Good News in Hard Times

Good News in Hard Times is the album released by American gospel group The Sisters of Glory, released on August 22, 1995 by Warner Bros Records. The set included solo performances by five female singers from different musical backgrounds: Thelma Houston, CeCe Peniston, Phoebe Snow, Lois Walden, and Albertina Walker.

Good News in Hard Times
Studio album by
The Sisters of Glory
ReleasedAugust 22, 1995
Recorded1995
GenreGospel
Length68:16
LabelWarner Bros/WEA (#9 45990)[1]
ProducerJennifer Cohen, Lois Walden
CeCe Peniston chronology
Remix Collection
(1994)		 Good News in Hard Times
(1995)		 I'm Movin' On
(1996)

The concept of their modern gospel ensemble was initially created by Lois Walden. For the first time, the vocalists performed together on April 25, 1994 at the New York benefit concert named "Gospel Music: From the Church to the Charts". The next gig for the gospel quintet was at the music festival Woodstock '94 on August 14, 1994. Later that year, on December 16, they appeared before Pope John Paul II at the Christmas at the Vatican II concert in Rome.[2] After receiving an offer from Warner Bros management, the Sisters also recorded a studio album in common.

The album, produced by Jennifer Cohen in collaboration with Walden, earned positive to mixed reviews from music critics. With no song released in support either on promotional single, Good News in Hard Times charted on the U.S. Billboard Top 40 Gospel Albums at number twenty-nine.[3]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
Entertainment Weekly(A-)[5]
People(favorable)[6]

Good News in Hard Times received positive to mixed reviews from critics. Dimitri Ehrlich from Entertainment Weekly graded the album with A-. Describing the product as "the funky, inspiring tour de force of classic black gospel", he highlighted Phoebe Snow's performance on the roof-raising "His Eye is on the Sparrow."[5] People acknowledged the Sisters for sticking to gospel tradition, instead blending their music with contemporary pop or R&B elements. The magazine praised the Walker's version of "He's Right on Time" for presence of "the glorious spirit of Mahalia Jackson", Peniston's sassy soul strut on "How I Got Over" and, especially, "the touching, tear-jerking way of maternal love" provided by Walden on the song "No Charge".[6] Allmusic gave the album three (out of five) stars with no particular comment.[4]

Chart performance

On September 9, 1995 the album entered the U.S. Billboard Top Gospel Albums Chart, debuting at number thirty-four. After three weeks at the same position, plus one week at number thirty-nine, the set topped its chart run on July 10 at number twenty-nine, eventually. Overall, the album spent six weeks in the chart.[7]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Rough Side of the Mountain"Faircloth BarnesThe Sisters of Glory4:51
2."I Love the Lord"TraditionalThe Sisters of Glory and friends0:52
3."Precious Lord"Thomas A. Dorsey, George Nelson AllenAlbertina Walker5:44
4."Surely God Is Able"W. Herbert Brewster, Virginia DavisThelma Houston4:49
5."Will the Circle Be Unbroken"Ada R. Habershon, Charles H. Gabriel arr. Jennifer Cohen, Shelton BectonLois Walden5:39
6."How I Got Over"Clara Ward, arr. Jennifer Cohen, Shelton BectonCeCe Peniston4:36
7."His Eye Is on the Sparrow"Civilla D. Martin, Charles H. Gabriel, arr. Jennifer Cohen, Shelton BectonPhoebe Snow6:49
8."He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"Traditional, arr. Jennifer Cohen, Shelton BectonThe Sisters of Glory3:30
9."I Won’t Be Back No More"James HerndonThe Sisters of Glory4:00
10."Precious Memories"J.B.F. Wright, arr. Jennifer Cohen, Shelton BectonCeCe Peniston5:32
11."He’s Right on Time"Dorothy Love CoatesAlbertina Walker2:58
12."No Charge"Harlan HowardLois Walden3:54
13."Move On Up a Little Higher"W. Herbert BrewsterPhoebe Snow4:23
14."Walk Around Heaven All Day"James Cleveland, Cassietta GeorgeThelma Houston4:25
15."Oh Happy Day"Edwin HawkinsThe Sisters of Glory5:48
16."Yes"TraditionalThe Sisters of Glory0:26
Total length:68:16

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1992) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Gospel Albums[7] 29

See also

References
General
  • "The Sisters of Glory - Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  • "The Sisters of Glory - Discography - Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
Specific
  1. The Sisters of Glory (1995). Good News in Hard Times (Compact Disc). USA: Warner Bros. (#9 45990-2). |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. 'CeCe Peniston, The Sisters of Glory, Biography' All Music
  3. 'CeCe Peniston, The Sisters of Glory, Good News In Hard Times, Chart Positions' All Music
  4. "Good News In Hard Times Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  5. Ehrlich, Dimitri (1995-08-25). "Good News in Hard Times Review". Entertainment Weekly. Time division of Time Warner. ew.com. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  6. "Picks and Pans Review: Good News In Hard Times". People. People.com. 1995-09-04. people.com. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  7. "Good News In Hard Times - Top Gospel Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
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