God's Beautiful City
Little Richard · 1979
36 min · 7 tracks · funk
A vibrant blend of gospel fervor and rhythm and blues, underscored by Little Richard's dynamic vocal performance and uplifting message.
Top tracks — play these first
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There Is Someone Worse Off Than I Am Start here — This track captures the essence of humility and compassion, setting a tone of empathy that resonates throughout the album.
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If You've Got The Lord on Your Side Everything Will Be All Right — The upbeat rhythm combined with a reassuring message exemplifies Little Richard's ability to merge joy with spirituality, making it an anthem of hope.
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God's Beautiful City — The title track embodies the culmination of the album’s themes, offering a vision of peace and divine beauty that reflects Little Richard's personal faith journey.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively merges gospel and funk, showcasing Little Richard's vocal dynamism and thematic focus.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of call-and-response vocals, particularly in the gospel tracks, enhancing the communal feel.
- Each track is built around a central theme of faith, often repeating key phrases that reinforce the message.
- The instrumentation blends traditional gospel elements with funk rhythms, creating a lively yet reverent atmosphere throughout.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- uplifting spiritual reflections
- steady pacing for contemplation
- communal sing-along moments
- intimate connection with faith
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- seek instrumental soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Represents a shift back to gospel, differing from earlier rock and roll style.
- Themes
- spiritual redemption· gospel revival· urban faith journey
- Career context
- Released in 1979, God's Beautiful City marked a significant return to gospel music for Little Richard following his earlier rock and roll fame. This album came after a period of personal struggles and spiritual rediscovery, showcasing his commitment to faith through music at a time when he was redefining his artistic identity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Chuck Berry· Fats Domino· James Brown
Tracklist
- 1 There Is Someone Worse Off Than I Am Start here 5:25
- 2 If You've Got The Lord on Your Side Everything Will Be All Right 4:41
- 3 It Is No Secret What God Can Do 4:33
- 4 I Surrender All 3:55
- 5 Little Richard's Testimony: What Am I Supposed to Do Without Jesus 10:50
- 6 Little Richard's Testimony: Come by Here, My Lord 2:43
- 7 God's Beautiful City 4:41
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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