Let There Be Love!
| Let There Be Love! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Troutman Sound Labs | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Label | Elektra[1] | |||
| Producer | Roger Troutman | |||
| Shirley Murdock chronology | ||||
| ||||
Let There Be Love! is an album by the American R&B singer Shirley Murdock, released in 1991.[2][3]
The album's first track, "In Your Eyes", was a top 10 R&B hit.[4]
Production[edit]
The album was produced by Roger Troutman, with assistance from Murdock and Dale DeGroat.[5] Murdock cowrote a few songs, including "Let There Be Love" and "In Your Eyes".[6] Let There Be Love! was recorded at Troutman Sound Labs, in Dayton, Ohio.[7]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide |  [9] |
Billboard called the album a "shimmering set of lush ballads and rousing dance/funk tunes."[5] The Washington Post considered "We Should Be Together" to be the album's best song, deeming it "a funky, scat-filled jazz tune complete with plunger-mute horn riffs."[10] The Boston Globe opined that Murdock "is one of those under-publicized and underrated singers, raised on gospel, whose power on more secular offerings is a bit too jolting for the average consumer."[11]
The Dayton Daily News thought the album to be "solidly written and produced," praising the "heavy house-music influence" of the title track.[12] USA Today described it as "an adult-oriented collection of lovely ballads and a few discreetly funky dance numbers that generally serve to emphasize her prowess with the slow songs."[13]
AllMusic wrote that "while Let There Be Love! isn't the soul extravaganza Murdock is quite capable of delivering, R&B/pop ballads and slow jams like 'The Last Hurrah', 'Say It, Mean It' and the Anita Baker-ish 'Anywhere' aren't anything to be embarrassed by either."[8] MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide thought that Murdock "leaves the soap opera topics behind this time and crafts a work that fully meshes the best aspects of her gospel and secular influences."[9]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Your Eyes" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "Stay with Me Tonight" | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Let There Be Love" | 5:14 |
| 4. | "Say It, Mean It" | 3:43 |
| 5. | "The Last Hurrah" | 3:28 |
| 6. | "We Should Be Together" | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Anywhere" | 3:57 |
| 8. | "Everywhere" | 4:17 |
| 9. | "Heavenly" | 4:03 |
| 10. | "Save the Children" | 4:06 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Sounding Off". Ebony. Vol. 46, no. 11. Sep 1991. p. 24.
- ^ "Shirley Murdock Biography". AllMusic.
- ^ Ollison, Rashod D. "Return to gospel". The Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "On the Charts". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. 15 Aug 1991. p. 21.
- ^ a b "Album Reviews — Let There Be Love by Shirley Murdock". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 26. Jun 29, 1991. p. 76.
- ^ "Legendary Soul Singer Shirley Murdock Remakes '65 Classic 'People Get Ready'". The Washington Informer. April 7, 2021.
- ^ Larsen, Dave (September 6, 1991). "Soundcheck". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 8.
- ^ a b "Let There Be Love!". AllMusic.
- ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 414.
- ^ Griffin, Gil (30 Aug 1991). "New Sources of Diva Inspiration". The Washington Post. p. N17.
- ^ Smith, Patricia (18 Oct 1991). "Shirley Murdock: Full of surprises". Arts & Film. The Boston Globe. p. 31.
- ^ Ali, Derek (July 19, 1991). "Recordings on Review". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 17.
- ^ Marymont, Mark (August 2, 1991). "Reviews". USA Today.
