Search - Walter Hawkins :: Hawkins Family

Very, VERY good!

01/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a teenager, I was already a big Hawkins Family fan when this album came out in 1980, so I was just waiting to be blown away when I bought it...AND I WAS! THIS FAMILY IS AMAZING! To this day it still brings me so much joy. As a Christian, the messages in the songs uplift my soul. As a vocalist and musician, I am floored by this LIVE recording. Edwin Hawkins' gradually building arrangement of "What is This?" is a "must listen" with a pulsating bass line under brother Walter's lead solo (with cameo lines from sister, Lynette, and Walter's then wife, Tramaine). Lynette shines on "Love is God" (check out the harmonies in the melodious ending), as does cousin, Shirley Miller on "Try Christ" (even emcee, Philip Bailey, gets caught up in the reprise). And listen to how the 7 very UNIQUE voices (Walter, Edwin, Tramaine, Lynette, Shirley, and sisters Feddie & Carol) blend into a tight unit on "Going to a Place" and the blusey "I'm a Pilgrim". Other treats include a duet with Maurice White (of Earth, Wind & Fire) and Edwin on "Eternal Life", and horns behind every cut by none other than the Tower of Power horn section."