Fighting Temptations Soundtrack CD

Reflecting the thin line between sacred and secular music that's particularly prevalent in the world of soul, THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS soundtrack modernizes this dichotomy, which has been tackled by legends like Prince, Sam Cooke, and Al Green. Given that the film's story is based on a plot about a crooked ad exec forming a choir in order to collect an inheritance, there's plenty of gospel music packed into these 15 songs. The legendary Shirley Caesar wrote and performs on both "I'm Getting Ready," an uplifting solo showcase for Sounds of Blackness mouthpiece Ann Nesby, and the equally stirring "The Stone," which features the two ladies doing some major roof-raising. With Matthew Knowles serving as the executive soundtrack album producer, it's no surprise that daughter Beyonce is the star of the film and a featured performer throughout this collection. When Beyonce's not tearing up the party jam "Fighting Temptation" alongside Missy Elliott, MC Lyte, and Free, she's tucking into the slow jam "I Know" with day job Destiny's Child and flying solo on fine interpretations of "Fever" and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." Other stellar covers include Faith Evans turning the disco nugget "Heaven Knows" into her own, and the O'Jays making like the Persuasions on "Loves Me Like a Rock."

Beyonce/Missy Elliott/Mc Lyte/ Destiny's Child/Solange/Papa R

Personnel: Faith Evans (vocals, background vocals); Destiny's Child, Eddie LeVert, Free, MC Lyte, Melba Moore, Missy Elliott, Montell Jordan, Angie Stone, Ann Nesby, Shirley Caesar, The O'Jays, Walter Williams, Beyoncé Knowles, Bilal (vocals); Paul Logus, Stevie J., Romeo Antonio, Rick Watford (guitar); Jimmy "Z" Zavala (flute, harmonica, saxophone); Buddy Greene (harmonica); Greg Curtis, Steve Twyman (piano); Michael E. Mathis, Vance Taylor (organ); Damon Elliott (keyboards, percussion, programming); James "Big Jim" Wright (keyboards, background vocals); Bobby Ross Avila (keyboards); Iz (drums, percussion); Joe Pusateri, Rick J. Jordan, Sheryl Harper (drums); Bubba Smith (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Neil Pogue; Manny Marroquin; Dave Pensado; Fred Walker; Paul Logus.

Recording information: 7303 Studios, Houston, TX; Daddy's House Recordings, New York, NY; Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA; Music World Studios, Houston, TX; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; The Enterprise, Burbank, CA; The Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.