| Can't Keep It to Myself | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Marion Williams | |
| Released | 1993 |
| Genre | Gospel, blues |
| Label | Shanachie |
| Producer | Anthony Heilbut |
Can't Keep It to Myself is an album by the American gospel singer Marion Williams, released in 1993. It was Williams's last album. A few months prior to the release of the album, Williams had become the first singer to win a MacArthur Award.
Production
The album was produced by Anthony Heilbut. It contains a remake of one of Williams's earliest hit recordings, "Live the Life I Sing About in My Song".
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| New York Daily News |  |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | |
Ebony wrote that Williams's "spirited voice still gracefully skips down melodic mountains one soulful note at a time." Rolling Stone thought that "the hymns' structural solidity allows Williams to take flight: While she demonstrates throughout the clarity and discipline of a classical singer, she slurs and bends notes with the command of a soul performer." The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that the album "illustrates her ability to turn crawling, down-tempo gospel blues into a holy offering."
The Philadelphia Daily News concluded that, "without question Williams is the most rhythmic and bluesiest of all the old-school gospel divas—close your eyes and it's not much of a stretch to envision her in Bessie Smith's place, vampin' 'Gimme a Pigfoot' speak-easy style—which is why part of the joy of the album is in the mix." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called Can't Keep It to Myself "an excellent primer on Williams' art, and one of the single best albums of the year." The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that Williams "unleashes that voice with sustained passion and pinpoint control, swooping and soaring with the fervor of a blues queen and the fluidity of a jazz diva."
AllMusic deemed the album "awesome performances recorded with minimal, sympathetic accompaniment and little production support; just mostly Williams' smashing, note-bending, soaring vocals."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Got On My Traveling Shoes" | |
| 2. | "Ain't He Good" | |
| 3. | "God's Amazing Grace" | |
| 4. | "Come Out the Corner" | |
| 5. | "Leave You in the Hands of the Lord" | |
| 6. | "Ride in the Clouds" | |
| 7. | "Press On (Like the Bible Said)" | |
| 8. | "The New Gospel Train" | |
| 9. | "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" | |
| 10. | "I'll Never Return No More" | |
| 11. | "Hark the Voice" | |
| 12. | "Packin' Up" | |
| 13. | "Live the Life I Sing About in My Song" | |
| 14. | "I Heard the Voice" | |
| 15. | "I'm So Glad" | |
| 16. | "I Have a Friend" | |
| 17. | "O Lord Remember Me" | |
| 18. | "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord" | |
| 19. | "Loose the Man" | |
| 20. | "Lazarus" | |
| 21. | "Mary, Mary" | |
| 22. | "I Just Can't Keep It to Myself" |
References
- Darden, Bob (January 1, 2004). People Get Ready!: A New History of Black Gospel Music. A&C Black.
- "Gospel singer Marion Williams". NPR.
- "Marion Williams: Profile of the Making of a Gospel Legend". Los Angeles Sentinel. 27 Oct 1993. p. B4.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (10 July 1994). "Amazingly Graced: The Lord Was Kind to Marion Williams, and Did She Ever Return the Favor". The Washington Post. p. G4.
- Stark, Karl (November 13, 1993). "Stirring the Soul – Gospel singer emerging from obscurity". Religion. Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
- Pareles, Jon (July 4, 1994). "Marion Williams Is Dead at 66; Influential Pioneer of Gospel". The New York Times. p. 26.
- ^ "Can't Keep It to Myself". AllMusic.
- Santoro, Gene (Nov 5, 1993). "Gospel". Now. Daily News. p. 71.
- ^ Norman, Tony (November 19, 1993). "Marion Williams Can't Keep It to Myself". Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 22.
- "Gospel Divas". Ebony. Vol. 49, no. 6. Apr 1994. p. 78.
- Evans, Paul (Mar 10, 1994). "Recordings — Can't Keep It to Myself by Marion Williams". Rolling Stone. No. 677. pp. 66, 68.
- Moon, Tom (10 July 1994). "Marion Williams' Gospel Ministry". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. N1.
- Lucas Wayne, Renee (26 Oct 1993). "Gospel Sung with Amazing Grace". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 38.
- Varga, George (December 22, 1993). "A baker's dozen of albums that shouldn't be overlooked". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E6.
External links
- "Marion Williams - Can't Keep It To Myself". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved 22 November 2023.