Our Review
Hallelujah! Listening to Foot Stompin Christmas was an A-1 delight and an absolute hoot. If you love hand-clappin, foot-tappin gospel music, then this holiday CD should put a smile on your face and a groove in your soul. The featured artist is Minister Win Thompkins; I am unclear regarding his religious affiliation, but am confident that he reigns supreme in the Church of Gospel Entertainment. What fun!
The album contains a winning mix of classic holiday fare and "Uncle Win's" originals. It's all good, and I spent 43 minutes wearing headphones and boppin around in my dining room chair. My family is confident that I have lost my marbles. Not true--it's just that I found Foot Stompin Christmas.
Even the cover art draws you in. The folksy rendering shows an African-American family gathered 'round the holiday tree, an old-fashioned radio cranked up in the corner, and lots of dancing and clapping to celebrate the season. You want to be that room, sharing the love.
Now Foot Stompin Christmas is a rather simple affair, and the liner notes unfortunately provide scant information. Keyboard synthesizers apparently provide a nice range of musical effects/voices, and it appears that Win Thompkins may be singing multiple parts through computer magic. In any event, the vocals are high-spirited and solid throughout. I particularly enjoyed Thompkins' new numbers (at least new to me). The opening He's Alright is probably my favorite; the addictive melody is instantly memorable, the driving rhythms are unstoppable, and the artist's elastic, bluesy voice tears up the town. Merry Christmas America is an upbeat anthem for the nation, and Christmas for the World embraces the universality of the holiday spirit. Sweet!
Get to your feet, and start clappin! Slip Minister Win Thompkins' album on your sound system, and you will be assured of a Foot Stompin Christmas this year!
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)
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From the liner notes:
Special thanks to: Daniel Perez for his professional expertise and David Frazier for his magical touch on the keyboards, Lil J for his contribution to the skit and Vincent Broomfield for his smooth sax.
Mastering by Jimmy Starr (Hideaway Studios).
All songs produced by Minister Win Thompkins for TFW Enterprises, Inc.
All songs recorded and mixed at D-N-P Productions in Margate, FL.
Original songs written by Minister Win Thompkins.
From the Website:
MINISTER WIN THOMPKINS AKA: UNCLE WIN was born and raised in South Florida.
He is the third of ten children and was reared in a happy home filled with laughter,
music and songs. During his Christian upbringing, it was natural for Minister Thompkins
and his siblings to sing in the church choir. As the young men grew into talented
teenagers, Minister Thompkins and his brothers began to travel and sing gospel music
locally and around the country. At the tender age of fourteen, Minister Thompkins had
already recorded his first gospel record which was released as a single on Cross and
Crown Records.
Minister Win Thompkins
Foot Stompin Christmas
Artist link
Label: TFW Enterprises
Length: 43 minutes
Genre: Christian
Release: 2004
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| He's Alright |
| Silent Night |
| Christ Must Be Kept in Christmas |
| Joy to the World |
| Merry Christmas America |
| Come All Ye Faithful |
| Go Tell It on the Mountain |
| Lord We Praise You |
| Christmas for the World |
| Adore Him |