Whitney's Gospel Baptism
Pop Diva Houston Shows She's Got Soul On 'Preacher's Wife' Soundtrack

Date: December 15, 1996
By Brian McCollum

From Detroit Free Press
Submitted by: Larry A.


Whitney Houston, "The Preacher's Wife" soundtrack (Arista) * * *

The soundtrack to Whitney Houston's new flick does what it sets out to do: By thrusting Houston into a musical setting that gives her much-needed, rootsy credibility -- through gospel music -- it ventures into new territory without spurning fans endeared to her glistening, soaring pop.

Diehard gospel fans won't clamor for it, and pop fans may need to stretch their ears, but this one's the best thing from Houston since 1987's "Whitney." Lined at times with radiant spiritual vibes and even graceful restraint, the 15-track album should shut up those who carp she ain't got the soul. Sure, Houston's much-maligned precision is here -- the crafted, clean melismata, the crisp enunciation. And at times it sounds not so much as if she's testifying as testing the waters, creeping into songs with polite self-consciousness.

But the big moments -- particularly the ones in which Houston is backed by the Georgia Mass Choir -- redeem all sins. Duets with Shirley Caesar ("He's All Over Me") and mom Cissy Houston ("The Lord is My Shepherd") lead into to a disc- closing, soul-raising "Joy to the World," which finds Houston in glorious, husky alto as she scats her way to a triumphant finale.

Best material is the upbeat stuff, which is why secular, rote balladry such as the Babyfaced-produced "You Were Loved" fails to keep up. And the hip-hop-tinged "Somebody Bigger Than You and I" -- with Faith Evans, Johnny Gill and hubby Bobby Brown -- is a jarring Christian thumper.

But the church of Whitney is a fine place to find grace, and it's easy to do that in the cut-loose gospel of "Hold On, Help is On the Way" and "I Go with the Rock."