Louis Johnson CD Review

Paul Porter Presents

Pastor Louis Johnson & Friends

Without You

Every now and then an artist puts out a CD that may not get much national attention, but is in fact a great CD. It is becoming increasing more difficult for good artist to sign with labels. Therefore, many are reverting to just doing their own thing. And sometime they come up with a gem.

Well here is one gem that should be a part of your collection. The CD is titled “Without You.” The artist is Pastor Louis Johnson. He is the Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church. However, they have chosen to add the name of one of the greatest modern day gospel quartet singers to the cover of the project. Therefore, the project is actually named “Paul Porter presents Pastor Louis Johnson & Friends.”

Without hearing the first note or song on the project, your expectation should be rising. For Afterall Paul Porter, of The Christianaires, is a major part of this project. Your rising expectation will not be disappointed. Paul does an excellent job producing this project. And of course he sings on many of the songs. In addition to Paul, Dwight Gordon, Simone Baker, Terry Baker, Derrick Lee, and Ralph Lofton lend their talents to this project.

There are nine tracks, but only eight (8) songs on the project. The project begins with “Without You.” Paul signs lead on this song. And one could easily think that The Christianaires is signing this song with a choir. The message in the song is simple and clear, without God we can do nothing. This song will definitely grow on you. Although it is a very slow song, it is very uplifting. There is certainly a message in this song.

The next track is “Cheerfully.” It is lead by Pastor Johnson and Paul. The song, written by Pastor Johnson, is very upbeat. It allows Paul and the Pastor to share lead in a way that will remind you of the Jackson Southernaires, when Huey and the late Roger Bryant would share lead on a song.

“I Will Trust In the Lord” is the next song. Though a staple and quite frequently record song in the gospel music industry, it has never sounded so great. Paul did the arrangement to this song. And in many ways it is unique. First, the background singers are just right for this arrangement. The background singers are The Curry Sisters (Angie, Dorcus, and Rachel). Secondly, this song also reminds you of The Christianaires. Also, you could easily forget that it is a studio recording and believe that it was recorded at a “live” session. Further, the song incorporates 9/11, Job and the world today into a blend of a perfect story of why we should “Trust In The Lord.”

Paul then leads “This Is The Day,” a song he wrote. This song is pure Christainaires. And Paul really works this song. This song is reason alone to add this project to your collection.

The next song, “Celebrate,” is written by Pastor Johnson and is sung by his “Friends.” Thereby justifying the word “Friends” in the title to the project. It sounds as if it is being song by a chorale. It is a good celebration song.

The next track is one of my favorite, “The Lord Is Blessing Me.” Most in the gospel quartet genre remembers when Slim & The Supreme Angels recorded this song. Slim’s version of the song got plenty of radio airplay. However, Paul’s arrangement of this song makes it a great candidate for heavy rotation on radio stations. This is one of the hidden jewels in this project.

Paul takes over again on the song “So Good.” The first few notes on this song immediately remind you of “Two Wings.” But of course it is not “Two Wings.” Paul’s arrangement of this sound, which was written by Pastor Johnson, has a down home blues flavor to it. It is a great arrangement to a song that will certainly have you moving from side to side in your seat.

Pastor Johnson also wrote the next track, “H. G. Time.” Now this song reminds you of The Rance Allen Group. It is upbeat and it is as stated in the song “a toe tapping, foot stomping, hand clapping” song. This is another song that deserves to be in heavy rotation on radio stations.

Paul closest out the project with once again signing the title track “Without You.” This is probably the weakest aspect to this project. The last song is the same as the first song. Although it is a good song, it is puzzling why it would be on the project twice. There is no deviation in the words or the arrangement from the first song on the project.

I give “Paul Porter presents Pastor Louis Johnson & Friends’ “Without You” an 8 out of a possible 10. Click HERE to purchase the CD. Click on the red song title to hear " H. G. Time."

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