Richard Smallwood, Total Praise | Sunday Refresh 🙏

On the 22^nd edition of Sunday Refresh, we’re uplifted by Richard Smallwood and Vision performing, “Total Praise.”

W

elcome to Sunday Refresh 🙏, a column that seeks to highlight inspirational songs to uplift the spirit.  These tracks that appear on Sunday Refresh may or may not be faith-based or religious; the goal is for them to make you feel better – refreshed.  So, for the 22^nd edition of Sunday Refresh, we highlight 🎵 “Total Praise” as performed by 🎙 Richard Smallwood and 🎙 Vision.

“Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills / Knowing my health is coming from you.” Those are some powerful words penned by the great 🎙 🎼✍ Richard Smallwood, a phenomenal gospel musician and composer.  🎵 “Total Praise” has become a standard worship song in many churches.  Why? It’s reverent sound, spiritually charged songwriting, gorgeous melodies, and lush, choral harmonies.  Truly, it sounds as if Mr. Smallwood intended all who perform “Total Praise” to take it to heart – truly believe and sell it.  “Total Praise” graces Smallwood’s 1996 album, 💿 Adoration, recorded live in Atlanta with 🎙 Vision. One of the best parts of this contemporary gospel classic is the chorus, which ‘breathes on you’ while being performed:

“You are the source of my strength
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to you.”

Man, oh, man, those are soul-stirring words and radiant music.  In addition to that marvelous section, the extended “Amen” section serves as the cherry on top.  As I’ve said many times of the entries in Sunday Refresh 🙏, even if you’re not chief amongst believers, you can appreciate the feels given off by “Total Praise.” It yields a special listening and spiritual experience.

---

🎙 Richard Smallwood • 💿 Adoration • 🏷 Zomba • 📅 1996
Richard Smallwood, “Total Praise”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 No. 22 (2021) [📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Zac Durant on Unsplash, Zomba]

---