A Gospel Tribute to President Barack Obama

by N/A

Overview

While the gospel community might be expected to rejoice at the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008, that election occurred against the backdrop of numerous difficulties, notably a failing economy and ongoing military commitments, that may have sobered even the new president's most ardent supporters. That may help explain the unusually solemn tone of this album, released five months into his administration, mixing excerpts from Obama's speeches with gospel performances. Early on, in such tracks as Benita Washington's "This Is Your Cue" and Israel Houghton's "Send Me to the Nations," the auspicious nature of Obama's ascendency is suggested, but after he is heard making his famous call for change, William Murphy answers with "Changes," in which he notes that it isn't as easy as all that: "In order to change, you gotta go through some changes." And so it goes, as the gospel singers reflect on the hardships that have brought the faithful and the country to this crossroads, and Obama is heard acknowledging the problems, despite his optimistic sense that things can improve, repeating his catch phrase, "Yes, we can." Even he, however, can tick off the challenges, as he does in "Signs of the Times Narration," after which Marvin L. Winans, Michael McDonald, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong contribute "Signs of the Times," a funky look at what's wrong in the style of the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion." Obama gets the last word, pledging to make things right. But this is not a starry-eyed celebration of the new president so much as a sober look at what he and the nation face, politically and spiritually. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	06/09/2009
Label:	Atf
UPC:	0829569812523

Tracks

1. This Is Your Cue  - Cedric Caldwell  - Victor Caldwell  - Benita Washington  - Angie Winans
2. Send Me to the Nations  - Israel Houghton  - Aaron Lindsey
3. King Inside of Me  - Cedric Caldwell  - Victor Caldwell  - T.D. Jakes  - Donnie McClurkin
4. Changes  -  Murphy
5. The Curtain's Raised  - Cedric Caldwell  - Victor Caldwell  - T.D. Jakes  - Shirley Murdock  - Kelly Price
6. A Path in the Sea  - Cedric Caldwell  - Victor Caldwell  - T.D. Jakes  -  Potter's House Mass Choir
7. I'm Gonna Make It  - Cedric Caldwell  - Victor Caldwell  - Angie Winans  - Jerard Woods  - Terry Woods
8. Change  - Juanita Bynum  - Patrick Love  - Myron Williams
9. Brothers & Friends  - Marcus Dawson  - Jeff Ferguson  - Michael O'Brien  - Micah Stampley
10. Closing In  - Cedric Caldwell  - Victor Caldwell  - Ternae Jr. Jordan  - Dottie Peoples
11. Still Here  -  Williams Brothers
12. Signs of the Times  - Vanessa Bell Armstrong  - Marc Harris  - Michael McDonald  - Marvin Winans
13. [Untitled]
14. [Untitled]
15. [Untitled]
16. [Untitled]
17. [Untitled]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dottie Peoples   Primary Artist
Micah Stampley   Primary Artist
Israel Houghton   Primary Artist
Donnie McClurkin   Primary Artist
The Williams Brothers   Primary Artist
Michael McDonald   Primary Artist
Benita Washington   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Kelly Price   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Shirley Murdock   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
William Murphy Sr.   Primary Artist
Potter's House Mass Choir   Primary Artist
Michael O'Brien   Primary Artist
Myron Williams   Primary Artist,Organ
Jerard Woods   Primary Artist
Vanessa Bell Armstrong   Primary Artist
Juanita Bynum   Primary Artist
Marvin Winans   Primary Artist
Barry Green   Brass
Ryck Carter   Bass
Dana Reed   Guitar
Melinda Doolittle   Vocals (Background)
Cyndy Paisley   Vocals (Background)
Marcus Finnie   Drums
Kemmerin Blalark   Drums
Tamiko Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Darcey Stewart, Jr.   Vocals (Background)
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Guitar
Andrew Ramsey   Guitar
Jeremy Haynes   Drums
Gayle Mayes   Vocals (Background)
Darrell Freeman   Bass
Ann McCrary   Vocals (Background)
Michael Bereal   Piano,Keyboards
Marc Harris   Keyboards,Organ (Hammond)
Jonathan DuBose, Jr.   Guitar
Jim Horn   Brass

Technical Credits

Carl Gorodetzky   Contractor
Ron Benner   Engineer
Victor Caldwell   Composer,Producer,Instrumentation
Lloyd Barry   Brass Arrangement
Jerard Woods   Composer
Myron Williams   Brass Arrangement,Engineer,Producer
Jim Gray   Orchestral Arrangements
Jim Horn   Horn Arrangements
Marcus Dawson   Composer
Jeff Ferguson   Composer
Robert W. "JoJo" Hill   Engineer,Brass Arrangement
Matt Cole   Engineer
Shane Gue   Engineer
Michael "Mookie" Taylor   Percussion Programming
Ralph Forrest   Drum Programming
Malcolm H. Harper, Jr.   Engineer
Kenneth McEastland   Design,Layout Design
T.D. Jakes   Composer
Patrick Love   Composer
Terry Woods   Composer,Executive Producer
Angie Winans   Composer
Ralph Cacciurri   Mixing,Engineer
Gerald Hairston   Engineer
Aaron Lindsey   Composer
Ternae Jordan Jr.   Composer
Marc Harris   Composer,Producer,Horn Arrangements
Cedric Caldwell   Composer,Producer,Instrumentation
Israel Houghton   Composer
Ronn Huff   Orchestral Arrangements