Incredibly gifted and prolific soloist Gladys Knight released her first inspirational album in 1998. While many of her past albums carried music of significance, rightfully earning her a place in the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this is the first album which she focused entirely on the spiritual side of music. And yes, this is the same Gladys Knight as Gladys Knight & the Pips. As one would expect from a seasoned artist like Gladys Knight, the entire album is musically sound from a critic's standpoint, and the messages of the lyrics leave an indelible impression on the listener. One song stands out for its danceable music, but deeply important message -- "Everybody." She relates an experience of chatting with an ignored homeless man and sings the reminder: Everybody needs someone to hold on to/Everybody needs someone to love them true/Everybody needs someone to treat them right/How about you/How about you. The music on this album cannot be neatly confined to any one genre. It has a little bit of soul, a bit of rock and a bit of gospel. And the result is an album that has a huge amount of appeal for not only her longtime fans, but for the new audience she entered in 1997 when she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's representative of a new focus at this time of her life, but is not representative of her entire body of work. For a Christian seeking something a little less stodgy, this album will be a welcome addition in their collection. ~ Dacia A. Blodgett-Williams, All Music Guide
TRACKS
1. Mercy's Arms 2. Open Up Your Eyes 3. Precious Lord 4. Everybody 5. Mister Love 6. What Would I Do Without You (Interlude) 7. He Never Will 8. Jesus' Love Is Like a River 9. Good Morning Heavenly Father 10. Many Different Roads 11. With a Smile 12. Saints Medley: Just a Little Talk With Jesus/By and By/When the Saints 13. Worship You (Interlude)
Released November 03, 1998
© 2006 All Music Guide, LLC