WOW, is the appropriate expression for this annual compilation album as praise was taken to another level this past year.  WOW Gospel 2005, in stores January 25, 2005 includes the gospel industry’s crème de la crème.  Included in the set are two CDs, a collection of studio recordings on one, and of live recordings on the other as well as an accompanying DVD featuring some of the year’s best videos including performance clips from Marvin Sapp, CeCe Winans, Martha Munizzi, Tonex, Kirk Franklin and more.

The Big Names dominated on the Studio Disc portion of this year’s WOW with Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans, Dietrick Haddon, Donald Lawrence, John P. Kee and Tonex as notable headliners. 

The music varied from the contemporary sounds of Fred Hammond’s Celebrate, to an enthusiastic Dietrick Haddon in a Michael Jackson styled rendition of God Is Good.  Kierra Kiki Sheard proves she is not resting on the laurels of her lineage alone; her raw talent is ever-present in the hip-hop-sounding You Don’t Know, where she recounts how God has been good to her “Now let me tell me tell you what he did for my mother…Just when the doctor said that it was over, My God He stepped right in and gave her back to me… Miracles he can do, mountains that he can move, all things are possible through Him”. 

CeCe Winans and Vickie Winans both came out of their expected musical roles, with the latter displaying vocal maturity on the ballad entitled We Need A Word From The Lord and CeCe shaking herself loose and rejuvenating our souls with the powerful hit, Hallelujah Praise, a song which will undoubtedly become a praise classic in years to come.

Audiences were stunned and critics were silenced as Tonex underwent an aesthetic transformation and renewed his spiritual vows in his soul-stirring summer hit, Make Me Over.

Speaking of renewals, old favorites were made new again; Because of Who You Are which has been interpreted and reinterpreted by various artists over the last couple of years adopts a reverent nature, with Vickie Yohe’s angelic voice.  Shea Norman brought new life to a classic in an acoustic version of Tis So Sweet.  This traditional was beautifully executed by the latest newcomer to the Verity label whose vocal complexities are a throwback to Darryl Coley.  The Prayer, originally made famous by Italian opera singer Andrea Boccelli and Canadian pop sensation Céline Dion was gospelized by Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams in a statuesque interpretation.

Donald Lawrence’s latest album is so good that a single selection was not enough to fulfill WOW listeners.  We are therefore blessed with two hits; Healed with its Smallwood-esque vocal arrangement, and You Covered Me featuring Pastor Hezekiah Walker.

The Live Portion of this year’s WOW boasts an equally stellar list of performances by the likes of Smokie Norful, Israel & New Breed, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Ricky Dillard, Martha Munizzi, and Pastor Shirley Caesar.

Legendary women of gospel make their mark as alto extraordinaire, Vanessa Bell Armstrong is featured with Bishop Eddie Long & New Birth Choir in Suddenly and Shirley Caesar teams up with the Caesar Singers and The Greater Temple Community Church Choir in I’m Going To Wait.  Twinkie Clark adds to the legendary lineup with the terrific song, He Lifted Me. 

A traditional song is given new life with Darrel Petties & SIP making Glory Hallelujah sound like a hybrid of a negro spiritual and a contemporary choir song.  Southern style is not forgotten with gospel mainstays, The Rance Allen Group, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, and The Canton Spirituals featuring Paul Porter from the Christianaires. 

Praise & Worship made its triumphant mark once again this year on Israel & New Breed’s latin-infused Rejoice with blaring horns and commanding vocals exchanging rifts in perfect symmetry.  Karen Clark Sheard brought the genre to higher ground with her rendition of We Acknowledge You. A welcomed surprise is the inclusion of last year’s favorite praise leader, Byron Cage in the anthem that dominated the playlist radio disc jockeys everywhere - The Presence of The Lord Is Here.

Bishop Paul S Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir singing “Open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain…” from their hit Let It Rain touches a special chord in the hearts of audiences.  As secular music continuously samples from gospel, the reverse was done here in a harmonious combination of a traditional choir and the guitar solo from Prince’s Purple Rain.  This is truly one of the most compelling songs of the year.

Since 1998, Verity Records; Provident Music Group; EMI Christian Music Group and Word Entertainment, have collectively compiled the best gospel songs under the WOW title with the sole intent of creating the ultimate collection in Gospel hits.  The contagious optimism of the artists, along with the musical artistry from veterans and newcomers alike, make WOW 2005 the ultimate compilation album of the year.  Start your year off right and secure a copy of the very best and brightest caught on disc in 2004.