CeCe Winans - Everlasting Love (2003)

At the height of her creative and vocal abilities in the late '90s, CeCe Winans weighed in heavily with this marvelously accessible collection of R&B-styled contemporary gospel. From the bouncy groove of "Well, Alright" to the vinyl-like crackle of "I Am" to the superb breakbeat spiritual of the Lauryn Hill-penned and -produced "On That Day," Winans has carved the keys to a city in which both the sacred and secular populations can dance. Twice given the Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, Winans's voice has a supple and immediate strength without the histrionics of Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey. This is not only an important career record, but a gem that stands up against most any contemporary R&B. --Paige La Grone