Posted below are the albums recorded by Minister Thomas A. Whitfield and the Whitfield Company.
Beside it, you will find the following information:
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Brand New [1978] Sound of Gospel CAMEO APPERANCES: none
 J's OVERVIEW: Whitfield pulls out a ten selection set which elevated Whitfield's status in the local Detroit area. It didn't attract national attention, but it established Whitfield and his 30-voice musical aggregation as being contemporary torchbearers. The album features R&B interplay on songs such as the smooth ballad, "He's Coming Back Again" and exposed the world to driving choir jams (even before "When The Battle Is Over" from Walter Hawkins) on cuts such as "Repeat The Sounding Joy" and the title track. Disco sounds (the headlining style of this period) was heavily borrowed along with rich, choral classical harmonies. The latter would be the nucleus for the Company's success and longevity. Traditional gospel was also present ("That's How The Lord Works", "I'm His Today"). Many labeled Whitfield as a threat to the James Cleveland camp. But even Whitfield, being a Detroit native, even pulled out a stunning arrangement of Cleveland's hit, "God Is Still Working Miracles". A powerful studio recording for a debut gospel artist.HIT SONGS: "Repeat The Sounding Joy", "That's How The Lord Works", "He's Coming Back Again" SPECIAL AWARDS: none STATUS OF ALBUM CIRCULATION: out of print Things That We Believe | Volume One [1979] Sound of Gospel CAMEO APPERANCES: none
J's OVERVIEW: 10 studio tracks. A nice step step up in innovative trends and musicanship. Whitfield experiements with new boards and gets even creative on songs like "Let's Shout" pay close attention to that song and you will hear where Hezekiah Walker sampled the words and melody for "Lord Send Your Spirit Down". The opening track, "Lawn of Hope/This Is My Prayer" is a moving, magisterical ballad filled with "all-the-right" elements (strings, moving solo and zestful, choral vocals). "Revive Us Again" is also an exciting arrangement of the classic hymn. Pay very close attention to "Is Your All On The Altar" and "Want To Always Know You" - both cuts feature rich, jazzy overtones and stylish choral parts. The album is short but it's filled with hidden treasures.HIT SONGS: "This Is My Prayer", "Is Your All On The Altar", "Let's Shout" SPECIAL AWARDS: none STATUS OF ALBUM CIRCULATION: out of print Things That We Believe | Volume Two [1980] Sound of Gospel CAMEO APPERANCES: none
J's OVERVIEW: More traditional tracks, hefty rearrangements of hymns and gospel standards. The album was a rich dedication and tribute to the richness of traditional gospel music. The album leans more on the slow, tempo side. Not really a fast cut featured, so listeners may feel slightly bored. But the album is saturated in moving vocals and highlights some of Detroit's finest soloists. "I'll Fly Away" is a brisk, soulful gospel sensation, and features Wendolyn Davis at work. The vamp was used on Marvin Winans' "Walk Like Jesus". HIT SONGS: "The Lord Is Blessing Me", "I'll Fly Away" SPECIAL AWARDS: none STATUS OF ALBUM CIRCULATION: out of print  Hallelujah Anyhow[1983] Sound of Gospel CAMEO APPERANCES: none
J's OVERVIEW: With two albums underneath the promising producer/songwriter's belt, Whitfield felt it was due time to take his "babies", as he many times called them, to the next level. A live recording! The rest is history. Recorded at St. James COGIC in Detroit, MI, Hallelujah Anyhow shook the gospel music community by storm and launched its way on Billboard Gospel Music Charts. Songs like "God Is On My Side" (a chilling 10-minute experience) and "Soon As I Get Home" literally changed the surface of the contemporary gospel scene. It is also important to stress how the opening cut, "God Wants Our Praises", exposed people to 'funk gospel' with its robust, bass lines resembling George Clinton and Rick James and the catchy musical arrangement. Every song on this collection became popular standards, but it was the overwhelming title cut that became the standout. At the recording, the Company also sung two of Whitfield's compositions ("Oh How I Love Jesus" and "Saved"), but were not inserted on the album. Because of a complication for creative rights with SOG, Whitfield decided to withhold those two songs from release and re-recorded them in the studio for his solo debut on Benson. Regardless of the occurance, "Hallelujah Anyhow" was well received. A landmark project.HIT SONGS: "God Wants Our Praises", "Soon As I Get Home", "Walk In The Light", "Hallelujah Anyhow", "God Is On Our Side", "I'm Saved" SPECIAL AWARDS: Billboard Gospel Music Charts- Top Ten (four weeks) STATUS OF ALBUM CIRCULATION: out of print Hold Me [1983] Benson CAMEO APPERANCES: none
J's OVERVIEW: SOG and newborn Whitfield fans were awaiting for the rumored solo project from the "Maestro". Both compaines were trying to put out releases around the same time - and both were trying to cash in on "Whitfield Mania". Still, to a large majority of gospel music consumers, they felt Whitfield was still too contemporary and far-fetched and. To the other half, they began to loose optimism of the Company's future because of Whitfield's desire to produce his own solo project. Hold Me proved Whitfield's talents to be greater than realized. Sadly, Benson Records decided to extensively edit the original tracks, which was far beyond Whitfield's control. But the album's nature and sound was brilliant and even became comparable with R&B artists. "Hold Me", "Yield Not To Temptation", "He Gave His All" and "Oh How I Love Jesus" became instant favorites and paved the way for fellow contemporaries such as Commissioned and the Winans. HIT SONGS: "Oh How I Love Jesus", "Hold Me", "He Gave His All" SPECIAL AWARDS: not available at time STATUS OF ALBUM CIRCULATION: out of print |
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