The Katinas

Description

The self-titled major label debut album by the American contemporary gospel/R&B group The Katinas was released on Gotee Records in 1999, distributed by Chordant Distribution. The album was produced by various producers: tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8 produced by Stone for the Positive Movement; tracks 1, 6, 9, and 10 produced by Todd Collins and Toby McKeehan for Gotee Bros. Entertainment; track 4 produced by Mark Heimermann and Toby McKeehan; and track 11 produced by Bryan Lenox.

The funky, finally-released major label debut by these five brothers from Samoa does not come with instructions. But if it did, they might read something like this: First, find some free time on a Saturday afternoon or a day off. Second, crank up the volume and boost the bass on your boom box. Third, sit back and let those glorious harmony waves wash over you like a baptismal bath. This is healing modern gospel! music, surely in the same league as Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin and Franklin protégé God’s Property.

So where do The Katinas fit into the scheme of things? Enter producer Tommy Sims, he of «Change the World» fame and years of Christian music contributions. On The Katinas’ debut, Simms pulls the deft trick of stacking those silky harmonies (reminiscent of Boyz II Men) against gritty, gutbucket backing tracks.

Looping guitars grind out «The Circle»: clavichord, cowbell and sassy brass propel «So Good»; and there’s a touch of Stevie Wonder-inspired harmonica spicing up «There You Are». On the softer side, «Mama» recounts the true story of the boys saying good-bye to their mother, who died in 1988 of cancer. It’s rendered with so much tenderness and conviction that it’s easy to excuse the song’s reliance on that eternally cliché phrase, “forever and ever.” And «Sing Me a Song» sounds like a stone-soul update of Earth Wind & Fire’s «Sing a Song», with an opening line that could well serve as The Katinas’ credo: “Do you believe that a song can put a smile upon your face?/ Let me say that I do.” And after listening to this album, so does this reviewer. [Lou Carlozo, CCM, May 1999]

I met a Katina in a toilet in Nashville recently and was forced to admit that I hadn’t heard this much delayed album. I wish I had heard it because I could have waxed long and lyrical about its virtues. Those with long memories will remember a debut album many moons ago under the moniker The Katina Boys but time passes and now these guys have made it to manhood, this mature funky workout is going to fittingly place them on the musical map. Stylish, groovy with enough funk to get you excited and enough vocal talent to drown you in a sea of harmonies! The album begins strongly with «Takin Me Higher» setting the scene with its punchy horns and dance feel and «There You Are», a slow grooving soulful celebration of the security we find in God. By the time we reach «The Circle» the band have knocked me for six! But there’s more and whether it’s the layered sweet soul of «One More Time», the unremitting joy of the funky «So Good (Mighty Vibe)» or even the bittersweet string filled tribute to their mother, «Mama». The Katinas have it covered demonstrating their versatility. Only one quibble: the album does bland out a little towards its close with an overdose of ballads. Shame really because other than that, these brothers are a class act! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, August 1999]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-katinas/1533113456)

CD tracklist:

01. Takin’ Me Higher
02. There You Are
03. The Circle
04. One More Time
05. So Good
06. Mama
07. The Other Side
08. Nothin’ But…
09. Sing Me A Song
10. Writing This Letter
11. You Are God

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

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