Destined to Win is a live album from Karen Clark Sheard. Entertainment One Music alongside Karew Music released the album on July 21, 2015. This album became her highest-charting album in her solo career, debuting with 15,000 copies sold in its first week.[1] She worked with Donald Lawrence, in the production of this album.

Destined to Win
Live album by
ReleasedJuly 21, 2015 (2015-07-21)
RecordedHouse of Hope
Chicago, Illinois
GenreGospel, Christian R&B, contemporary R&B, urban contemporary gospel
Length56:23
LabelKarew, Entertainment One
ProducerDonald Lawrence
Karen Clark Sheard chronology
All in One
(2010)
Destined to Win
(2015)

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Gospel Pundit     [3]
Journal of Gospel Music     [4]
New Release Today     [5]

Reviewing the album for The New York Times, Ben Ratliff states, "There are three or four places on the record — and they are extended sequences, not just moments — when a listener can start to worry: Do I deserve these riches?"[6] Andy Kellman, awarding the album four stars at AllMusic, writes, "this is another worthy addition to the Clark Sheard catalog."[2] Rating the album three and a half stars from New Release Today, Dwayne Lacy says, "the 'less is more' approach shows that 10 total songs are enough for a complete album."[5] Bob Marovich, indicating in a four star review by the Journal of Gospel Music, responds, "Destined to Win reminds listeners of the church's—and gospel music’s—mandate to encourage the discouraged and give heart to the disheartened."[4] Assigning the album a five stars rating for Gospel Pundit, Erik Justin "E.J." Gaines replies, "Destined To Win is a powerful declaration of faith and victory, marked by the impeccable and unparalleled vocals of one of gospel music’s greatest treasures."[3]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Who Doesn't Matter"Donald Lawrence, Loren McGee5:33
2."Destined to Win"Myron Butler, Darrell Freeman5:04
3."The Resurrection"Richard Smallwood5:10
4."Sunday A.M."Rudy Currence, Lawrence6:12
5."Only Call on Jesus"Craig Brockman, Melissa Elliott, Charlene Keys, Nisan Stewart6:09
6."My Words Have Power" (featuring Donald Lawrence & Co.)Minister Gerald Robinson8:14
7."Already Looking Better"Donishisa Ballard5:30
8."The Worst Is Over"Oscar Williams6:39
9."My God Is Big"Karen Clark Sheard, Mike Guglielmucci, J. Drew Sheard II3:54
10."We Acknowledge You"Lawrence3:58
Total length:56:23

Chart performance edit

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[7] 20
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[8] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[9] 4

References edit

  1. ^ Asker, Jim; Trust, Gary (January 9, 2015). "Tasha Cobbs, Rend Collective & Plumb Climb Christian, Gospel Charts". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Billboard.com.
  2. ^ a b Kellman, Andy (July 21, 2015). "Destined to Win - Karen Clark Sheard : Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Gaines, Erik Justin "E.J." (July 21, 2015). "Karen Clark Sheard Scores Big With New Live Project - 'Destined To Win'". Gospel Pundit. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Marovich, Bob (July 23, 2015). "Karen Clark Sheard – Destined to Win". Journal of Gospel Music. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Lacy, Dwayne (July 22, 2015). "Empowerment and Encouragement". New Release Today. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  6. ^ Ratliff, Ben (July 15, 2015). "Review: Karen Clark Sheard Brings Depth and Flexibility to a New Album". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "Karen Clark-Sheard Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  8. ^ "Karen Clark-Sheard Chart History (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  9. ^ "Karen Clark-Sheard Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2016.