Let There Be Love!
Studio album by
Released1991
StudioTroutman Sound Labs
GenreR&B
LabelElektra Records[1]
ProducerRoger Troutman
Shirley Murdock chronology
A Woman's Point of View
(1988)
Let There Be Love!
(1991)
The Very Best of Shirley Murdock
(2001)

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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

No.TitleLength
1."In Your Eyes"3:58
2."Stay with Me Tonight"4:02
3."Let There Be Love"5:14
4."Say It, Mean It"3:43
5."The Last Hurrah"3:28
6."We Should Be Together"3:31
7."Anywhere"3:57
8."Everywhere"4:17
9."Heavenly"4:03
10."Save the Children"4:06

References

  1. "Sounding Off". Ebony. 46 (11): 24. Sep 1991.
  2. "Shirley Murdock Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. Ollison, Rashod D. "Return to gospel". baltimoresun.com.
  4. "On the Charts". Austin American-Statesman. Onward. 15 Aug 1991. p. 21.
  5. 1 2 "Album Reviews -- Let There Be Love by Shirley Murdock". Billboard. 103 (26): 76. Jun 29, 1991.
  6. "Legendary Soul Singer Shirley Murdock Remakes '65 Classic 'People Get Ready'". The Washington Informer. April 7, 2021.
  7. Larsen, Dave (September 6, 1991). "SOUNDCHECK". Dayton Daily News. Go!. p. 8.
  8. 1 2 "Let There Be Love! - Shirley Murdock | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  9. 1 2 MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 414.
  10. Griffin, Gil (30 Aug 1991). "New Sources of Diva Inspiration". The Washington Post. p. N17.
  11. Smith, Patricia (18 Oct 1991). "Shirley Murdock: Full of surprises". The Boston Globe. ARTS & FILM. p. 31.
  12. Ali, Derek (July 19, 1991). "RECORDINGS ON REVIEW". Dayton Daily News. Go!. p. 17.
  13. Marymont, Mark (August 2, 1991). "REVIEWS". USA Today.
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