|
This month we take a look at the
new project from one of “the hardest working groups in the land,”
Darrell McFadden & The Disciples.
Their new CD is titled Alive 20th Anniversary Celebration.
To really appreciate this project, it is important to understand the course
that Darrell McFadden (often referred to as the Bishop) took that brought him
to his 20th Anniversary in gospel music. The Bishop “started singing at a very
young age in his church choir.” "While still in his youth he joined a family
group called The
Spiritual Voices of
Brooklyn, New York.” He would later organize a group called
The Golden Sons.
Sometime thereafter, he joined the legendary
Willie Banks and The Messengers.
After leaving the legend, Bishop recorded the project Head of A City.
He eventually formed, and became the lead singer for, the group,
Darrell McFadden and The
Fantastic Disciples.
Heard of A City was recorded In 1991. In 1993,
Message to the World was released. It was followed in 1995, by
True Inspirations. And, the group closed out the nineties with II
Sides to Every Story. By the time they released II Sides to Every
Story, the group’s name had been changed to
Darrell McFadden And The
Disciples.
In 2002, they gave us the very popular project Confirmation. Two
years later they released Chronicles. Then the group kicked it up
a notch in 2006, with I’ve Got A Right. In 2009, they delivered
Untouchable (Isaiah 54:17) to the marketplace.
With nine projects to their credit (with some of them being double CDs), the
group was certainly positioned to do a “best of” project. And, that is
what you get with the ALIVE project. In fact, not only is it the
“best of;” but, as the title reflects it is a live concert. So, you also get
all of the energy this group is known to bring to the stage.
There are eighteen songs on the CD. All the songs, except for the Bonus
Track, have been recorded before by the group or Bishop. They are
“Intro/Be Ready,” “That's What He Did for Me,” “I'm On My Journey Now,” “I've
Come This Far By Faith,” “ Two Face,” “Lord, Send Me,” “I'll Be Alright,” “I
Believe,” “I'm So in Love With Jesus,” “Long As I Got Jesus (That's Alright) ,”
“City,” “Never Alone,” “Refuge,” “He Can, He Will,” “Depending On You,” “I
Can't Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand) ,” “Shackles,” and the
Bonus Track “Wilderness.”
It is difficult to single out any one of the songs for special attention; so we
will not. It is highly likely that if you have a favorite song by this group,
it is probably on this CD. As expected, the Bishop handles lead duties, with
Spanky Williams featured on two (2) of the songs as the lead singer. The
project is vintage quartet gospel. And, with eighteen (18) songs, the CD
is over a hour and twenty minutes in length. You will find this CD hard
to take out of the player.
A DVD of the concert is included with the CD. The concert was over two (2)
hours in length. There are two (2) additional songs on the DVD, "It’s A
Wonder" (featuring McFadden) and "Lay Down My Life For The Lord"
(featuring Rev. R. L. Bush).
If there was ever any doubt about the originality, talent and ministry of this
group, just set back and listen to the entire CD. You just might conclude that
this is one outstanding project from “the hardest working groups in the land.”
On the whole
Darrell McFadden & The Disciples'
ALIVE! 20th Anniversary Celebration is certainly worthy of your
attention and deserves to be part of your collection. We give
Darrell McFadden & The Disciples'
ALIVE! 20th Anniversary Celebration a
9 out of 10. The project should be available everywhere. The project
can be purchase by clicking
DMD. Click on the
title to hear a clip from “Long
As I Got Jesus (That's Alright).”
|
|
