::ALBUM REVIEW::

When a formula works and continues to work - don't change it. Seems like the late Reverend Milton Brunson knew what he was doing when he incorporated the massive talents of Percy Bady and Darius Brooks on his musical staff. And those winning combinations would ultimately crown the Thompson Community Singers as one of the top gospel groups from 1980 until 1992. Both musicians played important parts in developing the sound for the Tommies and helping usher them into a new sound for the community choir scene. Not just with their keyboard skills and their talented ear for polished sounds, but their songwriting represented the best in gospel music unlike no other. Most of their albums during their zenith were groundbreaking, but it is their pinnacle effort, "If I Be Lifted" (1987), that secured their legacy even after the choir decided to bow out gracefully in 1998. The album bared a number of hits and were prized favorites in church choir repertoires across the country. The intensity of the choral excellence showcased on these cuts were revolutionary and paved the way for the 90s contemporary choir movement for artists like Donald Lawrence, Ricky Dillard and Hezekiah Walker.

Bady's "He Cares For You" is met with glorious beauty as famed TCC vocalist Tina Watson pierces the lyrics with her blazing soprano voice and soulful pleas. "I Guess You're Wondering" is a good mix of traditional and contemporary styles as Leanne Faine, with her gutsy, churchy deliveries, punches through the choir's funky outbursts and impacts the cut with her explosive adlibs. "Great Things", penned by Brooks, features a cool bass walk from Steve Huff and gets right into an infectious vamp filled with a couple of modulations. Another strong uptempo experience, "God's Got It", is brilliantly delivered and features punchy phrasing and robust harmonies from the choir. To this day, most choirs find it hard to attempt to recopy the maturity and tone accented here. The title cut has a bluesy posture and finds Brooks delivering one of his most recognized solo attempts in recording history. His voice is befitting for this colorful traditional hymn arrangement. Even though the song ends very quick than expected, the excitement from the audience on Brooks' killer solo and the Thompson Community Singers' timing on their parts certainly make up for lost causes. Other favorites to spotlight include the infectious, traditional choir-rocker "Been So Good To Me" (with Ethel Holloway delivering a passionate solo on top a zesty horn arrangement) and the Donald Alford classic "Thank You".

Even though the album is very short (eight songs) when compared to today's full-length eighty minute albums, the album is a complete musical experience still and is an enjoyable journey from beginning to end. Finding this project on vinyl, cassette tape or compact disc is a very difficult process due to the poor reissue performances from Word Entertainment, but if you ever own this classic you will certainly agree that Rev. Milton Brunson along with the famed Thompson Community Singers were at the top of their game when this album was produced. In closing, when most fans of Brunson dig deep into the vaults and attempted to locate their most favorite collection, "If I Be Lifted" usually stands tall.