Number 7
This album marked a new Commissioned
era. Marvin Sapp replaced Keith Staten, who had gone solo, while Maxx
Frank and Eddie Howard, Jr. replaced Michael Brooks.
The album title, Number
7, can stand for two things. It was Commissioned's 7th album, and in this era of Commissioned there were 7 members.
This album was released in
1991 from Benson Music. It featured many guests, like the Transformation Crusade, which was did the rap lyrics in
the album. It also featured brothers Anson and Eric Dawkins (Dawkins & Dawkins)
playing in this album, and also helping with composing the songs. These guests helped to make this album the most urban of
them all, as it can be seen in their first track on this album, "Second Chance", written by the Dawkins brothers and
Eddie Howard Jr., is very urban in sound.
The debut of this new Commissioned
was dynamite! Marvin Sapp's addition to the Commissioned sound made the Commissioned sound great, making up for the loss of
Keith Staten. This can be seen in the hit song "King of Glory", in which Fred Hammond and Marvin Sapp sing together, (along
with Transformation Crusade on rap). The second track on this album, "Love U With The Rest Of My Life" has
a nice urban beat. I like how Commissioned sounds on this song (At the end it repeats some lyrics from their earlier hit song
"Victory" from their album Go Tell Somebody). This song has a nice transition to their next track "We Are Overcomers".
This song also has a nice beat, and is a more softer in sound than the more its more urban predecessor "Love U With The Rest
of My Life" Another hit on this album is "I Can't Live Without You", I like Fred Hammond's ending of this song - the last
part is pretty goofy (the laughter scene).
"Secret Place" is a favorite
of mine, written by Anson Dawkins, Fred Hammond, and Eddie Howard, Jr. They really hooked-up the music on this song! It is
sung by Karl Reid and Fred Hammond, and let me tell you, it is uplifting! I like the way Eddie Howard played on this song
and how the Michael Williams' drumming and Fred Hammond's bass guitar off-set and harmonize with each other - A job well
done! "Please You More" is another hit, written by Maxx Frank and Fred Hammond. I like the voices of Fred Hammond and Karl
Reid singing the vocal version of song, which is complimented by the background alto saxophone, but the instrumental
version is also nice as you hear hear the playing of a bassier tenor saxophone - it's nice!!! "Hold Me" is a favorite, written
by Mitchell Jones and Parkes Stewart. I like how it is uplifting, and emotional. Mitchell and Fred's performance is exceptional.
I like how Fred Hammond
plays the bass guitar and Maxx Frank plays the organ on "I Really Love The Lord" - this track is nice! "I Love Thinking
of You" is one song that you should hear also, I like how Marvin Sapp sings the first part, and I love the harmony -
it's very nice!
Overall, all of the tracks
on this CD sound great - you've gotta hear it to believe it!
This album hit #7 on Billboard's
top Gospel charts, and #22 in top CCM albums.
Selected Sample Tracks from
bmgmusic.com
(Real Player)
Second Chance, Love U With The Rest
of My Life, We Are Overcomers, I Really Love The Lord
(Interlude), Hold Me
(Windows Media Player)
Second Chance, We Are Overcomers, Hold Me, King of Glory, Please You More, I Can't Live Without
You, Secret Place, I Really Love The Lord, I Love Thinking of You
