The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack Reviews

ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
The Preacher's Wife
(Arista)
* * * 1/2

Houston is more at home with the music-centered film (The Bodyguard, remember?), and on her gospelized remake of the 1947 Christmas classic The Bishop's Wife doesn't hesitate to send her appeals heavenward. Once past the requisite "singles" -- the tepid anthem "I Believe in You and Me" and a treacly Diane Warren ballad "You Were Loved" -- Houston delivers the all-stops-out pop-gospel album (big choirs, impassioned ad-libbing) her fans have wanted for years.

Though she started singing in the church, Houston has made her reputation with featherweight pop songs burdened with boatloads of overwrought emotion. On hooky selections written by gospel stars Kirk Franklin and Mervyn Warren, as well as updates of traditional hymns, she sounds intentionally reserved here. She takes her time, letting the music's natural cadences govern her incredibly agile vocals.

Even on "Somebody Bigger Than You And I" -- a dance track featuring Houston, husband Bobby Brown, Faith Evans, Johnny Gill, Monica and Ralph Tresvant -- Houston locates the genuine spirit. The result is gospel that's warm, devout and often triumphant, but never sanctimonious.
-- Tom Moon

Ratings:

****   Excellent    
***   Good    
**   Fair    
*   Poor