Angela Spivey – He Keeps His Promise

Angela Spivey

Innovative Records (2012)

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

The title of Angie Spivey’s new album, He Keeps His Promise, couldn’t be more fitting. 

After trying for some time to get her sixth CD in the hands of the masses, Spivey, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter, found success in Florida by partnering with Pastor DeWayne Harvey and his newly-formed Innovative Records imprint.  With additional assistance from Central South Distribution and the estimable influence of power player Vicki Mack Lataillade, the album was released last week.  

He Keeps His Promisefinds “The Princess of Gospel” in fine form, a wooden-church gospel squaller with the lung capacity of shouters Pastor Shirley Caesar, Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, and Lemmie Battles.  The songs on the CD are variously traditional and contemporary gospel, and almost uniformly about encouragement, hope, and deliverance.  Most of the songs were written by Harvey or Spivey.

In addition to the vigorous title track and current single, He Keeps His Promise features two up-tempo traditional church wreckers: “I Want to Be Ready” and “Lord Take Me Higher.”  On the first part of “My Outcome is Victory,” Spivey sings flatfooted in true Chicago fashion, with only piano for accompaniment. 

Even the album’s few praise songs, such as “King of Glory” and “You’re The Reason,” feature Spivey’s trademark gut-wrenching explosions of vocal dynamite.  Truly the best songs on the CD are those where she emotes unfettered; calmer moments such as her introductory vocals on “Move Let God Do It” are not nearly as powerful.

Spivey is assisted by the Greater Blessings Praise Team who provide antiphonal support on such songs as “Lord Take Me Higher.” 

He Keeps His Promise suggests that no matter how adventuresome gospel music gets, no matter how much praise is channeled through techno and auto-tune, there will always be singers like Angie Spivey with the soul force to shout the rafters down.

Picks: “He Keeps His Promise,” “Lord, Take Me Higher.”