The Stars of Heaven – Wait On the Lord

The Stars of Heaven
Wait On the Lord
MSR Group (2010)
www.myspace.com/starsofheaven

Chicago’s hometown favorite the Stars of Heaven is a hard-singing female quartet in the tradition of the Gospel Harmonettes, Caravans and the Davis Sisters. They can be heard regularly on quartet programs in and around the Chicago area.

Wait on the Lord is a no-frills live recording of the quartet ministering to an appreciative audience at the Victory Temple Church of the Living God, Temple #1, where the pastor is Overseer T. Cooper. The recording captures what quartets can do when they have an entire program to themselves: perform extended versions of their songs, such as the title track, which on the CD is given an eleven-minute extension.

The album’s two drive songs, “Just in Time” and “Help Me Lord,” are the CD’s best selections. “I Need the Lord” is a slower selection that gives the group ample space to sing, minister and shout hard. Similarly, “All of My Appointed Time” has a bluesy tempo that enables the ladies to stretch out and deliver their message like evangelists at a tent revival, unencumbered by the time limitations of a multi-artist program.

Speaking of the tempo, the drummer Isaac “Mella” Steward hits his toms so hard you swear he is going to bust right through the skins.

For those who have heard the Stars of Heaven on a quartet program, Wait On the Lord will be a welcome opportunity to relive their performance. For those who haven’t heard this quartet, the CD is a chance to get a feel for them live, which is the best way to hear gospel music anyhow.

The Stars of Heaven are Shelly Williams, Marilyn Liggins, Tenesha Hoskins, Denita Sanders Jackson and Lisa M. Spies.

Three of Five Stars

gPod Picks: “Just In Time,” “Help Me Lord.”

Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.