Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Regina shines on this superbly soulful album., , May 13, 2008
Regina Belle can easily be accepted in the few that bring a genuine new sound.
For her acclaimed album "Lazy Afternoon" - which went platinum and is still on the playlist of most of Jazz radio stations all over the world - many critics compared her to Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson...
However, once you get her albums, you will see that the comparisons are lucrative, but farfetched... Like a double negative. Sure, she has similarities to these trendsetting stars, but most of the claims are just not true. Easily compared but utterly rare.
Her albums explains how her craft is different from what many presume. Ms. Belle the whole package: the look, the sound, the talent, and the consistency.
She's been called everything from the Quen of Soul/Jazz to the new Billie Holiday and earned nearly every accolade possible in her two decade plus career and her soaring, soul-stirring, sultry, elegant vocal style more than justifies her status as one of music's legendary divas.
At 45, Regina is still busier than ever and she shows no sign of slowing down.
Now she's dished up a spectacular gospel album - her first in nearly twenty years - titled "Love Forever Shines".
Known for her musical subtlety, soulful phrasing or vocal restraint, Belle's current gospel offering is a surprisingly subdued and understated collection. Don't get me wrong, as is her wont, Miss Belle does her fair share of wailing and soul shouting on Love Forever Shines - she just uses such techniques to sparing effect.
Opening with a soulful groove called "God Is Good", Regina kicks things off with her usual pyrotechnic style, offering a mid-tempo quiet storm gem souped up with her signature whoops and clucks. The track has been on the top 10 gospel chart for several weeks and now it's # 5. and is making some noise on the Urban /AC Chart as well.
Her adoring fans will be grateful to still hear Belle's stylish brand of old school soul imprinted on both the title track and on the humble "Who Touched Me".
However, she quickly shifts gears and slips into a mellower mode for the next several tracks, which include the jazzy "I'll Never Leave You", and the absolutely gorgeous, lushly arranged ballads "Good To Be Loved" and "I Call On Jesus", splendid duets with Melvin Williams and her long time friend Shirley Murdock : this is the kind of emotional, soulful offerings that Ms. Belle does so well - perhaps better than any other living R&B/Jazz diva. With the the recitative "Come Into This Place" , a simple adult contemporary friendly ballad that is again artfully and surprisingly beautifully under sung by Regina, she takes listeners to church - old school style !
Looking at Regina' s "Love Forever Shines" as whole, the album is as much a testament to Ms.Belle's staying power as it is to her ability to adapt to musical trends.
Regina Belle is the definition of an artist. She's got everything going for her, the effortless chemistry with her music, her elegance and style, the multitudes of honey-tipped talent and then there's that voice which just slides over your body like warm water, cleansing your soul with each and every well placed lyric.
It's hard to pigeon hole this star, classify her talent : she elegantly glides in and out of Jazz influenced R&B cuts and Soul/Pop/Gospel with a touch of Soulful Contemporary class that her album becomes defined with only one word...music.
Like a Fire
Lay It Down
The album debuts at # 3 on Billboard Top Gospel Albums, at # 5 at Billboard Top Christian/Gospel Albums, at # 14 on The Top Independent Albums, at # 119 on The Billboard 200 and at # 15 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. (Issue Date: 2008-05-31).
The first single "God Is Good" scores # 2 on RadioandRecords and Mediabase Gospel Airplay Chart, and # 34 on the Mediabase Urban/AC chart. (Issue Date: 7/08/2008 - updated)
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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Majestic, uplifting beauty. A Grammy is in the cards !, May 30, 2008
Regina Belle is blessed with the kind of voice that can literally lift you - her stunning, nuanced vocal delivery captures the mood and essence of each song with great effect that it cannot fail to move you.
"Love Forever Shines" is a beautiful album. The writing, producing and arranging were all excellent. The album opens with the soothing tones of the title track, but "God Is Good" is the gorgeous track that I can listen to over and over without ever tiring of it.
With this great first single,that'll be sure to get you shuffling your feet, Regina takes you to the church, hand in hand.
The whole album flows very nicely.
There are a few tracks that put shivers down my spine; the first is "Good To Be Loved", and "I Call On Jesus", with Melvin Williams and Shirley Murdock, with their soaring, sweeping arrangement and lovely orchestral arrangement.
Some awesome tracks are reminiscent to those old spirituals that Mahalia Jackson used to sing; you know, the one where she takes her time and is just lost in the music.
The fantastic "I'll never leave you alone" is a moving, heart-felt performance that closes the album.
This is the kind of CD that you listen to when you're in a reflective frame of mind - it's the perfect album to lift your spirits.
Regina shows us what she does best on this album and that's singing. And boy can she sing.
She sings her heart out.
Only few people can sing their hearts out and Regina is defiantly one of them.
Love Songs
This Is Regina
Lazy Afternoon
Ladies' Choice
To Grover, With Love
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Regina, Regina, Regina........you've done it again!!!!!!, May 13, 2008
All I can say is this is a PHENOMENAL first gospel CD! I have been playing it all day and telling everyone I know to get it. Of the 14 songs there are only 3 that are so so, and even they are good. The 3 are "My Destiny", "Coming Out of This", and " God Said." All of the other ones are hits. My favs are: Can't Nobody, Who Touched Me(my fav of all tracks), God is Good, Almost Slipped, Good to be Loved, Come Into This Place,I Call On Jesus,and I'll Never Leave You Alone! This deserves a Grammy! It is contemporary,traditonal,inspirational, and a litle jazzy!!!! I love it!!! You did it again, girl! This is one of THE best gospel CDs I've heard in a while. "God is Good" reminds me of Sunday's in church with my late grandfather who was an AMEZion Presiding Elder here in NC back in the day. I can't wait for your 2nd, 3rd and 4th gospel CDs! God bless you First Lady Regina Belle-Battle, Pastor Battle, and your entire family.
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~ Lalah Hathaway
~ Marvin Sapp
~ CeCe Winans
~ Shekinah Glory Ministry
~ Heather Headley
by Regina Belle 
