Let There Be Love!
| Let There Be Love! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Troutman Sound Labs | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 38:59 | |||
| 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
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
| 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
All tracks are written by Shirley Murdock and Dale DeGroat, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In Your Eyes" | 3:58 | |
| 2. | "Stay with Me Tonight" | Billy Beck, Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman, Zapp Troutman | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Let There Be Love" | 5:14 | |
| 4. | "Say It, Mean It" | Beck, L. Troutman, R. Troutman, Z. Troutman | 3:43 |
| 5. | "The Last Hurrah" | 3:28 | |
| 6. | "We Should Be Together" | 3:31 | |
| 7. | "Anywhere" | 3:57 | |
| 8. | "Everywhere" | Beck, L. Troutman, R. Troutman, Z. Troutman | 4:17 |
| 9. | "Heavenly" | Beck, L. Troutman, R. Troutman | 4:03 |
| 10. | "Save the Children" | 4:06 |
Personnel
- Shirley Murdock – vocals, backing vocals, arrangements (1, 3, 5–7, 10)
- Billy Beck – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (2, 4, 8, 9)
- Dale DeGroat – keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, arrangements (1, 3, 5–7, 10), backing vocals (3, 10)
- Roger Troutman – keyboards, synthesizers, lead guitars, rhythm guitars, bass, arrangements (2, 4, 8, 9)
- Lester Troutman – drums, congas, percussion
- Carl Cowen – horns
Production
- Ruben Rodriguez – executive producer
- Roger Troutman – producer
- Dale DeGroat – co-producer (1, 3, 5–7, 10)
- Shirley Murdock – co-producer (1, 3, 5–7, 10)
- Carol Bobolts – cover design
- Kip Meyer – photography
Technical credits
- Chris Gehringer – mastering at DMS (New York City, New York)
- Dale DeGroat – engineer, mixing, editing
- Sherman Fleetwood – engineer, mixing, editing
- Shirley Murdock – engineer, mixing
- Robert Smith – engineer
- Rufus Troutman III – engineer
- Lester Troutman – engineer, mixing, editing
- Terry "Zapp" Troutman – engineer, editing
- Roger Troutman – mixing, editing
References
- ↑ "Sounding Off". Ebony. Vol. 46, no. 11. September 1991. p. 24.
- ↑ "Shirley Murdock Biography". AllMusic.
- ↑ Ollison, Rashod D. "Return to gospel". The Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ "On the Charts". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. August 15, 1991. p. 21.
- 1 2 "Album Reviews — Let There Be Love by Shirley Murdock". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 26. June 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.
- 1 2 "Let There Be Love!". AllMusic.
- 1 2 MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 414.
- ↑ Griffin, Gil (August 30, 1991). "New Sources of Diva Inspiration". The Washington Post. p. N17.
- ↑ Smith, Patricia (October 18, 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.