Memorable Moments with Bishop Paul S. Morton

Bishop Paul S. Morton
Memorable Moments
Tehillah Music Group/Light Records 2010
www.lightrecords.com

Bishop Paul S. Morton, entrepreneurial pastor of the Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church, has had his share of trials, including a health scare and a two-element gut punch – fire and water – to his New Orleans flagship church that required significant repairs and saintly perseverance throughout the process. That’s why when Morton sings “I’m Still Standing,” a track reissued on his “best of” compilation released by Tehillah/Light, it’s a true testimony.

Sometimes record companies use the “greatest hits” comp as a way to eke as much utility as possible out of its catalogue or to fill a gap between new albums, but Memorable Moments doesn’t feel like a marketing gimmick. It is an impressive, well-constructed compilation that gives listeners a newfound appreciation for the Bishop’s vocal skills. It presents his keen sense of vocal timing, a pulpit-honed flair for the dramatic, and that singular cry in his voice, all of which are critical to getting a song over. Singing compositions by the likes of Kurt Carr, V. Michael McKay and Marvin Winans doesn’t hurt, either.

Gospel enthusiasts will recognize the emotion-drenched radio favorites “Cry Your Last Tear” and “Don’t Do It Without Me,” but will also be moved by the powerful gospel ballad, “Your Tears.” “His Yoke Is Easy” is a traditional gospel that, with superb choir backing, sounds like a GMWA mass choir performance. Speaking of which, the Greater St. Stephen Church Choir and the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir are equally deserving of praise for supporting the Bishop with confident, thunderous and tuneful harmonies.

Memorable Moments concludes appropriately with an altar call (“We Offer Christ”), and a bonus CD gives the listener a chance to hear a full-length sermon by Bishop Morton. It’s no surprise that this set is on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart as of this writing: the performances are heart-rending but hopeful at the same time. The album lives up to its title.

Five of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “Your Tears,” “His Yoke is Easy.”

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.