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 --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Purpose by Design, Music, Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ, Contemporary Gospel, Gospel, Gospel/Christian Music, Pop
Average customer rating:
|
Purpose by Design
Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ Manufacturer: Verity ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004RCXZ Release Date: 2000-03-21 |
Tracks:
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 BannisterCustomer Reviews:
ONCE AGAIN A GREAT CD .......2005-10-12
True Blessing.......2005-07-18
Fred Hammond: Minister of Worship.......2005-03-21
Don't miss this experience.......2004-09-20
A Psalmist for the 21st Century.......2004-04-13
This project has a balance of worship music. He mixes well the contemporary with old time Black gospel sound. "You Are the Living Word" moves me to worship every time I hear it.
I strongly recommend this album. I pray Minister Hammond will consider doing several LIVE worship recordings in the genre of the old Savoy recordings (but with much better production) where the audience participation enhances the experience for all.
Music: