Four New Compilations From Join Legacy’s Essential Series

The stage was set for 1998’s ambitious but ultimately successful double-CD Pages Of Life: Chapters I & II, with disc one’s 16 solo studio tracks (among them “Please Don’t Pass Me By,” “Jesus Is All,” “Just To Be Close To You,” and “Let The Praise Begin,” which won the 1998 Dove Award for Best Contemporary Gospel Song, with Radical for Christ) and disc two’s electrifying live concert with Radical for Christ in Detroit (“Glory To Glory To Glory,” “No Weapon,” “We’re Blessed/Shout Unto God”). The album went gold and platinum, and was followed up with another gold seller with Radical for Christ in 2000, Purpose By Design (with “Let Me Praise You Now,” “Give Me A Clean Heart,” and live versions of “You Are The Living Word,” “I Want My Destiny,” and the remake of Sam Cooke’s “Jesus Be A Fence Around Me”).

Hammond’s only Christmas album was released on the fateful day of September 11, 2001, Christmas… Just Remember (“His Name Is Jesus”). Exactly one year later came Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3 (with two live opening tracks, including “You Are My Daily Bread,” then 13 studio cuts, among them “Show Me Your Face”), and crossed to Top 30 R&B and Top 40 Pop on the album charts. Hammond was one of a dozen contributors to 2003’s Gospel Today Presents Praise & Worship Volume 2: Live At The Gospel Heritage Conference (“You Are My Life/Total Praise”), returning with 2004’s 19-track Somethin’ ’Bout Love (Top 5 R&B, Top 40 Pop, with “Celebrate (He Lives)” and “Praise Belongs To You”). His most recent album, Free To Worship – Live At The Potter’s House (Top 30 Pop, with “This Is The Day”) pays homage to the Dallas sanctuary of Bishop T.D. Jakes, of which Hammond is now a member.

The Essential Fred Hammond

(Verity/Legacy 88697 15385 2) Disc One – Selections: 1. Jesus Be A Fence Around Me (Live) (E) • 2. Please Don’t Pass Me By (D) • 3. When The Spirit Of The Lord (Live) (C) • 4. Mender Of Broken Hearts (A) • 5. Glory To Glory To Glory (Live) (D) • 6. His Name Is Jesus (F) • 7. Show Me Your Face (G) • 8. No Weapon (Live) (D) • 9. You Are The Living Word (Live) (E) • 10. Celebrate (He Lives) (I) • 11. You Are My Daily Bread (Live) (G) • 12. Let The Praise Begin (D).