B/Soul music.

Through a rather unlikely source (complicated story), I was given this disc the other day...



...Not In My Family

For generations, music has been an instrumental and leading force behind movements of unity, support and social healing. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that music has been compiled to address and combat a pandemic that affects each and every one of us: HIV/AIDS. When words to speak are not available to express concern, understanding and pain, words set to music continue to fill voids, heal wounds and mend hearts. Each song on this CD has been specifically chosen to reach the hearts of mankind and each song holds within its harmonies and melodies the healing salve necessary for progress to occur.

...From the back cover's liner notes.

This is a companion CD to the book of the same name written by Gil Robertson.


Now i'll tell you right up front that this a Contemporary Gospel release.
My point here is not to promote the religious aspect of the music (nor discount it as Gospel was where I discovered first hand as a youngster the unbelievable POWER that music can have on people) but to point out one area where this missing R&B/Soul component, unbridled joy & happiness and uplifting spirit can currently be found.

The singing is stellar (both lead and choir). The melodies soar.
The arrangements, chord changes/voicings, musicianship and overall performances are extremely sophisticated and moving.

Personal favorites:
Lift Him Up - Byron Cage
It's Right And Good - Walter Hawkins & The Love Center Choir with Tramaine Hawkins
Still I Rise - Yolanda Adams
Hold On Be Strong - Kurt Carr Singers featuring Keisha Ealy
You Can Make It - New Direction

All of the above performances (with the exception of the Yolanda Adams cut) are recorded live.

Some of you may not be able to get past the religious element of the music but that'll be your loss.
All I know is when listening to a piece of music (regardless of the genre) and the hairs on my arm stand up accompanied by "chicken skin", I know it's a keeper.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Anyone who has any degree of spirituality ~on any level~ and has the vibration of music in them should know exactly what you mean....

Music has become too much of a commercial business. We have artists today are passionless and talentless, performing strictly for the money - and it shows.

Thanks for your review and good writing....I still say you missed your calling....

theAudience said:

[quote:1d20d150a5]...music?

There have been many threads here about the missing R&B/Soul element in today's music. I am in total agreement.
I've also noticed the lack of [i:1d20d150a5]unbridled joy & happiness[/i:1d20d150a5] along with an [i:1d20d150a5]uplifting spirit[/i:1d20d150a5] that was prevalent in much of "Old School" [b:1d20d150a5]R&B/Soul[/b:1d20d150a5] music.

Through a rather unlikely source (complicated story), I was given this disc the other day...

[img:1d20d150a5]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Covers%20II/B000JRYO2E.jpg[/img:1d20d150a5]

...[b:1d20d150a5]Not In My Family[/b:1d20d150a5]




[i:1d20d150a5][b:1d20d150a5]For generations, music has been an instrumental and leading force behind movements of unity, support and social healing[/b:1d20d150a5]. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that music has been compiled to address and combat a pandemic that affects each and every one of us: HIV/AIDS. [b:1d20d150a5]When words to speak are not available to express concern, understanding and pain, words set to music continue to fill voids, heal wounds and mend hearts[/b:1d20d150a5]. Each song on this CD has been specifically chosen to reach the hearts of mankind and each song holds within its harmonies and melodies the healing salve necessary for progress to occur.[/i:1d20d150a5]

...From the back cover's liner notes.

This is a companion CD to the book of the same name written by [b:1d20d150a5]Gil Robertson[/b:1d20d150a5].


Now i'll tell you right up front that this a [b:1d20d150a5]Contemporary Gospel[/b:1d20d150a5] release.
My point here is not to promote the religious aspect of the music (nor discount it as Gospel was where I discovered first hand as a youngster the unbelievable [b:1d20d150a5]POWER[/b:1d20d150a5] that music can have on people) but to point out one area where this missing R&B/Soul component, [i:1d20d150a5]unbridled joy & happiness[/i:1d20d150a5] and [i:1d20d150a5]uplifting spirit[/i:1d20d150a5] can currently be found.

The singing is stellar (both lead and choir). The melodies soar.
The arrangements, chord changes/voicings, musicianship and overall performances are extremely sophisticated and moving.

Personal favorites:
[i:1d20d150a5]Lift Him Up[/i:1d20d150a5] - [b:1d20d150a5]Byron Cage[/b:1d20d150a5]
[i:1d20d150a5]It's Right And Good[/i:1d20d150a5] - [b:1d20d150a5]Walter Hawkins & The Love Center Choir with Tramaine Hawkins[/b:1d20d150a5]
[i:1d20d150a5]Still I Rise[/i:1d20d150a5] - [b:1d20d150a5]Yolanda Adams[/b:1d20d150a5]
[i:1d20d150a5]Hold On Be Strong[/i:1d20d150a5] - [b:1d20d150a5]Kurt Carr Singers featuring Keisha Ealy[/b:1d20d150a5]
[i:1d20d150a5]You Can Make It[/i:1d20d150a5] - [b:1d20d150a5]New Direction[/b:1d20d150a5]

All of the above performances (with the exception of the [b:1d20d150a5]Yolanda Adams[/b:1d20d150a5] cut) are recorded live.

Some of you may not be able to get past the religious element of the music but that'll be your loss.
All I know is when listening to a piece of music (regardless of the genre) and the hairs on my arm stand up accompanied by "chicken skin", I know it's a keeper.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431[/quote:1d20d150a5]


oh my god... a friend of mine sent me a couple of cd's for christams and this is one of the cd's .... i'm gonna listen to it tonite
[Edited 12/19/06 8:38am]

Thanks for the heads up, I'm on this.

I'm not religious but to deny ANY music is criminal.

Shirley Ceaser's live stuff is proof to me that music is the voice of god.

...

Great stuff!!

It's a shame that this kind of feel, energy and optimism isn't heard in most Pop music anymore...I guess that's just not Kool, or hard enough....




...
[Edited 12/19/06 10:04am]

It's been so L O N G that I'm NOT sure what Soul music is anymore.

As a rule, gospel type music turns me off but there are a few exceptions like, Tonex, Smokey Norful and a few others.

cubic61052 said:

Thanks and let's hope so.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

banks said:

I'm positive you'll enjoy a great deal, if not all of it.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Slave2daGroove said:

Maybe sooner than you think.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I have fallen in love with Kurt Carr's God Blocked It. That song has so much power and emotion but it also speaks to me in a number of ways.

I LOVED the song "Lift him up" by Byron Cage. He has a very good voice, so strong.



I`ve heard of Yolanda Adams, but i`ve never really gotten into her music, her voice is perfect for this kind of music, and i can imagine she did a good job with her christmas album. Anyone heard it?

Icicle said:

Her Christmas cd is decent but not as good as her normal albums

ABeautifulOne said:

What album is it from?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

His last album "One Church"

ABeautifulOne said:

Thanks, i'll check it out.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

AWESOME!!!!!

Thanks NEIL!!

m

Still I Rise by Yolanda Adams has a lot of power and beauty. The Tramaine Hawkins recording is good as well. Her version of Goin' Up Yonder is one of my favorite gospel songs.

This is the kind of music that has as much power at home when you're free to ponder the message, lyrics and music on your own or live where you can experience more of the bombast. It's old fashioned to be sure, but old fashioned doesn't mean outdated.