Written by Christian Kim
If you were to download from iTunes just one Gospel song
this year, it has to be Tamela Mann’s “Take Me to the King.”
Mann is not one of those average whittled singer whose diminutive vocals are
often swallowed by the latest beat. Rather, on “Take Me to the
King” she holds back no punches whenever she sings. Rather, in her
soaring melisma she sends us first class on a bullet train straight into God’s
presence refusing to leave until she has had an audience with the
Almighty. And such allegiant boldness is not only transparent on
“Take Me to the King” but throughout her third studio record
“Best Days.” Movie goers and TV drama aficionados will recognize Mann
as the church going “but woe to those who cross me” Cora Simmons from
Tyler Brown’s “Meet the Brown” series. Perhaps even more
piquant is Mann’s role in Whitney Houston’s swan song 2012 movie “Sparkle”
where she plays Sarah Waters. Musically, Mann started singing with
Kirk Franklin and the Family before releasing her own debut record “Gotta
Keep Moving” in 2005. Each record thence after became more and more
successful with her third studio recording “Best Days” opening at
no.1 on Billboard’s Gospel album chart and no. 14 on the Billboard Top 200
overall album sales listing.
this year, it has to be Tamela Mann’s “Take Me to the King.”
Mann is not one of those average whittled singer whose diminutive vocals are
often swallowed by the latest beat. Rather, on “Take Me to the
King” she holds back no punches whenever she sings. Rather, in her
soaring melisma she sends us first class on a bullet train straight into God’s
presence refusing to leave until she has had an audience with the
Almighty. And such allegiant boldness is not only transparent on
“Take Me to the King” but throughout her third studio record
“Best Days.” Movie goers and TV drama aficionados will recognize Mann
as the church going “but woe to those who cross me” Cora Simmons from
Tyler Brown’s “Meet the Brown” series. Perhaps even more
piquant is Mann’s role in Whitney Houston’s swan song 2012 movie “Sparkle”
where she plays Sarah Waters. Musically, Mann started singing with
Kirk Franklin and the Family before releasing her own debut record “Gotta
Keep Moving” in 2005. Each record thence after became more and more
successful with her third studio recording “Best Days” opening at
no.1 on Billboard’s Gospel album chart and no. 14 on the Billboard Top 200
overall album sales listing.
After lodging in at Amazon.com‘s
Gospel chart at the penthouse position where she has become a permanent
resident for months and months, her recording company Tillymann Music Group has
decided to release a deluxe edition of “Best Days.” Though dubbed as
the “deluxe” edition, this re-released effort only has 13 songs, 1
song more than the original version. But lest one gets defensive at
her record company for duping Mann’s fans into a vicious marketing ploy, this
new deluxe version actually contains 5 new recordings. Three of which are
live versions of “Best Days” more popular songs with the remaining
two being brand new songs. Of the two new songs Bart Millard’s “I
Can Only Imagine” is chosen as the new single to follow-up “Take Me
to the King.” Unlike many of her contemporaries who have had tackled
this ode of heaven before, Mann has made “I Can Only
Imagine” her own filled with her inimitable Gospel rants and ad
libs. As a result, she has made dwelling in the presence of our heavenly
Father such a treasured experience that you don’t ever want to leave after
hearing this song.
Gospel chart at the penthouse position where she has become a permanent
resident for months and months, her recording company Tillymann Music Group has
decided to release a deluxe edition of “Best Days.” Though dubbed as
the “deluxe” edition, this re-released effort only has 13 songs, 1
song more than the original version. But lest one gets defensive at
her record company for duping Mann’s fans into a vicious marketing ploy, this
new deluxe version actually contains 5 new recordings. Three of which are
live versions of “Best Days” more popular songs with the remaining
two being brand new songs. Of the two new songs Bart Millard’s “I
Can Only Imagine” is chosen as the new single to follow-up “Take Me
to the King.” Unlike many of her contemporaries who have had tackled
this ode of heaven before, Mann has made “I Can Only
Imagine” her own filled with her inimitable Gospel rants and ad
libs. As a result, she has made dwelling in the presence of our heavenly
Father such a treasured experience that you don’t ever want to leave after
hearing this song.
Neo-Gospel hero Kirk Franklin shows up as the writer of two
entries: the first is newly record “Now Behold the Lamb.”
A track that first appeared on Franklin’s 1998 “Christmas” record,
Mann’s version here is a no nonsense power house with so many long holding
notes that leave us in awe. The other Franklin input is the
aforementioned “Take Me to the King.” This time around, Mann
has included a live version that avails for her more minutes to be engrossed in
her impromptu worship. Though a snippet of the hymn “I Surrender
All” is brilliantly segued in towards the end, one would wish it were
a little longer. The live versions of “Guest of Honor” and
“Best Days” are also included here. Both of them are delivered
with zest and a Godly enthusiasm with the title of latter being an aptly
reference to Jesus rather than some celebrity.
entries: the first is newly record “Now Behold the Lamb.”
A track that first appeared on Franklin’s 1998 “Christmas” record,
Mann’s version here is a no nonsense power house with so many long holding
notes that leave us in awe. The other Franklin input is the
aforementioned “Take Me to the King.” This time around, Mann
has included a live version that avails for her more minutes to be engrossed in
her impromptu worship. Though a snippet of the hymn “I Surrender
All” is brilliantly segued in towards the end, one would wish it were
a little longer. The live versions of “Guest of Honor” and
“Best Days” are also included here. Both of them are delivered
with zest and a Godly enthusiasm with the title of latter being an aptly
reference to Jesus rather than some celebrity.
For those who do not own Mann’s regular version of
“Best Days” may do well to remember that this new deluxe version does
not include “Hymns: The Blood Medley.” Since the track runs for
almost 9 minutes, it is understandably left out. However, if you
want Mann to take you to church with some old fashioned Gospel shout-outs
accompanied by a simmering piano, the song is worth checking out. Not
since Whitney Houston’s “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack, has any
Gospel album been able to cause such a stir as “Best Days.” And such
a hoopla is based on more than just hype, Mann is someone who knows how to RSVP
us into the presence of God in a searching and glorious way.
“Best Days” may do well to remember that this new deluxe version does
not include “Hymns: The Blood Medley.” Since the track runs for
almost 9 minutes, it is understandably left out. However, if you
want Mann to take you to church with some old fashioned Gospel shout-outs
accompanied by a simmering piano, the song is worth checking out. Not
since Whitney Houston’s “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack, has any
Gospel album been able to cause such a stir as “Best Days.” And such
a hoopla is based on more than just hype, Mann is someone who knows how to RSVP
us into the presence of God in a searching and glorious way.
