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  Gotta Have Gospel! Vol. 2 The second volume in what is now an annual, year-end event, has arrived, and true to form, is a nicely-arranged buffet of the best of what Gospel has to offer, along with some spicy jolts of what's soon to come.  Volume 2 is laid out much like the first entry in the series, a 2-CD set of a total of 28 songs, plus a bonus DVD that showcases select videos, artist interviews and a few EPKs (electronic press kits —artist overviews, essentially).Even a glance at the track listing of this projects shows you that the genius of this release is its pulling together of disparate, or little-known singles that may have escaped notice, since many were previously only available on other artist's albums. For example, The GMWA Mass Choir cut, "Gotta Make It In", featuring Dorinda Clark-Cole, is there. So is "We Have Not Forgotten", the duet between American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and Fred Hammond, that surfaced on Studdard's solo debut in 2004. Other hot properties found on the project are "Because Of Who You Are", penned and performed here by Martha Munizzi. The song has been covered several times by other artists since Munizzi introduced it on her Say The Name debut back in 2002. It's good to hear the original version. Resurfacing are gems such as the title track from the Kingdom Come Soundtrack, featuring Kirk Franklin and Jill Scott, plus other duets that may have escaped your radar, including the gorgeous "Falling In Love With Jesus", which brings in saxophonist Kirk Whalum over Jonathan Butler's soul croon. The pairing of Tonex and Kirk Franklin from Tonex's Out The Box project makes the list too.
New quartet The Soul Seekers continue to advance new music in anticipation of their debut with "There Will Never Be Another You". There's also a remix of Kirk Franklin's "Brighter Day". On the throwback tip is "Every Beat Of My Heart" from The McClurkin Project, "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep" from Trin-i-tee 5:7's first album and that standby "Lost Without You" from BeBe and CeCe Winans. Also in the mix is "Good To Be Alive" with Woody Rock and Mary Mary, from the Dru Hill member's solo Gospel endeavor. There's also the funky "Hold On" from Joe Pace & The Colorado Mass Choir, featuring guest artist Rance Allen, plus entries from RiZen, Juanita Bynum, Alvin Slaughter, Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs, Tye Tribbett & GA, and Stephen Hurd. On the video disc is the new concept video, "We Must Praise" from J. Moss, "Brighter Day" from Franklin, "Rejoice" from Israel & New Breed and "Because of Who You Are" from Munizzi, along with a smattering of those aforementioned EPKs. As a year-end tribute, it's hard to beat this project.
Email This To A Friend Gospo Centric Records / Integrity Gospel — reviewed by Stan North —
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