Believe (CD - 2001)

Personnel includes: Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard.

Producers include: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James "Big Jim" Wright, Shep Crawford, Drop Squad.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Personnel: Yolanda Adams (vocals, background vocals); Karen Clark-Sheard (vocals); T-Bone (rap vocals); Professa (guitar, bass guitar); Eric Walz, Jay Williams, John Jubu Smith (guitar); Connie Ellisor, Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , Lee Larrison, Alan Umstead, Catherine Umstead (violin); David Angel, Jim Grosjean, Kris Wilkinson, Gary VanOsdale (viola); Mark Douthit, Jeff Bailey , Mike Haynes (trumpet); Chris McDonald (trombone); Kevin Bond (keyboards, programming, background vocals); James "Big Jim" Wright (keyboards, background vocals); Grant Nicholas, Shep Crawford, Bobby Ross Avila (keyboards); Iz, Ishmael Ferguson, Jeremy Haynes (drums); Alexander Richbourg (drum programming); Onitsha Shaw, Greater Philipian Youth Choir, New Life Cogic Youth Choir, Deirdra Coker, Clinta Turner, Naybu Fullman, Tanjala Wright, Kim Washington, Lisa Keith, Big Jim (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Neil Pogue; Kevin "KD" Davis; Manny Marroquin; Jan Fairchild; Xavier Smith; Kevin Bond; Peter Mokran; Ralph Cacciurri; Soul Providers; Steve Hodge; Bradley Yost.

Recording information: Bonded Music, Stone Mountain, GA; Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA; Flyte Time Studios, Edina, MN; Hartman Way Sounds, West Hills, CA; Live Wire Studios, Detroit, MI; Marvin's Room Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, CA; Reflection Sound, Charlotte, NC; Seventeen Grand Studios, Nashville, TN; The Embassy, North Hollywood, CA; Westlake Studio, Los Angeles, CA.

Photographer: Marc Baptiste.

Arranger: Kevin Bond.

Riding a crossover wave that culminated in a Grammy win for 1999's MOUNTAIN HIGHàVALLEY LOW, this gospel superstar re-teams with some of the same collaborators for her first studio album of the new millennium. Superstar producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis return to the helm for the inspirational lead-off single "Never Give Up," hip-hop flavored "I'm Thankful," and the gorgeous ballad "I'm Gonna Be Ready". Elsewhere, Adams keeps the contemporary R&B vibe going with the up-tempo funk of "Fo Sho'" (featuring fellow gospel songbird Karen Clark Sheard), groove-fueled jam "Unconditional," and the Stevie Wonder-lite of "Darling Girl" inspired by her newborn daughter.

Like fellow crossover sensation Kirk Franklin, the former schoolteacher/model keeps one foot firmly placed in the world of Christian music. For this outing, Adams shares her faith on the lush "Only If God Says Yes" and makes like Patti Labelle on the equally inspiring "Since The Last Time I Saw You." BELIEVE continues to find Yolanda Adams reshaping the sounds of modern gospel in a way that sounds fresh without losing the message of the Lord. minimize