Album Reviews: Pop

Date: December 12, 1996
By Jeff Niesel

From The San Diego Union-Tribune
Submitted by: Larry A.


SOUNDTRACK TO "THE PREACHER'S WIFE" WHITNEY HOUSTON Arista * * 1/2

If Whitney Houston had recorded only gospel music for "The Preacher's Wife" soundtrack, the album would have been terrific.

But instead, Houston tarnishes an otherwise solid effort by including several of her pedestrian ballads about falling head-over-heels in love.

When Houston, who released her self-titled debut just more than 10 years ago, sings a song about how she will always love her man, she doesn't exactly uncover new truths about romance. In "I Believe in You and Me" and "My Heart Is Calling," Houston belts out too many romantic cliches.

It doesn't help that she oversings the tracks, stretching out each syllable in a manner that has become her trademark. The gospel songs fare much better.

On the raucous "Joy," "I Go to the Rock" and "Hold On, Help Is on the Way," all of which she sings with the Georgia Mass Choir, Houston praises God with fiery passion.

Along with guest vocalists Bobby Brown, Faith Evans, Johnny Gill, Monica and Ralph Tresvant, Houston successfully combines funk and gospel in "Somebody Bigger Than You and I."

And then there's "He's All Over Me," a track in which Houston and Shirley Caesar exchange adulations with vigor.

Giving praise has seldom sounded like so much fun. The movie "The Preacher's Wife" will be reviewed in tomorrow's Currents/Arts section.