[.ca] WOW Gospel 2001

From Amazon.com:
Much like contemporary Christian, its cousin genre, modern gospel music showcases a larger variety of styles than ever before. The diversity is quite obvious on the WOW Gospel 2001 collection, a 32-track spiritual pick-me-up bound to find favor with most listeners. "Let's Dance," one of the release's hotter grooves, shows this well when the more traditional (Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir) meets the not-so-traditional (rapper B.B. Jay). Or check out the blistering soul and hard-driving bass lines of John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir on "Right Here." Of course no gospel collection is complete without a Yolanda Adams ballad ("Still I Rise") and a CeCe Winans tune ("Alabaster Box"). Disc one holds surprises such as ol' Doobie Brother Michael McDonald on Darwin Hobbs's "Everyday." The second disc focuses more on traditional gospel instead of crisp urban pop. You'll have a hard time not raising your hands to the soaring choruses of "Battlefield" by Norman Hutchins. And Aaron Neville brings forth "Mary Don't You Weep" in the classic spiritual style of gospel. Altogether, this collection testifies to the great and varied sounds in today's gospel music scene. --Michael Lyttle

The Wow Gospel I Enjoy the Least!:
I'm afraid I'm seem to be in the minority here, but I really don't enjoy this particular Wow Gospel album. In fact, in comparison to all of them so far, including the latest one, this is the one I enjoy the least. There are a lot of songs that I can't get into because they aim to be more "fluffy" than substantial, especially on disc 1. This wow is simply one I cannot keep listening too, except for Shackles, Closer, and Rejoice (especially Closer by Lamar Campbell and co, which really ministers to me). Once by Londa Larmond is another favorite. If I would have gotten this when it came out, I would have been listening to this song everyday. But since I have her album, I must admit that the novelty has worn off somewhat. This is truly my least favorite. This was from the 2000 season mostly, where it seemed gospel artists were trying way too hard to be "cool" and appeal to the masses but missing a lot of substance. It's just not one I can just listen to over and over, like the 1st 2 in the series. Even 2000 and 2002 are a little better than this one.

i enjoyed it:
I really enjoyed this compilation as well as the others. It did help me in knowing who was good in gospel and worth purchasing.

encouragement:
I listen to Disc 2 every single day. I have others, but certain songs on this CD really touches me. As I strive to walk closer with the Lord, some obstacle always seems to find its way into my pathway. But when I listen to "Closer" and "Nothing Else Matters" my mind is clear of all that is going wrong that day or in my life. Why? Because I know that there is a God up above that seats high and looks low and will not let any hurt, harm, or danger come upon His children that love Him and want to do right by His will. It's trully my inspiration.

WoW, Excellent As Usual...:
As always the WoW compilation is excellent! ..., but besidesthat it's all good. DISC ONE: The first five tracks on the firstdisc of WoW are very prestigious territory which I've noticed over theyears have been reserved for the 5 biggest and hottest songs of theyear, so naturally the album starts off with "Shackles \oPraiseYou\c" by Mary Mary, the biggest Gospel song of the year andpossibly the decade, basically to make track one on WoW you must havea video, an at least gold album and secular airplay. Then there's thehot "Let's Dance \oRemix\c" by first 5 track favorite HezekiahWalker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir which features gospelrapper B.B. Jay. Then there's another top 5 favorite John P. Kee, whomade it to track 1 with "Strength" back on WoW Gospel 1999and made track one one the second disc on WoW Gospel 1998 with"Stand". He's back at track 3 with his & the New LifeCommunity Choir doing their new single "Right Here". Nowhere's another top 5 favorite Fred Hammond & Radical for Christwith "I Want My Destiny \oLive\c", an unreleased version ofthe song from their 2000 pay per view special. And to round out thetop 5 is "That'll Do It", a blazin' hot track from Anointedfrom their to be released and named fifth album. Other standouts onthis disc are the hot "It's Alright \oSend Me\c" by WinansPhase II, "Personal Jesus" by the always controversial,Tonex, "His Love" by B.B. Jay, "Walk Right" byCommissioned, "Everyday" by Darwin Hobbs featuring MichaelMcDonald, "Fall Down 2000" by Kelli Williams, "I CameTo Jesus" by New Direction, and "Real" by theTommies. DISC TWO: The more traditional second disc starts outwith Shirley Caesar's newest single "Rejoice" and then movesinto the super tradional "Battlefield" by Norman Hutchinsand then "At The Table" by Richard Smallwood. Afterward isprobably the most beautiful song of the year. "We Fall Down"by Donnie McClurkin and Helen Baylor's "If It Had Not Been ForThe Lord On My Side" to round out the top five. Standouts on thesecond disc include the emotional "Memories \oWhen Will I See YouAgain?\c" by the Canton Spirituals feat. Albertina Walker and thehot, "The Holy Place" by Ricky Dillard & the NewGeneration Chorale. Now as far as the three unreleased songs on the CDthere's "I Anoint Myself" from the F. Hammond Presentsalbum and features RFC Soloist PamKenyon McDonald, .... Then there'sthe upbeat "Once" by Londa Larmond and to end there's"Better Days" by the male twosome, .... As usual the firstdisc is the saving grace of this series.

Shared with my family:
This album ministers to ones spirit thru songs like; "We fall down". I highly encourage folks to get the whole Wow Gospel series. The cds help propell one further into the spirit world and they help further ones connection to the Creator and knowledge of God.

• Shackles (Praise You) - Mary Mary
• Let's Dance \oRemix\c - Dave Hollister, B.B. Jay, Love Fellowship Crusade Choir
• Right Here - John P. Kee,
• I Want My Destiny \oLive\c - Fred Hammond, Radical for Christ
• That'll Do It - Anointed
• It's Alright (Send Me) - Winans Phase 2
• Personal Jesus - Tonéx
• Alabaster Box - CeCe Winans
• God's Favor - Kim Burrell, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donald Lawrence, Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers, Kelly Price,
• Still I Rise - Yolanda Adams
• I'll Keep Holding On - Kim Burrell
• His Love - B.B. Jay
• Walk Right - Commissioned
• Everyday - Darwin Hobbs, Michael McDonald, Michael McDonald
• Fall Down 2000 - Kelli Williams
• I Came to Jesus - New Direction
• Real - The Tommies
• Who Would've Thought
• Rejoice - Shirley Caesar
• Battlefield - Norman Hutchins
• At the Table - Richard Smallwood
• We Fall Down - Donnie McClurkin,
• If It Had Not Been for the Lord on My Side - Helen Baylor
• Memories (When Will I See You Again?) - The Canton Spirituals
• Mary Don't You Weep - Aaron Neville
• Holy Place - Ricky Dillard
• Closer - Lamar Campbell, Denise Clark, Spirit of Praise
• Nothing Else Matters - Marvin Sapp
• God's Got It - Colorado Mass Choir, Joseph Pace II
• Tell It - Tarralyn Ramsey
• I Anoint Myself - Pamkenyon Donald, Fred Hammond
• Once - Londa Larmond
• Better Days - The Wordd,