Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration

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Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration
Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration cover.png
Studio album by
Various Artists
Released1992
Genre Gospel, Contemporary Christian, jazz, R&B, hip hop
Length75:42
Label Alliance
Producer Norman Miller
Gail Hamilton
Mervyn Warren
(executive producers)

Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration is a gospel album by various artists released in 1992 on Warner Alliance. Executive-produced by Norman Miller, Gail Hamilton and Mervyn Warren, it is a reinterpretation of the 1741 oratorio Messiah by George Frideric Handel. It has been widely praised for its use of multiple genres of African-American music, including spirituals, blues, ragtime, big band, jazz fusion, R&B and hip hop.

Contents

The album received the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as the 1992 Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year. [1] In 1993, the various recording artists in the project were collectively nominated for the for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist.[ citation needed ]

Track listing

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
#TitleLengthArranger(s)Producer(s)Performer(s)
1"Overture: A Partial History of Black Music"5:13 Mervyn Warren, Shelton Kilby, Dwayne Adell, Cedric Dent, Joe HogueMervyn WarrenMervyn Warren, Janice Chandler Eteme, Dwayne Adell, Cedric Dent, Joe Hogue
2"Comfort Ye My People"5:44Mervyn Warren and Michael O. JacksonMervyn Warren Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Daryl Coley
3"Every Valley Shall Be Exalted"3:42Mervyn Warren and Mark KibbleMervyn WarrenLizz Lee and Chris Willis (with Mike E.)
4"And the Glory of the Lord"3:57Charles Mims George Duke Dianne Reeves
5"But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming"6:38 David Pack, Greg Phillinganes and Patti Austin David Pack and Patti Austin Patti Austin
6"And He Shall Purify"4:36Michael O. Jackson and Mervyn WarrenMervyn Warren Tramaine Hawkins
7"Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive"3:56George DukeGeorge Duke Howard Hewett
8"O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion"3:52Cedric Dent Take 6 Stevie Wonder and Take 6
9"For Unto Us a Child Is Born"3:53Gary HinesGary HinesCore Cotton, Jamecia Bennett, James Wright, Carrie Harrington, Pat Lacy and Sounds of Blackness
10"Glory to God"4:51Robert SadinRobert SadinThe Boys Choir of Harlem, Leaders of the New School and Michelle Weeks
11"Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion"5:07 Richard Smallwood Richard SmallwoodRichard Smallwood Singers
12"Behold the Lamb of God"4:32 The Yellowjackets The YellowjacketsThe Yellowjackets
13"Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates"5:12 Fred Hammond Fred Hammond Commissioned and The Clark Sisters
14"Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage?"2:36Mervyn WarrenMervyn Warren Al Jarreau
15"I Know That My Redeemer Liveth"6:00Mervyn Warren and Michael O. JacksonMervyn Warren Tevin Campbell
16"Hallelujah!"5:53Mervyn Warren, Michael O. Jackson, and Mark KibbleMervyn Warren Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Patti Austin, Bernie K., Daryl Coley (soloist), Commissioned, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Clifton Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Kim Fields, Larnelle Harris, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Linda Hopkins, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones (conductor), Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Lizz Lee, Dawnn Lewis, Babbie Mason, Johnny Mathis, Marilyn McCoo, Mike E., Stephanie Mills, Jeffrey Osborne, David Pack, Phylicia Rashād, Joe Sample, Richard Smallwood, Sounds of Blackness, Take 6, Darryl Tookes, Mervyn Warren, Thomas Whitfield, Vanessa Williams, Chris Willis

Chart positions

Album

YearChartPeak
1992The Billboard 200#82
1992Top Gospel Albums#3
1992Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums#11
1992Top Contemporary Christian Albums#13

References

  1. "Awards Database". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  2. Staff, Rovi. "Handel's Messiah – A Soulful Celebration". AllMusic.