Helen Shapiro - The Gospel Collection

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Clever of ICC to compile tracks from Helen's four gospel albums, 'The Pearl' (1991), 'Kadosh' (1992), 'Nothing But The Best' (1995) and 'Enter Into His Gates' (1997) all released in a bargain price package. The earlier recordings are less impressive, largely because the originals of the songs covered were better - though few of Helen's fans will have heard Gary Dunham's rendition of "The Pearl" (once available here through Marshalls) or the Rambos' "I Go To The Rock". It was when Helen discovered the Jewish roots of her faith and recorded a heap of songs from Messianic Christian sources that something special was sparked. Listen here to her "Praise Medley" where Mark Chopinsky's "Come Let Us Go Up", Stuart Douermann's "Great And Wonderful" and Joel Chernoff's "Enter His Gates" and "I Will Talk To My Brothers" are segued into a joyful, spine-tingling celebration of Jehovah, or Helen's moving rendition of Shlomo Berger's "She Ha Elohim". That velvety smooth voice has never sounded better.