Hallelujah Gospel

At its best, true gospel music (as opposed to the watered-down pap often referred to as “contemporary Christian”) is a rich, febrile, rockin' sound--after all, this is the music that, along with the blues, was the source for so much of today's soul, R&B, and rock. Unfortunately, this 1982 concert, recorded at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA, and presented in Dolby Digital stereo, is not gospel at its best. It's not the performers' fault: singers such as Andrae and Sandra Crouch, the Hawkins Family (who decades ago were responsible for the hit “Oh Happy Day”), and Deniece Williams (once a member of Stevie Wonder's backup band; she's also had a few pop hits of her own) are among the best in the field; and the co-host (with Andrae Crouch), that great gospel legend Glen Campbell (?!), acquits himself well. The problem lies more with the venue. The Crystal Cathedral is an impressive place, but the altar/pulpit area is a good distance from the pews (it's also six or eight feet above the floor), so contact between performers and congregation--a key element in this music--is almost nonexistent. As a result, Hallelujah Gospel is a pleasant but not particularly fiery program--with the notable exception of “All Night, All Day,” sung by the inimitable Ray Charles. It's no surprise that Brother Ray, who virtually invented soul music by combining the sacred with the secular, is the one artist who manages to take it out of the cathedral and bring it back into the church. Optional. Aud: P. (S. Graham)