Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls (CD - 2007)

Like the soundtracks to writer/director Tyler Perry's earlier films (DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN, MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION), DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS presents a top-notch collection of high-profile R&B and gospel performers. Song highlights include Beyonce's thoughtful "Daddy," two versions of Anthony Hamilton's soulful "Struggle No More," and "Family First," an uplifting collaboration between Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston (her mother), and Dionne Warwick (her cousin).

The soundtrack to Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls is a thematically sound effort that reflects the feel of the film to which it's associated. It does this so well that it actually earns the "music inspired by the film" tag on the cover when so many other jumbled messes of label priorities and unit-moving star power don't. Like the film, the music here is concerned with family and the unconditional, undying love that comes with it. Best of the bunch is Anthony Hamilton's moving ode to the family provider, "Struggle No More," which appears both in its original version and a polished remix with guests Jaheim and Musiq Soulchild. The often scandalous R. Kelly is suitably proper on his sweet and upbeat "Don't Let Go," while gospel powerhouse Yolanda Adams offers "Step Aside," which overflows with affirmation and emotion in a stripped-down setting, sounding very much like her hit "The Battle Is the Lord's." Of course, the track to focus on is "the first-ever recording by the Houston Family," "Family First," which features Whitney, her mother Cissy Houston, her cousin Dionne Warwick, and various Houston family members in a chorus. Whitney's voice is deep, a bit hoarse, a little rough, but very moving, and even if the children's choir thing has been overdone by this point -- the device was already used on "Struggle No More" -- Whitney's cries for compassion and her family's calls for strength will be deliciously voyeuristic for any fanatic, seeing as how her divorce to Bobby Brown was just underway at the time of recording. The executive producers of the album -- and Tyler Perry is one of them -- show their love of the current grown man's R&B with the final two cuts: the warrior anthem "Blood Sweat & Tears" from newcomer Governor and a moving cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" from Transitions member Charles "Gator" Moore. Everything else is satisfying and stays on topic, making this a solid collection and perfect souvenir for anyone who falls in love with the film. ~ David Jeffries minimize