Charles McPhatter – Life Songs

Charles McPhatter
Life Songs
Self Released 2009
www.charlesmcphatter.com

Charles McPhatter, former member of gospel group Devotion and part of Christopher Page’s sanctified-sliding Dream Keepers’ Ensemble, released his sophomore project, Life Songs, late last year.

The eleven contemporary gospel tracks on Life Songs are easy like Sunday morning, pleasant and optimistic in both lyric and melody, and all from the pen of singer-songwriter McPhatter.

McPhatter’s tenor voice – lithe, earnest and endearing – is a pitch-perfect image of 1980s R&B crooner El DeBarge. Even the gentle bounce and easy-tempos of his songs are keenly reminiscent of DeBarge. This will work in McPhatter’s favor, after El rocked the recent BET Awards with his medley of the group’s dreamiest hits.

Tracks on Life Songs run the gamut from foot-tapping in the case of “Trouble Don’t Last Always” to the melodically delicious “Thank You,” with its opening and closing interpolation of “Londonderry Air,” to the introspective ballad, “Never Gave Up On Me.” The latter, while a worship song to the Creator, could also be interpreted as a poem of gratitude from McPhatter to his adoptive parents. Until last year, he thought his adoptive parents were his biological kin.

Mostly, though, the album’s lyrics praise Jesus as the best friend one can have, forgiving man in his weakness and saving man in his hour of need. Some are delivered as evangelical homilies, others as prayers, and yet others as simple conversations about the goodness of God. Listening to Life Songs is as comfortable and comforting as wearing your favorite blue jeans.

These days, when Charles is not promoting his CD, he is section leader for his church mass choir, First Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, VA.

NOTE: Since those who (like me) recognize the McPhatter surname as important to music history will want to know: yes, Charles’ adoptive father is related to the late Clyde McPhatter, iconic lead singer for the Dominoes and the Drifters; and therefore also to Willie James McPhatter, former Alex Bradford Singer and cousin to Clyde.

Four of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “Trouble Don’t Last Always,” “Never Gave Up On Me,” “Remember Me.”

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.