Review Of
Seasons Change
Bishop Paul S. Morton, SR.
March, 2006 on BlackGospel.com,  Review by Jennifer Belot

If throughout the summer, the winds howled and the seas overflowed; And if the fall brought nothing but desolation at the prospect of colder nights to come; now that the biting frost of winter is upon us, we must all be expectantly waiting for the renewed hope that comes with the first blooms of spring.   Thus, having weathered the turbulent storms of life, Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr. has emerged from the rain with an aura of serenity about him that surpasses all understanding in his latest project, aptly entitled, Seasons Change.

No stranger to the tumultuous variations of life, Canadian-born Paul Sylvester Morton, saw himself on American soil as a young man bringing in a new season of ministry that would rise in populace and popularity over the years.  The seeds he planted by God’s grace have given fruit, as the Bishop is now an accomplished author, inspirational singer, selfless community activist, astute business man, not to mention a stirring orator, and a loving family man.  Now, the 55 year old Morton, having journeyed through both sunshine and rain, shouldered by his wife, Elder Debra B. Morton, who also serves as Co-Pastor to the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, has remerged with his most stirring recording as a solo artist.

There are numerous allusions to rainy days and stormy nights in Seasons Change and even the title evokes visions of the recently storm-drenched streets of Louisiana.  However ironic it may seem, this album was penned long before Katrina ever hinted at her arrival on the shores of the Gulf Coast.  But as a man of the Word, Bishop Morton encourages with wisdom in the midst of a disappointing world that seems to speak to the storms of life, whether real or abstract.

Under orchestral fervor, Bishop Morton’s tenor resounds in He Is Mighty, a praise-fest that leads listeners into this musical journey, whilst the ever-present electric guitar bounces off the lyrics extolling the might of God.

The title track Seasons Change has the lilting quality of old-school music with lyrics that are unquestionable in their inspirational poignancy.  “…after the rain, after your pain, you won’t be the same, ‘cause seasons change… He’ll carry you through…” Those words are tailored to the situation of the displaced members of the Gulf Coast, of whom the Bishop is one, but the hope found in the preacher’s epithet is that now that this storm is over, God will see them all through to the other side.

As the recurring theme to the entire project, God’s power through whatever circumstances life may throw our way is evident in Storm Chaser, a melancholic tune that sees Bishop Morton in a vulnerable vocal stance, without background singers to provide a cushion to his vibrant tenor.  However, he valiantly emotes the essence of God’s eternal presence through personal trials.  Let The Healing Begin is a call to let God enter the heart of the downtrodden and dispirited, culminating into the similarly themed You Can Make It.  One might be tempted to call this song and those that precede it inspirational, but the Bishop is unambiguous as to the well-spring of comfort and peace, crooning, “You can make it if you trust in Christ”.  

Not one to dwell in the doleful, Bishop Morton lifts his voice with distinctive southern gospel flare tinged with a hint of contemporary nuances in So Easy.  The church is invited to put their sanctified hands together as Southern Baptist quartet sounds are brought to the forefront with the best and brightest of the genre joining their voices to the Bishop’s in A Mighty Good Friend.  Paul Porter, lead singer for the Christianaires and Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson iterate the good news with their smooth-as-silk, punctuated, harmonized staccato cadences.

In contrast to the aforementioned rhythmic Southern sounds, one finds the tranquil acoustics of the piano in That’s Reason Enough, a worshipful piece on the joy of salvation in comparison to all the worldly treasures one can amass.  It seems fitting that the Bishop would encourage in song with these particular words, seeing the devastation he recently saw in his adopted home-state.  But despite any circumstances one may be going through, he invites saints to bow down and hasten to the throne of God for redemption, restoration and reconciliation in The Throne (Bow Down).  By the same token he also draws upon the words of Matthew 6:6, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”  There Bishop Morton narrates in the voice of the Divine, as he inspires the saints to abide in the quietness of heavenly solitude.

Finally, for those who have gone on to glory, If You Could See Me Now is a symbolic expression our dearly departed loved ones would have for us, should they be heard through the clouds of eternal glory. “…I’m enjoying Jesus, just sitting at His feet… If you could see me now, I’m walking streets of gold… I’m walking tall and whole…If you could only see me now”

The Bishop has spoken in the tradition of psalmists that have preceded him and has chosen to keep the praises of God paramount on his tongue.  He has chosen to believe that through any storms that life inevitably assails us with, God will prevail.  This man of the cloth is lifting his voice for all to hear, that God is greater than our situations, greater than our circumstance and greater still than our stormy weather…  So take heart my brother, be comforted my sister this storm won’t last always for indeed as the Bishop has said, Seasons Change.