5.0 out of 5 stars
Vintage contemporary gospel rock/R&B, August 11, 2009
This review is from: I'd Like to Teach.../Oh Happy (Audio CD)
Like the Staples Singers, in the early 1970s, the Edwin Hawkins Singers tried to branch out and widen their audience ("cross over") without losing their loyal gospel base.
This Canadian import released in 1993 is almost a double album, containing all but two tracks ("Early in the Morning" and "Joy, Joy") from the 1969 "Oh Happy Day" album released on Buddah Records.
The "secular" tunes are familiar "positive pop" songs from 1969-70: "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," "Ooh Child," and "I Don't Know How to Love Him." With them came several "message" songs that are not overtly gospel but typical of the times: "Wake Up to What's Happening," "Give Me a Star," "Shine on Me," and "When We Love."
Their spine-tingling rendition of "Grove of Eucalyptus" is near-to-impossible to find anywhere else and is alone worth the cost of the disc. Other highlights include "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" (all 6 glorious minutes of it!), "Lord We Try," and "Here's the Reason." The blends of solo and choral vocals is consistent, regardless of the lyrics.
Highly recommended!
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