Mighty Clouds of Joy vs. Ricky Dillard | Head 2 Head 🗣️

On the 20th edition of Head 2 Head, gospel giants The Mighty Clouds of Joy & Ricky Dillard duke it out over “He’s My Rooftop.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing and contrasting their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  For our 20^th head-to-head gospel giants 🎙The Mighty Clouds of Joy and 🎙 Ricky Dillard duke it out over their respective takes of 🎵 “He’s My Rooftop.” So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. The Mighty Clouds of Joy, “He’s My Rooftop”

💿 Sing and Shout • 🏷 Word, Incorporated • 📅 1983

“Try my Jesus, try Him out / He’s worthy to be served!” If you’re not a gospel connoisseur/enthusiast or didn’t receive that ‘gospel education’ from your parents, perhaps you’re unfamiliar with 🎙 The Mighty Clouds of Joy.  You can check out their bio yourself, but it’s important to note that The Mighty Clouds of Joy are one of gospel’s most successful groups.  Specifically, they’re noted for preserving traditional gospel and blending it with R&B – genres that appeal to a black audience primarily (yes, I’m aware people of all races enjoy various genres).  The quintet’s 1983 record, 🎵 “He’s My Rooftop” is a prime example of a blend of messaging and power of traditional gospel and a funky, then ‘contemporary’ R&B backdrop. 

“He’s My Rooftop” sounds idiomatic of the 80s – 💿 Sing and Shout was released in 1983.  The sound is a far cry from the gospel of old, opting for a more digitized sound with keyboards, synths, and programming.  Still, the spirit and soulfulness remain intact as Mighty Clouds of Joy serve up a mighty, prudent, and awesome message.  Chocked full of high-flying vocals and a heaping dose of faith, the late, great 🎙 Joe Ligon and company assert:

“Well, He’s my Rooftop, in the rage of the storm, yeah
He’s my protector, there’ll never be no harm
He is the bread, that sits on the table
My God can do it, He’s truly able.”

Even with its 80s sensibilities, Mighty Clouds of Joy’s “He’s My Rooftop” still shines years after it materialized. The message being ministered is transcendent. 

2. Ricky Dillard, “He’s My Roof Top (Live)”

Ft. Keith Wonderboy Johnson

💿 Choirmaster • 🏷 Motown Gospel • 📅 2020

Gospel music speaks most to believers, but even the most unapologetic religious skeptic would be hard-pressed to deny the spirit cultivated on 🎵 “He’s My Roof Top (Live).” The fifth song on 💿 Choirmaster, the 2020 album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated gospel standout 🎙 Ricky Dillard isn’t brand-new. It’s an enhanced cover of 🎙 The Mighty Clouds of Joy staple, 🎵 “He’s My Rooftop”, from the 1983 album, 💿 Sing and Shout.  The Mighty Clouds of Joy version was funky in its own right – a progressive sound for contemporary black gospel music at the time. Here, we focus on the awesome take by Dillard, who enlists the awesome 🎙 Keith Wonderboy Johnson for the vocal assist.   

Where the original clocked in at five minutes, Ricky Dillard and company go eight-and-a-half minutes and man, oh, man, is it energetic, funky, and high-flying to the nth degree.  The backing band kills it, particularly the bassist! Characterizing it as spirited is an understatement – it’s that potent.  Lyrically, the themes are familiar and idiomatic of black gospel: God is my all, and “I’m gonna serve him.” Again, regardless of whether you’re particularly pious or not religious at all, it’s hard to deny the power of this song, not to mention the rooftop metaphor.  

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: May 2020
🔗 🎧 11 Songs That Provide That Spiritual Refresh

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

Mighty Clouds of Joy or Ricky Dillard?  Tough – both versions of this classic are superb.  That said, the updated, expanded version by Dillard, a mass choir, a killer band, and the always rousing Keith Wonderboy Johnson gets the edge.

Mighty Clouds of Joy vs. Ricky Dillard: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 20 [📷: Brent Faulkner, GenderArts from Pixabay, Motown Gospel, The Musical Hype, Valentin Tikhonov from Pixabay, Word, Incorporated]