Churchin’ With Dottie —the mere album title seems so obvious, for churchin’ is what Dottie Peoples does best.

Anyone who’s ever seen Peoples in a live setting knows this and her numerous traditional hit singles attest to the fact. “Count on God”, “On Time God” and “Look To The Lighthouse” (from her 1993 Live at Salem project) are only a few of her many popular church jams.

The latest release from AIR Gospel’s flagship artist brings Peoples back into a very comfortable live setting —the album was recorded at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia Georgia as a rockin’ prelude to the 2002 Stellar Awards weekend.

New hits are tricky to predict, but it’s hard to see how People’s own compositions “Closet Religion” or “Just Ask And Say Thank You” can go wrong. All the ingredients are there: Peoples' familiar vocal approach with her patented abrupt falsetto jumps, churchy growl and clear, rich sound and above all, the accessible song structure and the stellar message.

The tri-choir combination of the Peoples' Choice Chorale, Keith Brooks and New Creation and the New Birth Missionary Mass Choir is a force to be reckoned with throughout the project. Also joining Peoples are several of her friends from over the years.

Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist, joins with Peoples on “I Believe in Christ” to deliver a clear and resounding altar call that goes beyond cliché to touch on points sure to grab several. The guesting continues with Minister Byron Cage dueting on the choice choir romp, “It’s Gonna Be Alright”, and Rev. Jasper Williams Jr. stepping in on the remake of the popular “Get Right Church”.

Washington DC luminaries Stephen Hurd and Patrick Lundy contribute songs, with Hurd penning “Your Glory”, a vertically-directed slow worship song that Peoples sings accompanied solely by Derrick Cooper’s piano.

Lundy writes a contrasting composition (in terms of style), the all-out raucous album buster and choir get-down, “Enter His Gates”. There’s also some songwriting from Rev. Gerald Thompson on “He Can Work It Out”.

Peoples also turns to her own musical director, Sterling Holloway II, for the bubbling funk of “Joy Of The Lord”, and to her organ maestro Dwain White, who writes the choir-backed ballad “Just Ask and Say Thank You”.

Not counting ‘best of’ sets, Churchin’ with Dottie is the eighth album that Dottie Peoples has put out on AIR Gospel. That’s a lot of songs, but judging from this project, the well is far from dry.