by Dacia A. Blodgett-WilliamsIncredibly gifted and prolific soloist Gladys Knight released her first inspirational album in 1998. While many of her past albums carried music of significance, rightfully earning her a place in the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this is the first album which she focused entirely on the spiritual side of music. And yes, this is the same Gladys Knight as Gladys Knight & the Pips. As one would expect from a seasoned artist like Gladys Knight, the entire album is musically sound from a critic's standpoint, and the messages of the lyrics leave an indelible impression on the listener. One song stands out for its danceable music, but deeply important message -- "Everybody." She relates an experience of chatting with an ignored homeless man and sings the reminder: Everybody needs someone to hold on to/Everybody needs someone to love them true/Everybody needs someone to treat them right/How about you/How about you. The music on this album cannot be neatly confined to any one genre. It has a little bit of soul, a bit of rock and a bit of gospel. And the result is an album that has a huge amount of appeal for not only her longtime fans, but for the new audience she entered in 1997 when she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's representative of a new focus at this time of her life, but is not representative of her entire body of work. For a Christian seeking something a little less stodgy, this album will be a welcome addition in their collection.