Dorinda Clark-Cole - Take It Back

Verity Records

By Peggy Oliver

Serving Christ to the fullest is always natural for singer/ songwriter/evangelist, Dorinda Clark-Cole , whether singing with her equally famous siblings, building on her solo career, or as a Gospel ambassador around the world. Dorinda Clark-Cole serves up vocal treats for her third effort, Take It Back, a musical textbook on encouraging the masses through life’s daily obstacles. The last time we heard one of the legendary Clark Sisters was the resounding three-time Grammy Award winning, Live – One Last Time, the first major reunion since the nineties. Out of the studio, Dorinda is extremely active in teaching music ministry principles for the Annual Singers & Musicians Conference through her Lifeline Productions, Inc., and as vice-president of the music department of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) . Raised by parents, including the late, highly-influential Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, who empathically pressed the entire family to handle responsibility in the church when necessary, Dorinda has traveled around the world since her teens preaching to the masses, including to over 4,000 people in South Africa. Certainly there were bumps along the way, like suicide attempts, a car accident, and various challenges in the last three years, but this new CD delivers a revived focus and purpose for Dorinda.

What sparks Take It Back is the power of the biblical word scattered throughout and a dedication to praise the Almighty, starting with the opener, Faithful displaying some jazz vocal frosting. Before the final chorus, Dorinda fervently approaches what faithfulness entails via Matthew 25:23.

For the “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7) , the jolting ballad, “Yesterday,” puts the past behind, aiming for the future by keeping our minds “stayed on Him” (Isaiah 26:3-4) .

From way back in the day, Got To Hold On adds a mild Contemporary spin, but still revels in an older church sensibility. This track is the ultimate setup for the foot stomping title track, a song Dorinda takes special stock in, calling on the Lord to take back what was stolen: “He tried to take my dreams…He tried to kill my daughter.” The devil is escorted out the church door during the simmering finale.