Description
Beginnings is a compilation album featuring fifteen songs by the American gospel singer and songwriter Richard Smallwood, released on Word Entertainment in 2012, a Warner/Curb Company. It is part of the Beginnings series also featuring compilations by artists like Russ Taff (The Imperials Years) and The Clark Sisters, among others.
The Richard Smallwood Singers were formed in 1977 but it was in the late ’80s when they reached their peak with three albums produced for Word Records, ‘Textures‘ (1987), ‘Vision‘ (1988) and ‘Portrait‘ (1990), which supply the material for this 15-track compilation. Leaving aside the observation that ‘Beginnings’ is a pretty inaccurate title for a composer/choir director who has been recording albums (not represented here) since 1982, I can report that the funky «He’s Able» opens the album with a great feel, which continues with tracks like «Holy Holy» and «Vision» with its enjoyable classical opening! The only downside to the album is that time has not been kind in terms of the production values and arrangements and a number of tracks have a distinct ’80s feel, for example «I Will Pray» with its slap bass and electronic drums. Best cuts are the uplifting «Your Love Divine» and the inspiring «Center Of My Joy» written by Richard alongside Bill and Gloria Gaither. Richard’s songwriting has been a blessing to many and down the years he’s made a pretty big impact on black gospel music development. In truth, he deserves a more wide-ranging and thought through compilation than this one. [Stephen Luff, Cross Rhythms, June 2012]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/beginnings/1165970163)
CD tracklist:
01. He’s Able
02. I Give You Praise
03. Holy Holy
04. I Will Pray
05. The Center of My Joy
06. Holy Spirit
07. You Did It All
08. Calvary
09. Joy Will Come
10. I’ve Come Too Far
11. Vision
12. You Better Mind
13. Your Love Divine
14. The Glory of The Lord
15. The Lord’s Prayer
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