Is My Living in Vain?

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Originally recorded in Bailey Cathedral in 1979, the title cut of this jubilant recording remains every bit as immediate and fresh as it was the day it was made. It is impossible to feel blue upon hearing the organ pump in the name of salvation and the glorious voices of the Dynamic Clark Sisters join in praise and affirmation as one sister posits, "Is my living in vain?" and they assert in multipart harmony: "No, no, no, no-no-no! / Of course not!" Deep faith is roused by Karen Clark's positively possessed lead on "Speak Lord," the bar to worship is raised on the emphatically delivered "Ha-Ya (Eternal Life)," and the sisters are joined by their mother, Mattie Moss Clark, on the reverent "They Were Overcome (By the Word)." At the forefront of the modern black gospel movement in the late '70s and early '80s, the Clark Sisters, as proven by this magnificent disc, were and ever will be thoroughly dynamic as messengers of joy. --Paige La Grone --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Is My Living Vain
Ha-Ya (Eternal Life)
Salvation Means More To Me
Now Is The Time
Pure Gold
They Were Overcome (By The Word)
Speak Lord
Expect Your Miracle

Amazon.com

Originally recorded in Bailey Cathedral in 1979, the title cut of this jubilant recording remains every bit as immediate and fresh as it was the day it was made. It is impossible to feel blue upon hearing the organ pump in the name of salvation and the glorious voices of the Dynamic Clark Sisters join in praise and affirmation as one sister posits, "Is my living in vain?" and they assert in multipart harmony: "No, no, no, no-no-no! / Of course not!" Deep faith is roused by Karen Clark's positively possessed lead on "Speak Lord," the bar to worship is raised on the emphatically delivered "Ha-Ya (Eternal Life)," and the sisters are joined by their mother, Mattie Moss Clark, on the reverent "They Were Overcome (By the Word)." At the forefront of the modern black gospel movement in the late '70s and early '80s, the Clark Sisters, as proven by this magnificent disc, were and ever will be thoroughly dynamic as messengers of joy. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best out there: Clark Sisters.......2007-05-13

This cd is simply amazing! From Is my Living in Vain to Expect a Miracle you can feel the annionting these ladies have from the very begining. This cd triumphs alot of gospel cds because even in the time that it was recorded to now you can still relate to everything the Clark Sisters are saying in these songs. On this cd my favorite is Speak Lord because Karen Clark Sheard ministers in this song to every and anyone. The way she recites the scriptures makes you feel the presence of God. This cd is definetly up there with You Brought the Sunshine, Count it all Joy,He gave me Nothing to Lose and Heart and Soul. You can also see the growth and evolution of these singers over the years and as each cd comes out.

My favorite gospel album ever, seeing as how I own it on CD and cassette. .......2006-05-21

From start to finish, this album is truly amazing.

Is My Living In Vain- All 5 sisters take turns singing parts of this, and when they get into it, it is truly magical, of course they get a little help from really cool organ and WICKED percussion , in a good way.

Ha-Ya - My favorite track . It's a discoey funk that celebrates a Hebrew tongue for Christ.

Salvation - I was listening and singing along to this song while driving home from work last night. It features the almost never featured Jacky Clark Chisholm on lead and is probably her best singing ever. Ya gotta feel bad for her , tho. Always being overshadowed by her younger sisters.

Now is the time - Gorgeous ballad with all sisters singing together.

Pure Gold - This track explains to white people why us black folk go to church. Listening to this and tell me it doesn't put you back in the church pew on a Sunday morning. A very young Karen Clark makes this number shine.

Overcome - I like the harmonies in this one. Their mother takes the lead on this one.

Speak Lord- Baby sister Karen outdoes herself again.

Expect Your Miracle - This is a Clark classic. The sisters sang this on TBN sometime in 2005 with Donnie McClurkin and Kim Burrell. Ms. Burrell honestly thought she can do better vocal acrobats than Karen. Isn't that sad?

This is a WONDERFUL CD an an excellent price. You are missing out if you haven't heard it.

Is My Living In Vain.......2006-03-24

The songs are uplifting, insightful and certainly have carried me through some tough times. I love the title. It says it all. I really did not know who the Clark Sisters were when I purchased this item. It was the title which attracted me and I have not regretted it. I am a committed fan. Thank you for such meaningful music. bt

One of the Best Gospel CD's.......2005-10-14

Listening to the Clark Sister's is like listening to Angels.
I love every song on this CD. But my two favorites are Expect a Miracle and Salvation Means More to Me.
GOD IS THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE!!

A must........2005-06-13

This is truly a classic gospel album, probably the best you can get from those years. The Clarck Sisters clearly remain as a top reference in the gospel music panorama, even today, and listening to this album you can know how did it begin. This is an honest, no-make-up-added recording and it has a bluessy-funky feeling, that will never get old. Musically great and God inspired, just the way a Gospel album should be. If you consider yourself a Gospel fan, I dont know how could you possibly not have this album yet.

A.E. Housman: A Shropshire Lad, Complete in verse and song

Average customer rating:

A.E. Housman: A Shropshire Lad, Complete in verse and song
Alan Bates , Anthony Rolfe Johnson , and Graham Johnson
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005S85Q
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Average customer rating:

Depth of Holy Week Captured
a voice teacher and early music fan

A Shropshire Lad

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Customer Reviews:

Depth of Holy Week Captured.......2007-04-16

I bought this for the voices of Michael Chance and James Bowman, as well as for Robert King. Once again these two famous counter-tenors are teamed up. Both with different voices but the perfect blend. Tracks 3 and 4 are solos, and the rest duets, with the singers complimenting each other magnificently. If you enjoy the mysterious and lengthy sound of sacred music, focusing specifically on the voice, you will love this recording.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2005-12-24

The sacred music of Couperin has an intensity and power rarely found in baroque church music. It was mostly scored for one, two or 3 voices and continuo; this CD is an excellent example of his work. The name "tenebrae" probably refers to the darkness that gradually spread during the service as candles were extinguished one by one until Matins ended in darkness. The first 2 lessons are for solo voice;the third is a duet. The disc begins with a Motet which was written in honor of the marytr St. Bartholomew during which the 2 voices imitate and chase each other in 3rds. The selection "Venite Exultemus Domino" is largely an exultant text with suspensions of great beauty and ending in a surprisingly low tessitura. To my mind the "Magnificat" with its variety of textual moods and rich harmony is the real "showcase" on this recording! And with the 2 great countertenor voices of Chance and Bowman we have the best possible rendition. They are a great team vocally for they blend well and indeed are very similar in their singing style, although I think Chance as the edge in overall performance. A great recording in every way.

Average customer rating:

Serenade

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00003E455
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

The Fair Maid Of Perth: Ser
The Barber Of Seville: Dawn W. Her Rosy Mantle
Don Giovanni: Dalla Sua Pace
The Bohemian Girl: When Other Lips
Frederica: O Maiden, My Maiden
Lily Of Killarny: Eily Mavourneen
The Bloom Is On The Rye
My Sweetheart When A Boy
La Belle Helene: The Shepherd's Song
Annie Laurie
Two Eyes Of Grey
To A Wild Rose/Diaphenia
To The Queen Of My Heart/Love's Philosophy
To Mary
Cosi Fan Tutte: Un' Aura Amorosa
The Pearl Fishers: In Memory I Lie Beneath The Palms
Faust: All Hail, Thou Dwelling
L'Elisir D'Amore: Down Her Pale Cheek
Diaphenia/The Sweet O' The Year
Judas Maccabaeus: How Vain Is Man
Manon: Dream Song

Music:

Music

Music