Purpose by Design

Fred Hammond

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 2000)
• Original Release Date: March 21, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verity
• ASIN: B00004RCXZ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,773 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Fred Hammond reinforces the strength of his faith with the power of his music. His newest collection combines exuberantly devotional lyrics with a solid R&B musical underpinning. The rhythm section is girded by Hammond's own muscular electric-bass playing and supplementary horns bolster the waves of sound and emotion of Radical for Christ, his dozen-voice choir. His preceding release, Pages of Life, was a double CD with one disc of studio recordings and one disc live in a Detroit church. Purpose by Design distills that mix to a strong single disc with nine studio and four live recordings, although without the experience of a continuous service that the live disc of Pages of Life offered. Both approaches to recording have their strengths; "I Know It Was the Blood," with its vivid imagery, inexorable rhythm, inventive melodic movement, and subtle electronic manipulation of Hammond's vocal melismas, exemplifies the use of modern recording technology to create exhilarating music. The CD's opener, "I Want My Destiny," has an urgent lyric, a groove to match it, and an equally sophisticated arrangement. The live tracks, like "When You Praise," build from a pastoral beginning to an extended, climactic conclusion that really needs a church full of worshippers to help inspire it and can't be readily simulated in the studio. Among the live songs is a congregation-rousing rendition of "Jesus Be a Fence Around Me," a Sam Cooke classic from his days with the Soul Stirrers. --Bob Bannister

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He (the Lord) and Fred DID IT AGAIN!, April 21, 2000

By	"huntech" - See all my reviews

I was thinking how could he possibly top "Pages of Life". Although, it doesn't top it, this album does match it.

I am so blessed by Fred Hammond and RFC's powerful praise lyrics in songs like "Thank You Lord for Being There", "You Are the Living Word" and "Willing to Follow You".

You can only write songs like this if you've been on your face before the Father. This modern day psalmist has an anointing to usher his listeners into the presence of God.

With songs like "Jesus Be a Fence", this album will have you shouting and praising in your car. It should have a label on it saying, "Danger: listening to this CD can be harmful to one's health while operating a motor vehicle."

Praise the Lord for this awesome CD!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gospel album by Fred Hammond that deeply impacts!, July 24, 2000

By	Ms.Spiritual (St. Louis, Missouri--USA) - See all my reviews

I used to hear Hammond's music on gospel stations and ended up becoming a serious fan because the messages are straight from God to people and he's a fabulous musician, and decided to invest in his albums. I've heard people say they didn't care too much for his music. If you didn't like his previous work, 'Purpose By Design' will absolutely change your mind.

'Pages of Life' did however have more sermon-filled and scripture-filled songs. But it seems that 'Purpose By Design' was so good, that it didn't really need it, not to discredit 'Pages of Life' at all. The songs had lyrics that really impacted and made you understand. You can hear a song and almost automatically know which Bible verse it was inspired by. This is a consummate album filled with musicianship only Heaven can make, and the lyrics to match.

I couldn't stop myself from listening and singing to "When You Praise" and "You Are The Living Word" over and over. Those are the two that I think have impacted me the most on this album. The message from God is well received by both Christian and non-believers.

In the 1999 Grammys, Hammond and RFC were nominated for Pages of Life, but it went to Kirk Franklin and Nu Nation. As a big fan, I thought Hammond should've got it. But when the next Grammys arrive. Hammond can't be overlooked. God surely made Hammond's music very powerful. Buy it now.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SOPHISTICATED SANCTIFICATION........HE AND FRED DO IT AGAIN!, May 1, 2000

By	"angalique30" (THE BLESSED APPLE) - See all my reviews

This cd is one the most intelligently produced gospel cds.Why you ask? Well Brother Hammond seems to have covered all of the soul genres on this album.For example the track I PRESS is nothing short of a "get your holy dance on " track that dares the listener to sit still.The track CLEAN HEART is so honest and short of a desperate plea from a saint askig the Lord to search them and discard anything that would keep them away from God. MY FATHER WAS/IS is just lush, heartfelt and orchestrally magnificently done,RFC shows that they can sing as soft as baby's breathe when needed on this track. Over all, this cd is NOT to be compared to PAGES OF LIFE because it is a different time in both Brother Hammonds life and really the Body's life too.As Fred came to master urban P&W(PAGES),so did we.Now with PURPOSE, Brother Hammond is perfecting it as he is being perfected......and pretty much, so are we. So please stop comparing apples to oranges and just let the Holy Spirit usher you into another era with another masterpiece. NUFF SAID!