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Editorial Reviews

Product description

Winans,Bebe ~ Love & Freedom

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The USA may be founded on the principle of separation of church and state, but when Christian music artists attempt to cross over to the mainstream, it's hard to keep the lines from blurring. Chances are pretty good that when BeBe Winans--one half of the duet BeBe and CeCe and a member of the acclaimed Winans family--sings of everlasting love and devotion, he is giving a shout out to the Big Fella upstairs. But this CD works on a secular level as well. The devotion here is muted--certainly far from the raise-the-roof testifying associated with gospel music. Even a cover of "Jesus Children of America" (with its author, Stevie Wonder, on board) lacks the original's grit, fire, and spirit. Most of this pleasant but less-than-compelling CD sounds like Luther Vandross-lite, which isn't suprising since Vandross did many of the vocal arrangements. But unlike Luther, who could infuse even the most maudlin sentiment with some flair, BeBe, though a gifted singer, is not a unique one. Much of this well-intentioned and well-crafted CD fades into the background, making it suitable make-out music perhaps, but not the sort of joyful noise the Lord had in mind. --Amy Linden

Review

Drop his last name, put his second solo album on a label synonymous with classic soul music, and you still have BeBe Winans. Winans benefits from his new label home with some of the guests on Love & Freedom. Listeners with especially good ears will recognize contributions from Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Debbie Winans Lowe, The Katinas and others.

Regardless of the glitter those friends may add, the spotlight shines brightest on BeBe's warm, rich gruffness. His lyrical state of mind remains as familiar as his immediately recognizable voice. At its center Love & Freedom revolves around a similar double entendre of romantic eros love with the more highly spiritual agapé variety, not far from the brand of adult R&B/gospel he perfected with sister CeCe. The new album's first single, "Coming Back Home," typifies its slow jam majority. Winans and general market R&B vocal stalwarts Brian McKnight and Joe at first sound to be singing about returning to the love of a good woman, while a deeper reading shows a prodigal coming back to the Lord. His duets with the ladies-with Stephanie Mills on "Everyday" and "Tonight Tonight" featuring CeCe Winans-go similar thematic routes. More satisfying results could be when BeBe brings personal liberty and social responsibility into the picture, as on "Love and Freedom" and "How Do We." The eternal and political come into starker contrast on a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Jesus Children of America," where Wonder and Winans' preacher brother Marvin chime in for a trio on the set's leanest, meanest groove. A cover of Donnie McClurkin's "Stand" closes Love & Freedom with anthem-like encouragement, and it rivals the might of the time-tested original. -- Jamie Lee Rake (c) 2000 CCM Communications, Inc. -- From CCM Magazine -- Subscribe Now!