Reviewed by John Baugh

The track list goes from "Stand Still" to "Step Out" so you can guess we have another straightforward, high quality gospel album from Shirley Caesar. Flawless and crisp production by Bubba Smith and Shirley mean you can't spot the live tracks from the studio recordings (5 live to 4 studio). Stampers like "The Sun Is Gonna Shine Again" and the more soulful "Just As I Am" combines to make it well balanced if slightly predictable, but then with Shirley Caesar you expect consistency. However the track, and I give it it's full title, "Pastor Shirley Talks To The Youth (We Love Our Children)" is a bit below par. The singing is OK if a bit dull but when she breaks into a big preach about drugs, sex, prostitution and whatever else was on her mind I miss something. Perhaps I'm just a boring English person who doesn't understand the language or the style of speaking, but it simply passes me by. The message is obscured by the impassioned pleading. This of course is only one track and shouldn't dominate an otherwise good album which I reckon would act as a good taster of the world of traditional gospel.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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