Here comes one of those albums that you’ve heard about for so long, that it seems like it’s nearly old news. Call it the “Duet Album” or call it by its formal title, Shirley Caesar and Friends is on the streets and it’s a gold mine (listen to the audio).

Roger Ryan (CeCe Winans, C.D. Hawkins, Alvin Slaughter, Greg O’quin) puts his golden touch to this latest album from the First Lady of Gospel, with Word’s A&R man Desmond Pringle co-ordinating the grueling album co-ordination process, bringing to a finish the long process of recruiting marquee names from both Gospel and mainstream to trade vocals with Shirley Caesar.

Kirk Franklin is no stranger to collaborating with Caesar, having invited her to be on his Rebirth project where she stepped in on the euphoric “Caught Up”. Here Franklin does some stepping in of his own on “Be Ready”, adding his well-known exhuberant exhortation to the song which he penned himself. Caesar sings of her readiness to be at God’s beckon call, over a contemporary choir arrangement. The veteran Bubba Smith joins Ryan in producing this brassy, funky affair.

Turning styles completely, Caesar joins with Faith Evans on the perhaps the slow jam of the year. Titled “Hurting Woman”, Evans’ smoldering vocals torches the hook-laden cut, with Caesar offering encouragement on the difficult situation of a woman who is distressed by the lack of support of her husband, but is determined to keep her vow before God, and stays on her knees in prayer. It’s a correct perspective on marital fidelity, and mainstream radio has absolutely no excuse for not snapping it up.

Kim Burrell and Caesar make for a potent mix on “We Praise You Lord”, their contrasting gritty styles working wonderfully against each other. As a rising balladic praise with plenty of acoustic guitar and piano, the song satisfies at every turn of phrase and change of key. Greater Grace Temple Community Choir does stellar work here in support, as they do throughout the album.

Making a welcome return is Oleta Adams, who lights up “Starting Over Again” with her warm tones and generous ad libbing alongside Caesar. The twosome sing of the regeneration that only God can offer, through his forgiveness and mercy.

More Shirley

Click on the art above to get to prior features.

The incomparable Patti Labelle joins Caesar on “You Are My Friend”, a song which uses as its base the true oldie, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. The two singers work of off each other in ways that shows their vast musical experience.

Then on the live-recorded “I Know It Was The Blood”, Labelle comes in again, joined this time by Gladys Knight. Organ swells, audience rapport and churched vocals put this cut into the stratosphere as the three revel in ad libs.

Rounding out the project are “I’m Blessed”, a brassy, church romp with Dottie Peoples, a jazzy hymn remake of “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” with Desmond Pringle and “I’m Gonna Wait” which sees Caesar pair up with her own folks —The Caesar Singers.

With 36 albums already under her belt, it would seem like a fantastic feat to continue to to one-up herself. But with a little help of some friends, it seems that Shirley Caesar has done just that.



Three songs snips from Shirley Caesar's album are available as RealAudio downloads. If you don't have RealAudio, be sure to obtain your free RealAudio player software first, by clicking on the blue RealAudio icon on the right.

To download the song snips, simply click on the highlighted text below, let stream on RealAudio, and enjoy.

• "We Praise You Lord (with Kim Burrell)"
  
  
• "I'm Ready (with Kirk Franklin)"
  
  
• "Hurting Woman (with Faith Evans)"