Go Get Your Life Back
EMI Gospel
Six months
have passed since 9-11, anthrax and economic upheaval wreaked havoc on our
world. Many of us are still contemplating the impact and the sheer magnitude of
the event. So much was ruined on
9-11. The
Perhaps your
despair wasn’t the result of 9-11, anthrax or even the Enron scandal; maybe it
was something else that has caused you to land on the brink of disaster. Hold on, Donald Lawrence has a message for
you. One so powerful and refreshing
you'll want its waves to wash over you again and again and again.
“Go Get Your Life Back”,
the compelling new recording from Donald
Lawrence & Tri-City Singers admonishes us to look beyond the despair
and disappointments of the past and press into the blessings God has awaiting
our arrival.
This new
project signals the return of one of Gospel’s most prolific young writers. Known for such breakthrough works such as Bible Stories and the millennial
release Tri-City4.com, Donald
returns with a half ‘n half (part live, part studio) album; one that’s
anointed, thoughtful, encouraging and uplifting
- vaulting straight off the CD and into your heart.
Produced by Donald Lawrence and his
keyboard player Danny Weatherspoon,
with assistance from Troy Taylor, Isaac Phillips, Randy "Fever" Jenkins and Myron Butler. The album also boasts a list of coveted
collaborators and guests such as Bishop
T.D. Jakes, Bishop Walter Hawkins and Pastor Andraé Crouch. The
band (Drums: Calvin Napper, Bass: Mel Gray and Dwayne Wright, Guitar: Reggie
Graves, Keith Taylor, Joey Woolfalk Organ: Chris Morris) lead by Danny
Weatherspoon are supported by the wonderful Mohorns, who provide the finishing accompaniment along with the Nashville String Machine.
Lead-off track, The
Best Is Yet To Come is a joyful piece that
simply puts the sprite in the step! Seasons,
featuring Bishop Walter Hawkins and D. Lawrence on lead vocals is yet
another call of the prophetic to seize this time as a God-ordained moment of
destiny. The “seasons” thread is a
pervasive one that’s appeared on a number of other artists’ projects (Israel
& New Breed with New Season,
Fairest Hill with This is Your Moment,
Yolanda with Believe) over the last
few months. As Donald coins it “I
heard the Spirit say…it’s your time”.
I submit to you, it’s God’s time.
Be encouraged and “walk into your season”.
Leave your
stress behind and count your blessings as you bounce to I Can’t Complain. Lead by
DeWayne Woods this track kicks off the first studio set of the project with
a couple R&B flavored jams. The second of which, is Miracle, lead
by Tri-City signature voice, Arnetta Murrill-Crooms who
also provides the juicy bgv’s that give this track it’s
edge. Track by track, Donald challenges
and dares us to rise from our doldrums and believe that “God’s got a miracle
with your name on it!”
Most notable
of cuts on this CD is Bless Me (Prayer Of
Jabez) based on the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Bestselling
book by Bruce Wilkinson, this song
was written by Donald Lawrence and Gospel songwriting legend and maestro, Pastor Andraé Crouch. A powerful
and memorable ballad, it represents the cry of all our hearts (perhaps before,
but more passionately) since 9-11.
Donald provides two live versions; one where he solos and the other
where the Tri-City Singers lead by Sharla
Reid-Byrd emote in a powerful anointed way. Keep On Blessing Me returns to the studio but continues the thought
process form the previous track in a light and upbeat R&B format.
Lord,
I Try, written by Donald and Bishop
Walter Hawkins is a trip to traditional West Coast gospel sounds with
powerful lead vocals by Erica
Bratton-McCollough. Next up to the mic, Sheri
Jones features on an
updated treatment of the Clark Sisters classic It's Gonna Be Alright.
Urban Praise & Worship refrain Usher Me, brings alongside another
stellar collaboration, this time with
Bishop T.D. Jakes. Arnetta Murrill-Crooms once again takes the helm at vocals delivering
divine inspiration as she ministers.
Donald saves the title track for last. Go Get Your Life Back, lead
by Ann Nesby, seals the message in
the casing. In Donald’s own words:
Life is a gift, and God didn’t bless us with this gift to live our
entire lives in sadness. Sadness will pass, and then it’s time to get up, dry
your eyes, re-boot and grab back your life. And when you do,
by all means, live it...to the fullest.
Definitely Donald’s best work to date, Go Get Your Life Back
is a thoughtful and mature offering from one of Gospel’s most beloved young
maestros.
Reviewed by: Kathy
Grant
Feedback: kathy@kathygrant.org