The Bride

Description

The Bride is the fifth album by the American singer and songwriter Crystal Lewis, released on Metro One Recordings in 1993, distributed by Diamante Music Group. The album was recorded by Chris Wimber, Gene Eugene, and Scott Osborne with Brian Ray producing. Mixed by Doug Rider. “The Mother And The Bride” and “My Redeemer Lives” feature background vocals by Alfie Silas, Debbie McClendon Smith, and Linda McCrary.

Crystal Lewis may just be the most unlikely match of voice to physical appearance since Rick Astley, mainstream pop’s rich-voiced answer to Howdy Doody. To say that this petite songbird is a powerhouse is not to tell half of it. She’s also one of the most soulful singers in the music business, period. If only fans of Mariah Carey could hear Crystal…

If the aural/physical incongruities weren’t enough, Lewis’ latest collection, ‘The Bride’, is full of its own. To begin with, the title sounds typical of many songs and albums from the inspirational mold; and trust me, white conservative church music this ain’t. Explaining just what it does sound like is a challenge in itself. Suffice to say its diverse styles are linked by a distinctly urban approach, making it sound quite different from much of the contemporary Christian music that comes out of Nashville and the like. Lewis’ vocal instincts – whether they be in R&B, jazz, funk, rock, blues, contemporary or traditional gospel – are uncannily on the money considering her age.

Lewis’ talents as a songwriter are developing too, as she has written or co-written five of the album’s nine songs. Husband Brian Ray also wrote as well as produced the album, bringing together a suitably diverse group of musicians for the project including Koinonia‘s Abraham Laboriel on bass, White Heart/Adam Again drummer Jon Knox, ex-violet burning guitarist Shawn Tubbs and keyboardist John Andrew Schreiner, among others.

It’s hard to find fault with someone as talented or sold out to the gospel as this dynamic young woman. My only fear is that her eclectic (and street-wise) musical tastes might keep her from finding a larger slice of the contemporary Christian audience. Don’t you make that mistake; the kingdom of heaven is alive and well in the mouth of Crystal Lewis. [Thom Granger, CCM, January 1994]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-bride/1607913375)

CD tracklist:

01. Don’t Worry – 4:00
02. Little Jackie – 4:08
03. The Mother And The Bride – 5:48
04. Angels – 4:36
05. My Redeemer Lives – 5:20
06. You’ll Be Back For Me – 4:35
07. Holy Place – 5:12
08. Amazing Grace – 4:40
09. Jesus Belongs In Your Heart – 5:32
10. Amazing Grace (Live) – 3:39

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Metro One Recordings. La Esposa is a Spanish language version of the album The Bride, featuring different cover art. The songs “Little Jackie” and “Amazing Grace (Live at Harvest Crusade)” appear in their original English versions. The song “Holy Place” does not have a re-recorded Spanish version present here.

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A full-page advertisement for Crystal Lewis’ The Bride was featured in the January 1994 issues of CCM Magazine.

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