Search - Various Artists :: Motown Gospel 2

An absolute blessing

06/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is an absolute blessing it takes you to another place especially "His eye is on the Sparrow" by Marvin Gaye it sends chills up my spine and also Paul Williams singing "The Lord's Prayer",and Gladys Knight singing "How Great Thou Art" will bring tears to your eyes. If you are a Motown and Gospel fan you will cherish this."

Marvin Gaye's finest moment.

Bob Marovich pmarov9846@aol.com | Chicago, IL USA | 06/25/1998

(3 out of 5 stars)

""In Loving Memory" was a special recording of gospel songs by Motown artists, and created in memory of Mrs. Loucye Wakefield, a relative of Berry Gordy's. Harvey Fuqua (formerly of the Moonglows and the Spinners) produced the LP. Long sought after by collectors, the LP is best known for including Marvin Gaye's finest recorded moment: "His Eye is on the Sparrow." This is an absolute gospel classic, and I've yet to hear anyone do "Sparrow" better than Marvin (except perhaps Mahalia Jackson). Marvin sounds like Sam Cooke as he wrenches every emotion from this gospel chestnut.Gladys Knight and the Pips do an excellent rendition of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," but after that, there's really not anything else worth listening to on this collection. If every song was of the same high quality of these two recordings, the CD would deserve 5 stars; the rest of the tracks collectively drag it down to 3 stars. Why? All the other groups represented sound like each other, and the syrupy overarranged backdrops to these remaining tracks would have killed any originality anyway. Buy this CD for the Gaye and Knight tracks, and disregard the other songs."

Wildly Worth It, If Only for Two Jewels

BurtRose | Washington, DC area | 12/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Marvin Gaye's "His Eye is On the Sparrow," is a masterpiece. I can't help but think that he wasn't just doing a recording, but pouring out his fragmenting, deteriorating inner life to the Lord, a cry to heaven for salvation that pentrates the soul. Gladys Knight's, "Just a Closer Walk" is the other exquisite gem. If only for these two, this CD of rare tracks is an absolute must. The other songs are rather pedestrian, but the two jewels alone give this 5 Stars. However, Gladys' "How Great Thou Art" and Smokey's "Rock of Ages" are also heartfelt and lovely, indeed."