WOW Gospel 2002 (CD - 2002)

Arranger: Richard Smallwood.

The WOW Gospel series of projects has been one of gospel music's top compilation series. Each project, since its debut in 1998, has either reached gold or platinum record status. The 2002 edition should follow in the same footsteps of its predecessors. WOW Gospel 2002 keeps with the successful pattern of featuring the "Top 30 songs by the Top 30 artists" of the past year, and there are some good ones included on this two-CD/cassette set: CeCe Winans, John P. Kee, Richard Smallwood, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, and Hezekiah Walker, among others. As an added bonus, included is the song "You" from Sean "P-Diddy" Combs' 2002 gospel project, Thank You. The beat-driven track features vocals appearances by Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, Hezekiah Walker, and 112, along with others. ~ Tim A. Smith

2002's collection of gospel winners is, in this series' grand tradition, chock-full of praise-worthy performances from both old faces and newcomers. Falling into the former category are a variety of Winans, including BeBe, CeCe, and Mario. The welcome guest appearance of Stevie Wonder on his own "Jesus Children of America" is almost as good as the original version on INNERVISIONS.

Virtue's "Gotta Worship" is notable in its genre-straddling pop-gospel appeal, while Beverly Crawford's "Run to the Water" is primal gospel funk at its most stirring. Bishop TD Jakes makes a welcome reappearance with the Potter's House Mass Choir on "When My Season Comes," which features the redoubtable cleric at his most persuasive. It's never clear how much emotion the good Bishop's larynx is going to be able to withstand, though it's obvious by the end of his performance that he'll live to fight for more souls another day. Fred Hammond and Radical For Christ's contribution is the characteristically smooth "You Are the Living Word," while Angela Spivey's penultimate "These Thorns" is old-school gospel at its finest. minimize