Reviews

Johnny Sanders - "Lifetime"

"I've never seen the righteous forsaken" (Psalms 37:25). That is the ultimate reward in "I Trust God", and there are more scriptural remedies when dealing with trust: "Lean not to our own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5).

So many items to ponder, so little time. "For The Rest Of My Life", set to solid disco funk, sets our minds on Jesus sovereignty: "Sometimes I think about how you're always there to comfort me, Sometimes I think about how You've given me a song to sing."

While we are bound and determined to plow through life as we know it, "Stand" provides legs to stand on: "All around this sinking sand, I'm gonna' stand." Through the toughest of times, "Stick your chest out wide, Hold your head up high."

"Quiet Storm" can be viewed as twofold. There are the storms that seem brutal and are brewing inside us as the song conveys: "Promise You'll receive me as your own." In the aftermath, however, those "storms help us grow."

In the slightly retooled version of the worship favorite, "In The Garden", a few lyrics are tweaked. Yet after experiencing the effervescent soul of Sanders and company, the garden tour sounds "so sweet."

"If I Knew" explores the 'what if' scenarios, one example being: "If I knew that we were laughing for the last time, I would have told more jokes so we could laugh the whole day through". After dedicating the memory of loved ones for this CD, Sanders indicates this sentiment on the liner notes.

Platinum Records President/CEO Drexel Mitchell wears several hats on "Lifetime" - musician, producer, even much of the behind the board duties. Drexel's mission at the label stresses "ethics and integrity" of all involved. He hit the bullseye with Sanders and the supporting players, such as labelmates Kemrrin 'KB' Blalark and Anthony Perry from Urban Soul, Drexel, and others who provide a pleasing jazz-R&B hybrid. Background vocalists Maia Wilson and Denise Minifield help accent the proceedings. Sanders flex his demonstrative voice whether rich and sentimental or cascading to the heavens. His songwriting (he contributed roughly half the selections) shines best on "If I Knew". Overall "Lifetime" is a dynamic launching pad for Sanders as he expands the line of Gospel's growing new arsenal.

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