Wanda Nero Butler - No Failure

By Peggy Oliver

It's a bit of mystery why Wanda Nero Butler has flown under the radar all these years. But there is definitely respectfor this Stellar Award nominated and GMWA Excellence Award winning singer/songwriter/actress who has touched gospel and theater audiences for over twenty years. Two of her Billboard Magazine charting hits include "Hey Ya'll" and "New Born Soul" from the late eighties. After a long tenure with Westbound Records’ gospel imprint, Sounds of Gospel, Butler signed with Motor City Praise Records, located in one of her current hometowns, Detroit.No Failure is the first CD since 2001, a welcome return to the recording fold.

She was awarded the Ambassador to the State of Arkansas during President Bill Clinton's term. But to her loyal fans, she is known as the ‘Princess of Gospel’.  Butler also expanded her vocal repertoire and range studying voice at Los Angeles Community College. Besides the love of gospel music, her theater stage experience since the late seventies runs the gamut from Evolution of the Blues to Jesus Christ Superstar. Musically, she has worked with top rate voiceslike Vickie Winans, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Angie Stone.

Compared to Butler’s SOG recordings, No Failure leans less on hardcore traditional roots.  The opening track is the exception as Victoria Vaughn and Butler create an emphatic praise atmosphere throughout the title track declaring: "there's no failure in our God."

There are other praise and worship gems; several blending bits of tradition with the sassiness of the contemporary.  Clanging percussion and funky blues overtones on "Clap Yo Hands" transport listeners to front and back porch jam sessions.   Angie Stone could be proud of "No One," delivering mid-tempo classic new soul aura and juicy acoustic guitar strokes.   Pam & Dodi add to the triple threat pulsating lead vocal attack, while Uncle Mizer (alias producer Marcus Devine) gets into the act on the last few bars. 

Butler’s musicality is also comfortable in the modern urban arrangements.  "Yes," featuring a shivering bass groove and an electrifying chorus, calls us to surrender our will and ways to Him: "If you tell me to sing I’ll sing, if you tell me to pray I’ll pray…What I’m trying to say is I’m staying in your will."  "So Good" has a softer but still catchy rhythm track slightly reminiscent to Brandy & Monica’s "The Boy Is Mine."  Lyrically, the song emphasizes to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8) and gratitude for waking up to see another day and seeing our children grow up.