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.

Praise Your Way Out, another church service experience touched with an eighties soul twist, harkens one of Dorinda’s recent sermons about refusing to get stuck in a rut, and to simply praise Him through those temporary setbacks.

The edgy urban slow jam, It’s OK, emphasizes prayer for the hedge of protection around our souls, as the hook resonates: “Gotta’ pray about it.”

Talented family members from the next Clark generation; daughter Nicole, and nieces Angela and Contemporary Gospel/R&B vocalist Kierra ‘Kiki’ Sheard, join in on both lead and backing vocals.

Dorinda expounds upon the empowering scripture for No Weapon (Isaiah 54:17) , framed with a traditional gospel blues base.

Other offerings, including Return, a bumpy house music ride, for those who believe God has abandoned them, and Make Me Real, about adopting a new attitude in maintaining faith: “I don’t want to be unstable in my mind.”

All of Take It Back takes the enemy captive, and sets our mind towards godly freedom while loving God without hesitation. Under the sensitive production of Asaph Ward and PAJAM, Dorinda’s well-rounded voice and communication skills always come naturally in everything she puts down in the studio.

Visit Dorinda Clark Cole on her website, www.dorindaclarkcole.net