Smokie Norful - Limited Edition: Billboard's Gospel Artist of 2003 gets his praise on…
Written: Oct 28 '04 (Updated Oct 29 '04)
Product Rating:
Pros: this one could make a deceased atheist shout "Glory!"
Cons: Should have held back O Holy Night for the Christmas album
The Bottom Line: Smokie Norful is the real deal – Limited Edition is full of high-energy worship leading, solid funk and soul, passionate gospel ballads, and a wonderfully fresh voice that soars
bob_tomato's Full Review: Limited Edition by Smokie Norful
Christian music takes some heat from critics, accused of being derivative, often lacking creativity and passion. I've found this to be true of a lot of Christian artists performing these days, so I love it when an artist comes forward with truly original material, something that doesn't sound like it came off U2's cutting room floor, or worse yet, another Christian artist's cutting room floor. Fortunately, some of these artists do exist, and it’s refreshing to be able to report that there is still hope for the genre. I'd like to introduce you to an ordained minister with a calling to lead the Church in worship, a man with serious skills with his voice and the piano, and not surprisingly, Billboard's Gospel Artist of 2003…Smokie Norful.
Smokie Norful has one of those voices that engages you immediately – bright, acrobatic and enviably HIGH. Better than even these attributes are the energy and passion he exhibits while leading a congregation in worship. Throughout nearly the entire length of 2003's primarily live recording Limited Edition, Smokie gives not only a marvelous vocal performance, but also shows why he is the genuine article, a worship pastor ultimately driven to lead the church in praising God.
is anybody, anybody, anybody – ready to praise, ready to praise?
did you come to get your praise on?
- It's All About You
Smokie starts the "praise party" right with a solid dose of funk, fueled by a strong backing vocal ensemble, some superb bass and lead guitar playing, all supporting his explosive vocals. I've always been an advocate of singing only the notes that are necessary, which reduces many of the vocal runs that some artists attempt to nothing more than ridiculous displays of musical hubris (Mariah – pick a note PLEASE). Smokie Norful is one of those rare singers who can make such acrobatic vocalizations work really well – in the best soul tradition, these runs evoke the passion of the song, adding dynamic weight to the music, rather than needlessly cluttering it.
Ohhh, I've been up…mmm…
and God knows there've been times when I've been down…ohhh
I've had my life turned, turned completely, completely around
Oh but I want to tell you in spite of everything that I've been through
Oh I've made up my mind to tell the Lord – thank You
- Still Say Thank You
If there is one thing I know about gospel music, it's that if you want to sing it, you had better be prepared to testify. If you didn't come to testify, then you didn't come ready. If you didn't come to testify, then you better not voice a single note. If you don't know that you know that you KNOW, then you better sit down and let somebody else do the singing, because nobody is going to believe what comes out of your mouth. I'll tell you this – Smokie came to testify, and in this live recording at Rock of Ages Baptist Church near Chicago, he lets it fly. The best gospel singing is when you're preaching in tune and in time, and Smokie delivers a powerful message to his congregation.
…the problem is we got too many silent saints sitting like statues in the sanctuary, but when I think about how good He's been to me, my hands just automatically go up, and I've discovered that when praises go up, sure'nough blessings come down…
- Pastor Marvin E. Wiley, You Gotta Right
There are only eight tracks on Limited Edition and two of them are spoken - both short, powerfully delivered sermonettes on the power of praise. Now, some of you may have never had the opportunity to experience Church. I'm talking about the kind of church that deserves the capital C, a Church where everything and everyone is in motion, a Church where the response from the congregation is as loud and strong as the message from the pulpit. I'm talking about the kind of Church where the aisles are full of the faithful, singing, dancing and shouting, praising with abandon. Pastor Marvin E. Wiley and Pastor Jamal H. Bryant proclaim their words with strength and authority; these passages serve to give the feeling that you are participating in a Church service, and not merely listening to another live recording.
Not a second or another minute, Jesus
Not an hour of another day..ohhh
But at this moment with my arms outstretched Lord
I need You to make a way as You have done so many times before
Through a window or an open door
Here I am, I stretch my hands to Thee
O come and rescue me
I need you right away
I need You now…
- I Need You Now
The highlight of the entire recording is Smokie's solo turn at the piano, accompanying himself in an incredible performance of the title song of his debut album I Need You Now, a recording that shot him into the top ten of the Billboard Gospel charts in 2002, reaching number 1 in August of 2003. The song propelled him to national acclaim, winning three of the gospel industry's Stellar awards, two Dove gospel nominations, and a BET Award nomination for Best Gospel Artist. This live version perfectly captures every reason for why he so richly deserved such acclamation – it is a passionate gospel ballad, sung with extreme conviction and surpassing skill.
There is only one fault that I can find with this album, and that is the inclusion of Smokie's own arrangement of the traditional Christmas song, O Holy Night. It's apparent that the track was added in a nod to the season in which Limited Edition was published (this recording was released in response to the popularity of the debut album and as a bridge between Smokie's debut and his new album, nothing without You, released in October, 2004). The arrangement of O Holy Night is different from most any other you have heard, accommodating his phrasing styles. It's not that the track is bad – it's good for what it is, but it seems so obviously out of place when heard after the live tracks. Smokie may not have had time to record a full Christmas album (something I'd definitely be interested in hearing), but I think they could have held this track until such a recording could be created.
Smokie Norful has raised the bar for the worship experience, elevating the level of skill and artistry of the genre with his powerful voice and equally strong songwriting. Smokie isn't afraid to testify to the goodness of God and his songs ring with praise for Him. His passionate lyrics are a call from the pulpit to greater devotion to our Lord, and his exciting presentation makes the call irresistible.
if you don't believe all that He's done for little ol' me
Just look at my praise, you'll be able to see
Don't know how you can just stand there
I dare you to express yourself
When you think of His goodness
Then you'll praise Him
- Praise Him
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Smokie Norful - Limited Edition
Originally released in 2003 by EMI Gospel
All lyrics quoted here are the copyrighted property of EMI Christian Music Publishing Original Track Listing
It's All About You / Still Say Thank You / You Gotta Right (spoken word by Pastor Marvin E. Riley) / Praise Him / What I Need & What I Want (spoken word by Pastor Jamal H. Bryant) / He's All I Need / I Need You Now / O Holy Night
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Related Websites
Visit Smokie Norful's official website at www.smokienorful.com.
Visit EMI Gospel's official website to learn more about Smokie Norful and other EMI Gospel artists at www.emigospel.com
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