Love God. Love People: The London Sessions

Description

Love God. Love People: The London Sessions is an album by the American worship leader and singer/songwriter Israel Houghton, released on Integrity Music in 2010. The album recorded January 4-14, 2010 at Abbey Road Studio 2 & 3 in London, England; with Aaron W. Lindsey, Tommy Sims, and Israel Houghton producing. Additional recording at various studios. Mixed by Tommy Sims and James Waddell, assisted by Taylor Pollert and Ira Hunt, at Lyricanvas Studios in Nashville, Tennessee (with tracks 5, 6, 8, and 12 mixed by Paul “Salvo” Salveson).

I dare you to hold still while listening to this album. Israel takes it up a notch and if it was possible, adds an extra dose of soul and funk to this cd. These tracks are at home anywhere, as long as you have the musical chops to learn what his band does. So often songs that come out are easy to play but in that, the lack of challenge. As an instrumentalist, this would be an exercise in challenge (with a little futility, let’s be honest). These players are at the top of the instrumentalist food chain.

Some of the tracks like «Love Rev» that start with spoken lines like “right on, right on” probably won’t be sung in the average church on a Sunday morning, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Once you get over how good the music and presentation is, you’ll also be pleasantly surprised by great lyrics!

Having been in so many countries around the world, «Others» is a great collection of the people’s stories that have moved Israel Houghton’s heart. He addresses the social realities all around us, keeps these people in your mind as individuals instead of statistics and points to a God who loves and forgives.

I can’t think of anyone better suited to mix the multiple styles of music that can be found on this album – there’s so much variety and it all works. There’s a mixture of styles like funk, gospel, trance, club, and melodic songs laden with strings. He’s a master and you should have this album. [Heidi Todd, Worship Musician Magazine, September/October 2010, Vol 8, Iss. 5]

This 2010 release shows the singer/songwriter, much loved in church circles for bringing a fiery gospel element into modern worship music, spent a small fortune in recording this set at Abbey Road’s renowned studio. Award winning producers Tommy Sims and Aaron Lindsey ensure the sounds on offer are rich and varied, particular standouts being «Mercies», with Kirk Franklin guesting, and «Surprises», with Israel helped out by Fred Hammond. The most powerful worship song of all is the closer «Hosanna», though with an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink eight-minute arrangement some will find it a tad OTT. Also, the album is very much a concept project with short musical interludes and fragments of speech segueing the tracks together which doesn’t always work. My personal favourite is the title track opener, which sounds great on radio. Overall, though, this is something of a curate’s egg album – effective only in parts. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, May 2012]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-god-love-people-the-london-sessions/1795089993)

CD tracklist:

01. Love God Love People
02. Yahweh (The Lifter)
03. Love Rev
04. That’s Why I Love You
05. Others
06. You Hold My World
07. You Won’t Let Go
08. Our God
09. Mercies (feat. Kirk Franklin)
10. Surprises (feat. Fred Hammond)
11. Name Of Love
12. Hosanna (Be Lifted Higher)