Join the Band

Description

Join the Band is the third studio album by the American a cappella gospel music sextet Take 6, released on Warner Alliance in 1994, a gospel division of Warner Bros. Records. “My Friend” features Ray Charles, “Harmony” features Queen Latifah, and “Why I Feel This Way” features Stevie Wonder.

It’s been much too longe since we’ve heard from Take 6. The group’s last official release was ’91’s ‘He is Christmas‘, save the occasional contribution to a movie or advertising soundtrack, hardly enough to stay in the pop music fray. ‘Join the Band’ marks not only a welcome return to form, but sets new standards to keep the imitators wearing laser holes in their CDs long into the night learning the brilliant new arrangements.

What most will notice first is the inclusion of full instrumental backup on most of the tracks, heard previously only on the closing song from ‘So Much 2 Say‘ and the group’s contributions to other artists’ albums. Hearing the effect on the album’s opening two songs brings a mixed reaction – is Take 6 now just “another one like the other ones,’ or will the poppier production gain them more exposure, hence more popularity? Two thoughts: first, the a cappella work which heretofore characterized the group may have also kept it relegated to merely “novelty act” status in the minds of many; and, one listen to the lush, jazz-oriented vocal arrangements on these essentially pop tunes, as well as the numerous and strategically placed a cappella “interludes” throughout the album, blows the posers right out of the water.

The album’s got star power too, as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Queen Latifah (!) contribute significantly to three tracks here, to great effect. Jazz players Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, and Kirk Whalum also add stellar support. The group’s remake of Ambrosia‘s «Biggest Part of Me» provides the seemingly all-important cover tune, rewritten slightly to make the gospel meanings clear.

But it’s the album’s closer, «Lullaby» that tears my head off. The song’s blatant Christian sentiment, arranged with the skills that have landed Take 6 at the top of the down beat jazz vocal polls for years, and sung with unbelievable care and precision by six men who clearly believe what they sing, reminds me that the best contemporary music from Christians needn’t be imitative – it can be influential. [Thom Granger, CCM, July 1994]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/join-the-band/1172412166)

CD tracklist:

01. Can’t Keep Goin’ On And On – 4:48
02. All I Need (Is A Chance) – 4:05
03. My Friend – 4:19
04. It’s Gonna Rain – 5:04
05. You Can Never Ask Too Much (Of Love) – 4:20
06. I’ve Got Life – 3:26
07. Stay Tuned (Interlude) – 0:28
08. Biggest Part Of Me – 4:14
09. Badiyah (Interlude) – 0:59
10. Harmony – 4:07
11. 4 Miles (Interlude) – 0:59
12. Even Though – 5:09
13. Why I Feel This Way – 5:07
14. Lullaby – 3:39

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Warner Alliance.