Gospel Music

I enjoy all the songs on this cd. I would recommend it to my friends.

This was really a very nice cd, one for worship and one for praise, PLUS a video, it was very worth the money

Presented this one as a Christmas gift ane the recipient is still thanking me today. The entire family loves this DVD and CD.

Back in 2003, I received the first Gotta Have Gospel compilation as a gift and I absolutely loved it. It introduced me to quite a few great gospel artists, like Kirk Franlin and Lisa McClendon, and it also provided with a new great track from my favorite gospel artists, Mary Mary. I don't know if I've been hiding under a rock or what, but somehow I missed out on volumes two-five. Yesterday, I saw this sixth installment and had to buy it. I do not regret my purchase one bit. This package contains two discs packed (and I mean packed - 79 minutes of music on each) with twenty-eight great gospel songs, both traditional and the more contemporary material, and a bonus DVD. I have absolutely no complaints with the first disc, which is more praise and worship/traditional compared to the second. I thoroughly enjoyed every single song. "As Long As There's You" is a breathtaking composition from the McClurkin project; even if heaven doesn't look like they imagined it would, they'd still be ecstatic, as long as God was there to meet them. It's a very moving track and I put it on repeat at least five times. The second disc, in my opinion, isn't as good as the first, but there are still plenty of songs from Tye Tribbett, J. Moss, and Dorinda Clark-Cole that intrigued me, along with the beautiful "Hide Me," by Kirk Franklin. The DVD has ten videos and/or performances by various gospel artists, including Byron Cage, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, and my favorite, the video for "Love Him Like I Do" by Deitrick Hannon, Mary Mary, and Ruben Studdard. It also includes short interviews with some of the featured artists. Overall, I was very pleased with this compilation. Not only is it a bargain, but it also provides me with great new gospel music and has helped me discover more great artists to listen to.

I thought that the video would be more like his past worship projects. The video was more like a trip through a few albums. The behind the scenes left a little to be desired. But on a whole I have to be fair, If I were not comparing it to his past works it would be a solid DVD...

I simply love Fred Hammond's latest Project. This video is energetic, exciting & lives up to what Fred Hammond is all about. Fred take gospel to a higher level with his versatile style of musical renditions & helps confirm him as a major force in the industry.

God Bless you Fred!!!
I love this DVD....get a few extras not on the CD....I feel like I'm at the Concert!

"No Greater Love".....ooo weeee Jesus!!!

We were satisfied with our purchase. The dvd was in good condition and was received very quickly.

Only problem with this is that the video is not in sync with the music. I wonder how long it took them to make it like that?

Music is great tho. Bless God for Fred and em.

7 Days is my favorite, but this is the one my husband loves! I like this one, too; it's just that this project leans more towards the traditional gospel style, while 7 Days is urban and aggressive, and that syle caters more to my musical tastes. Still one of the greatest gospel music projects ever recorded, though!

This is a must for everyone's collection. If you don't have this one your are definately missing out on what God has for you through this anointed man of God. Eyes have not seen, neither have ears heard. This is an awesome CD.

Lost and Found was more acclaimed, and his days with VOU had more of a praise and worship vibe, but this was his best genre defying blend of Hip hop, Neo Soul, contemporary gospel while keeping the praise and worship aspect in place with God and Jesus exalted and proclaimed throughout the disc. Almost all the tracks are high quality. Still bumping this one even 4 years later.

This...is the best CD since Mary, Mary! I have enjoyed every song. His music is one of a kind! I especially enjoyed God Didn't Give Up On Me & Happy. Dietrick went into every area of sound, from old time religion to calypso! A friend of mine, with cancer, listens to this CD on the way to her treatments. I gave her the CD for a christmas present! You've made 2 people in Indianapolis happy! His previous CD "Lost & Found" doesn't compare! I hear there's a new CD out? I will definitely purchase it!
ljr

When I was going through my darkest days,minutes,hours, seconds in my life this man lyrics and music healed my soul and mind!His music is like vitmans for my soul. Also, the lord words. I thank God that I found his cd. His music along with other great gospel vocalist drew me closer to God.Because of Deitrick I buy more gospel music and pray all the time. Because of Deitrick, I feel very optimistic about my future. Most of all, I thank GOD!

To me, one of the sweetest sounds in the world is the sound of children singing, especially talented kids! I have all three of these albums and listen to them whenever I want to feel uplifted. What a wonderful way to worship! This is high quality music, well put together, and the kids sound great.

This CD was great for my kids & I wasn't annoyed by the music which may be a first as kids music goes!

As a parent of profoundly autistic twin boys, who have the capability of repeating phrases and parts of songs LOUDLY and without regard to where they are (be it school or a basketball game, the grocery store, library, etc.) this CD has been a Godsend. Literally. Now they sing about God everywhere and no one can stop them =)=) Rock On!

This is a great CD for children and adults. I love listening to it with my children!

This CD is great for anyone that loves the old classic hymns w/ a new up beat. Also it's very uplifting.

I bought the CD for the song "Be Thou My Vision", which I heard on the radio. This arrangement is incredible. It brings new, inspired meaning to an old classic hymn.

They are one of the greatest groups around. Highly Recommend it.

It's one thing to arrange your own original music, but to arrange classic hymns and make THEM your own, is just downright skillful! This was a very pleasant surprise to me, and I figured, being 4HIM, it would be good. I simply LOVE what they did here! My all-time favorite hymn is my favorite scripture, "Great is Thy Faithfulness," and the arrangement on this one is really nice--very catchy. "All Creatures of Our God and King," (Oh that one's good!) "It is Well," (well, actually all of them!) are very well done. The straight, Sunday-morning service rendition of "There is a Fountain" is a sweet salute to those hymns that we Christians grew up with.

The printed lyrics weren't even necessary for this one--just find a hynmal! Another wonderful piece of work from this truly awesome foursome!

Christian artists releasing a collection of hymns is nothing new. Usually, they sound like a church service and, while good, I find they don't stand up to repeated listening. 4 Him avoided this trap by tweaking the hymns ever so slightly to fit their style. You'll still recognize them and be able to sign alone right away. But they won't sound like this in your church service.

The most strikingly different is "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded." It's got a pounding base that makes it a much more powerful and urgent song. And I like the third verse they include. I was only familiar with two before.

"The Sold Rock" also gets a nice boost with a slightly faster tempo that makes it fun to sing while keeping the theology of the lyrics.

"It Is Well" gets a quiet make over. The orchestra doesn't overwhelm the song at all and in some ways makes it more intimate. "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" and "All Creatures of Our God and King" are treated in the same way.

This is a unique take on a hymns project, and 4 Him carries it off well. I really should listen to it more then I do because every time I pull it out I remember just how much I love it.

I found this to be a wonderful collection of the best of R. Smallwood's songs of Praise and Worship to our Lord. I have all of my favorites on one CD.

This is the first time I ordered with amazon and I was disappointed. I got the wrong cd in this richard smallwood cd case and no one wanted to help me.

I LOVE THIS CD! We sing most of these songs at church! :) LOVE IT!!!!

This is a great CD and we use it a lot in our dance ministry.

I loved it.It was everything I imagined it would be.

Probably a good video for an introduction to hip-hop styles of dance. But the instruction and the dance itself were sub-par. There are other hip-hop instructional videos that are of a much higher quality.

Shakles the song is fantastic. The video is perfect for the person who has little dance experience and wants a way to praise God. If you are an experienced dancer you may find this too simple & corny. Our youth group loves it, the teens are picking it up fast and having fun with it.

I bought this to teach the teens at church in our creative arts group and to open the door for more to join. We now have new members because they love the dance and the little ones are learning it too. It is easy step by step instructions and fun to do. I highly recomend this to any youth group!
Tina
Hands 2 Hearts Ministry

hello from chicago, i give this copy of a gift to a rather wonderful spiritual person. she played it over and over till i bought her another one she said, the other one was losing its quality.. she enjoys it so much. by the way the person i give it to was my boss...

WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS TAPE IT MADE ME THINK OF MY LOVED ONES THAT IS IN A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO PAIN,OR SORROW.I CRIED WHEN I HEARD THE SONG OF THEIR FATHER. IN MY HEART IT WAS A CRY OF JOY. I,MYSELF BELIEVE I WILL SEE THEM BECAUSE I HAVE ASK CHRIST TO COME INTO MY HEART AND I HAVE GIVEN MY SOUL TO HIM.I ONLY WISH IF THEY COULD HAVE MADE A VHS TAPE IN MEMORY OF HIM INSTEAD OF A CASSETTE TAPE.

I am a quartet baby, of the late 50's early 60's. This group has revitalized the quartet era. My Dad is from Union City Tennesee. He help to feed his family from the payments he recieved from his own quartet. His last recording was on a 78 record. So for Christmas and his birthdays I have given him a CD and video of the Canton Spirituals. We laugh we cry, and recapture great memories, watching the group relive the dream. Thanks Harvey Watkins Jr.! If you want to hear some good hip slapping, toe tapping music, LOOK NO FUTHER!

The Canton Spirituals are and will always be my favorite gospel group. I pray and hope they will find their way to San Diego or Los Angeles, CA. I would be the first in line to purchase a ticket. Whenever I am at my lowest, I listen to their music and get filled with the holy spirit and I can then conquer another day and know that god is by my side. Their voices are truly an inspiration and I can feel it deep within my soul.May God continue to bless them and keep them.

The Canton are and will always be my favorite gospel group. I pray and hope they will find their way to San Diego or Los Angeles, CA. I would be the first in line to purchase a ticket. Whenever I am at my lowest, I listen to their music and get filled with the holy spirit and I can then conquer another day and know that god is by my side. Their voices are truly an inspiration and I can feel it deep within my soul.May God continue to bless them and keep them. I have all their Video tapes and as soon as a new one comes out, I rush out to buy it.

If you can't get to a concert at 4th of July, play this CD really loudly and it will still get you in the mood. My chest swells with pride when I hear these songs. Gets me in a patriotic mood. I listen to this during the distant fireworks show. INSPIRING!

Surprised that no one has reviewed this yet. Amazon.com doesn't give much info on this release, so I thought I'd rectify that. This is the second brand-new release on the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir" label, following their April 2003 release of "Consider the Lilies." Again, several of the arrangements are by Mack Wilberg, with direction by Craig Jessop and accompianment by the Orchestra at Temple Square. The track list is as follows:

1 America the Beautiful
Music: Samuel A. Ward

Text: Katherine Lee Bates
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg (Oxford University Press) 4:30

2 Bound for the Promised Land
Music: American folk hymn.
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg (Oxford University Press) 2:35

3 This Land is Your Land
Music: Woody Guthrie
Text: Woody Guthrie
Arrangement: Percy Faith & Michael Davis 2:40

4 Shenandoah
Music: American folk song.
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg (Oxford University Press) 4:48

5 Battle Hymn of the Republic
Music: William Steffe
Text: Julia Ward Howe
Arrangement: Peter J. Wilhousky (Carl Fischer, Inc.) 5:19

6 Distant Land
Music: John Rutter
Text: John Rutter
Arrangement: John Rutter (Hinshaw Music, Inc - ASCAP) 4:41

7 They, the Builders of the Nation
Music: Alfred M. Durham
Text: Ida R. Alldredge
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg (Deseret Book Co.) 3:28

8 The House I Live In
Music: Earl Robinson
Text: Lewis Allen
Arrangement: Michael Davis 3:26

9 America, the Dream Goes On
Music: John Williams
Text: Alan and Marilyn Bergman 3:18

10 Give My Your Tired, Your Poor
Music: Irving Berlin
Text: Emma Lazarus
Arrangement: Roy Ringwald (Shawnee Press, Inc. - ASCAP)
Orchestration: Michael Davis 3:01

11 God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand
Music: George W. Warren
Text: Daniel C. Roberts
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg (Oxford University Press) 4:12

12 Hymn for America
Music: Stephen Paulus (Paulus Publications)
Text: Michael Dennis Browne 3:08

13 The Pledge of Allegiance
Music: Charles Osgood
Text: Francis Bellamy
Arrangement: Michael Davis 2:39

14 Cohan's Big Three (Yankee Doodle Dandy, +below)
Music: George M. Cohan
Text: George M. Cohan
Arrangement: Floyd E. Werle
+Give My Regards/Brdway, You're a Grand Old Flag 3:53

15 Goin' Home
Music: Antonin Dvorak
Text: William Arms Fischer
Arrangement: Jay Welch 4:36

16 God Bless America
Music: Irving Berlin
Text: Irving Berlin

Arrangement: Roy Ringwald (Shawnee Press, Inc. - ASCAP)
Orchestration: Michael Davis 3:44

17 The Star-Spangled Banner
Music: John Stafford Smith
Text: Francis Scott Key
Arrangement: Robert Russell Bennett 2:21

18 Call of the Champions
Music: John Williams
Text: Olympic Motto 4:47

The sound on this release is, if anything, even cleaner than the previous release, with the Choir and orchestra very evenly balanced. The programming includes a mix of both traditional and brand new songs, a couple of which (Stephen Paulus's "Hymn For America," and Charles Osgood's "The Pledge of Allegiance") were commissioned especially for this recording. Additional note: several of these songs were included on the Choir's 2003 Northeastern States tour, which was a huge success. I highly recommend this recording!

This is an excellent CD. The music, both voices and orchestra, is superb. The content of the lyrics is inspiring. It reminds me of so many reasons I'm proud to be American.

There never has been nor ever will be a more consistent artist in the CCM industry as Michael W. Smith. The man just puts out great albums and hit singles one after the other. I own most of his CD's (from 'The Big Picture' right up to 'A New Hallelujah') and consider myself a huge fan. However, if I had to pick my absolute favourite CD from his vast catalogue, this would have to be the one. None of his other albums equals the magic he captured on 'Live The Life'. The only one that might come close would be 'This Is Your Time' which was released soon after this one. Still, as good as 'This Is Your Time' was, it didn't hit the mark quite as well as 'Live The Life'. Undoubtedly, this masterpiece was the peak of Smitty's career. Only one throw-away track on the whole CD (the embarassingly goofy 'Love Me Good' which has no business being on this superb collection of songs) makes for a quality album that you will find yourself playing over and over again in the car. If I had to sum up the feel of the whole CD in two words, it would be introspective and melancholy (which is also revealed by the drained of color cover photo of Smitty looking grimly out a window into the rain). In fact, some of the songs are heart-wrenching. Witness the only track ever that can bring tears to my eyes, the unbearably sad 'Hello,Good-bye'. It will leave you a mess, believe me. If you were able to put the raw feelings one experiences when someone close to them dies to music, this would be it. Prepare to have your heart torn out as Smitty mourns the loss of young Noah: "I'll see you on the other side" indeed. Or the haunting 'In My Arms Again', the pensive, swelling love ballad which, unbelievably, was rejected from the Titanic soundtrack (thier loss!!!). Exploding with passion and emotion! Then there is 'Let Me Show You The Way', a song which drips empathy in its pleading lyrics. But my favourite all time song ever has to be the tragic 'Missing Person', a song about a young, on-fire Christian who has drifted away from his Christian faith and lost his zeal. It's just flat-out a perfect song musically and it never fails to make me want to crank it as loud as I can bear it! 'Live The Life' is Michael W. Smith's most important album and a must-have for fans and for those who just love good CCM music!

MWS, or Smitty, has been around forever, or pretty close. However, I wasn't a big fan of his earlier work, it just wasn't my cup of tea. It just seems too old fashioned. Unfortunately after this album he went back to that format. But, after a good 15 years MWS had to change his format, do something different, or at least for part of the album. The result? His best work in my opinion.

The first two songs are MWS's best songs of his career. They're different, they're good, one is peppy, one is somberish. (Is that even a word?) It continues through a good first half of the album, then I would say it get boring again, and becomes just like his old work. So did he just use that because he already had it, and he didn't have anything better? Anyways, they're not as good as the first part, and they feel out of place.

Overall, a refreshing album from MWS, and his best. And we can only hope he comes out with another one just like it.

Since my years in Junior High, Michael W. Smith's music has been a large part of the soundtrack of my life. His music speaks to me in volumes. I played his music during the loss of my brother, and I play his music to my two toddler girls. He ranges from fast-paced, upbeat fun, to mellow, soothe-the-soul inspiration. No matter what, all his music is a devotion to Christ and a heartfelt dedication to our Lord. Michael W. Smith's music has been part of my "record" collection for over half my life... and will be through to the end. My thanks and genuine gratitude to Michael and his family, for walking with us in our faith to our Lord, and for sharing such inspirational talent during such worrisome years on this Earth. Thank You, Michael W. Smith... and Thank You, Christ Jesus.

This album really showcases Michael's lyrical, instrumental, and vocal abilities well, and it is very uplifting! "Missing Person" is a soul-searching song I think we all can identify with, and my favourite on this CD. I like all of the songs on here, but other highlights are "Never Been Unloved" (the sweet and simple truth we all need to hear!), "I Know Your Name" (another reminder of God's loving care), and "Song for Rich" (for all you Scottish/Irish pipes fans out there!) The only drawback on this CD is that God's name is only mentioned a couple of times, and two of the songs are love songs ("A Matter of Time" and "In My Arms Again"), though those tracks are beautiful. Also, "Let Me Show You the Way" is one of my absolute favourites, and it is about friendship, but can be taken in another way. If you don't mind "Christian love songs" and so forth, though, you are guaranteed to enjoy this album! Soothing and inspiring!

I love this album! The opener "Missing Person" is the best opening for a Michael W. Smith album I've ever heard (with the possible exception of "Sonata in D Major" from the album PROJECT, but that was less than a minute and completely instrumental, so I don't think that counts). But the best song on here is "Never Been Unloved", penned by Wayne Kirkpatrick. It's a gentle and simple ballad that reminds us (sometimes very explicitly) of just how much God loves us and how unlovely we are.

LIVE THE LIFE is not like THE BIG PICTURE or any of Smitty's other "edgier" sounding albums. With the exceptions of "Missing Person", "Love Me Good" (the only cheesy song on the album), and "Don't Give Up", it's all very mellow music. Sometimes, it gets so soft it almost loses the listener. But it's nice to have a break from the harsh RNR sounds every once in a while, and this CD provides an excellent alternative.