Sweet Spirit

Description

The self-titled debut album by the American R&B group Sweet Spirit was released on Shalom Records in 1974, distributed by Acts 29, PA. (Shalom was a label created by Andraé Crouch.) The album was produced by Andraé Crouch and his twin sister Sandra Crouch.

Black female R&B, pop and ballads foursome produced by Andrae and Sandra Crouch, with musical assistance from Hadley Hockensmith, Harlan Rogers, Bill Maxwell and Fletch Wiley (aka Sonlight). As you’d expect their sound is tamer than secular R&B (no “gitchy gitchy ya ya ga ga”s), but they do manage to get the juice turned up pretty good a couple times, The Billy Preston-ish «I Just Wanna Thank You» and Walter Hawkins’ «Sinnerman (Where Will You Run)» both make for high-energy groovage, especially the turbulent bass and sizzlin’ sax on the latter. Other cuts include some Crouch numbers («Take Me Back», «Bless His Holy Name», «If Ever»), Edwin Hawkins’ «Here’s The Reason», Hockensmith’s «Song For The World» and Rogers’ «Soldiers Of The Cross». [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “God Will Make A Way” – 4:04
A2. “Soldiers Of The Cross” – 2:03
A3. “Sinnerman (Where Will You Run)” – 3:25
A4. “Take Me Back” – 4:26

Side Two
B1. “Here’s The Reason” – 4:45
B2. “I Just Wanna Thank You” – 2:17
B3. “Bless His Holy Name” – 3:00
B4. “Song For The World” – 3:00
B5. “If Ever” – 5:16

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape and 12-inch vinyl LP by Shalom Records.