The Evolution of Gospel
| The Evolution of Gospel |
|---|
| Studio album by Sounds of Blackness |
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| Released |
May 21, 1991 |
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| Recorded |
1989—1991 |
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| Genre |
Urban contemporary gospel, spirituals, blues, ragtime, new jack swing, jazz, R&B, hip hop |
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| Length |
62:19 |
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| Label |
Perspective, A&M |
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| Producer |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis |
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| Sounds of Blackness chronology |
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| |
The Evolution of Gospel
(1991) |
The Night Before Christmas: A Musical Fantasy
(1992) |
|
|
| Singles from The Evolution of Gospel |
- "Optimistic"
Released: May 2, 1991
- "The Pressure Pt. 1"
Released: 1991
- "Testify"
Released: 1992
|
| Professional ratings |
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| Review scores |
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| Source | Rating |
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| Allmusic |   [1] |
The Evolution of Gospel is the critically and commercially acclaimed studio album by the Sounds of Blackness, released May 7, 1991, on A&M Records. It has been widely praised for its use of multiple genres of African-American music, including gospel, spirituals, blues, ragtime, jazz, R&B and hip hop. In 1992, the album received the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album.
Track listing
| # |
Title |
Length |
Composer(s) |
Producer(s) |
Lead Vocalist(s) |
| 1 |
"Chains" |
1:02 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
Carrie Harrington |
| 2 |
"Optimistic" |
5:19 |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Ann Bennett-Nesby, Carrie Harrington, Coré Cotton, Patricia Lacy, Jamecia Bennett |
| 3 |
"Ah Been Workin' " |
0:42 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
Dorothy J. Townes |
| 4 |
"The Pressure Pt. 1" |
6:04 |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Ann Bennett-Nesby |
| 5 |
"Testify" |
4:58 |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Ann Bennett-Nesby, Andre Shepard |
| 6 |
"Gonna Be Free One Day" |
0:37 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
Otis Montgomery |
| 7 |
"Stand" |
4:25 |
Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart |
Gary Hines |
Ann Bennett-Nesby, Prof. T |
| 8 |
"The Pressure Pt. 2" |
5:42 |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Gary Hines, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis |
Ann Bennett-Nesby |
| 9 |
"Your Wish is My Command" |
5:01 |
Tim Wortham, Gary Hines, Tony Haynes |
Gary Hines |
Ann Bennett-Nesby |
| 10 |
"Hallelujah Lord!" |
1:44 |
Carrie Harrington, Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
|
| 11 |
"We Give You Thanks" |
6:16 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
Ann Bennett-Nesby |
| 12 |
"He Holds the Future" |
5:01 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
Ann Bennett-Nesby, Carrie Harrington, Prof. T |
| 13 |
"What Shall I Call Him?" |
4:04 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
Ann Bennett-Nesby, Patricia Lacy, Elizabeth J. Turner |
| 14 |
"Better Watch Your Behavior" |
1:54 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
|
| 15 |
"Please Take My Hand" |
4:37 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
Ann Bennett-Nesby |
| 16 |
"I'll Fly Away" |
3:49 |
Albert E. Brumley |
Gary Hines |
Shirley Marie Graham |
| 17 |
"Harambee (Swahili for 'Let Us All Pull Together')" |
1:04 |
Gary Hines |
Gary Hines |
|
Chart positions
Album
| Year | Chart | Peak |
| 1991 | The Billboard 200 | #176 |
| 1991 | Top Gospel Albums | #12 |
| 1991 | Top R&B Albums | #4 |
Singles
"Optimistic"
| Year | Chart | Peak |
| 1991 | Dance Music/Club Play Singles | #17 |
| 1991 | Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales | #17 |
| 1991 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #3 |
|
"The Pressure Pt. 1"
| Year | Chart | Peak |
| 1991 | Dance Music/Club Play Singles | #1 |
| 1991 | Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales | #3 |
| 1991 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #17 |
"Testify"
| Year | Chart | Peak |
| 1992 | Dance Music/Club Play Singles | #7 |
| 1992 | Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales | #14 |
| 1992 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #12 |
References