Gloria Spencer - For Once In My Life

Gloria needs to find some better representation. I mean yeah, she's humongous. But believe it or not, this is actually a great album. It's upbeat, she's got great enthusiasm and great songs underneath them.... but the record doesn't really talk about that or her relationship with god or anything. It mostly reassures you that she is one HEAVY girl. And if you're into that sort of sideshow side of it, her rendition of "I'll Fly Away" will do the trick, but all that aside this is seriously a very good and well-produced gospel album.

Give her a listen

The Marion Gaines Singers - This Too Is Gospel

If the title suggests to you that this is something way-out I'm afraid you're going to be a little disappointed. Most of this is fully recognizable gospel. But it must be FUNK too, because there's a wah-wah pedal sometimes. And you know what, those funk leanings are actually pretty cool. In fact, there's a lot of variety on here, and some of it is very well executed, particularly on the first half of the album.

For instance, there's this piano jammer, If You Need A Friend

and the proud You Can't Stop Me Now

Those are my two favorite cuts. Really, none of this is out of keeping with what I've heard on the Gospel Truth label, but I LIKE that stuff.

So here's where you go