Start All Over

Description

Start All Over is the third album by the American gospel/R&B singer and songwriter Helen Baylor, released on DaySpring Records in 1993, a division of Word. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic, a division of Sony Music. The album was produced by Bill Maxwell of Koinonia fame with Helen Baylor co-producing. Mixed by Bill Schnee.

Every time I hear a Helen Baylor recording, I’m reminded of the concept that there are singers and there are singers’ singers. In the field of R&B/pop gospel music, Helen Baylor is the singers’ singer of the tender gender.

For her third Word release, former producer John Bokowski, Jr. sits this one out, with veteran drummer/producer Bill Maxwell at the helm. Maxwell’s touch brings high musical standards throughout, with less “trendy” sounds and more of a timeless quality that will keep this one sounding great for years. (Although that keyboard intro to «Mount Zion» brought me right back to Amy Grant’s «Jehovah» from 1984 – check it out)

As always, Baylor is a veritable encyclopedia of soulful singing, with a seemingly endless bag of vocal licks to play with at her disposal. On «Doxology», she dances the liturgical lyrics through a light jazz arrangement that would just never prepare you for the down-and-funky reading of «Already Motivated», a stomper that would make Mavis Staples proud.

Phil Driscoll duets (using both his “old” and “new” voices) on «Mount Zion», a contemporary gospel tune complete with choir that’ll stir even the stick-in-the-mud. And «The Sea of Forgetfulness» (the album’s first single) reminds the listener, “Into the sea of forgetfulness/ You placed all of my sin/ For I’m the only one that keeps reminding you/ Over and over again/ Into the sea of forgetfulness/ As far as East is from the West/ Seventy times seven you’ve forgiven me/ And you keep cleansing me… and placing my sin into the sea of forgetfulness.”

We’ll end this with a challenge. Think of a favorite female Christian singer whose vocals you’d consider “soulful.” Now stop. And ‘Start All Over’ with Helen Baylor. You’ll be looking for a new definition soon. [Thom Granger, CCM, October 1993]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/start-all-over/1167789467)

CD tracklist:

01. Sold Out – 4:37
02. More Than A Friend – 4:40
03. Already Motivated – 4:25
04. Doxology (Al Dios De Bondad) – 4:22
05. Mount Zion (duet with Phil Driscoll) – 6:16
06. I’m Excited – 4:20
07. LaDonna – 5:06
08. The Sea Of Forgetfulness – 4:04
09. God Is Able – 5:00
10. You Are My Fortress – 4:37

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by DaySpring Records.