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November 25, 2007
Shirley Ceasar releases her 43rd album; "Still Sweeping Through the City"
By: J. Koni
Gospel singing legend, Shirley Caesar has released her 43rd album in her 40th year in music. The album is entitled, "Still Sweeping Through the City," a compilation of 12 of her favorite songs.
The album will feature the classic song, "Hold My Mule," that was released in 1987 and became a number one hit. It stayed on the Billboard Gospel Album Sales Chart for a 110 weeks.
"Hold My Mule was number one for 52 weeks on Billboard," she confesses. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could do that again with the new CD? We're just gonna wait and see what God is going to do."
Shirley revealed that she dusted off some of her rarer classics from the 1970s such as "Faded Rose" and a medley of "Peter Don't Be Afraid," "Nobody But You Lord" and "Teach Me Master." Also from that period is the heart-rending "How Many Will Be Remembered?"
From the 1980s, Caesar resurrected "Jesus I Love Calling Your Name", "He'll Do It Again," "Peace in the Midst of the Storm" and "Never."
The Mighty Clouds of Joy's raspy-voiced lead singer, Joe Ligon, rose from his sick bed for the recording of "Never". "Joe had a triple bypass," Caesar announced. "But God touched his body and he was able to sing with me." He traded notes with Caesar on a bit of "Teach Me Master," "God's Got it All Under Control" and "Sweeping Through the City."
The album was recorded last July at the 300-member Mt. Calvary Holy Church that Caesar co-pastors in Raleigh, North Carolina.