The soundtrack for the 2012 remake of 1976's
Sparkle
is an enjoyable if muddled affair. The 1976 soundtrack doubled as a fine
Aretha Franklin
album -- one written, arranged, and produced by
Curtis Mayfield
. Led by
Jordin Sparks
(who succeeds
Irene Cara
as Sparkle), the 2012 soundtrack features faithful and decent covers of four songs from the original. When it comes to "Something He Can Feel," it would be an understatement to say that the deck is stacked against
Sparks
and her vocal partners,
Carmen Ejogo
(Sister) and
Tika Sumpter
(Delores). Both the
Franklin
original and
En Vogue
's 1992 version rightly topped the R&B chart. Sensibly, there's no effort to out-power them; this version has its own light and breathy touch.
also fronts the gospel-tinged ballad "One Wing" and the midtempo "Love Will," both of which were built and helmed by
R. Kelly
and have his peculiar "old but new" feel -- composed with a bygone era in mind but executed with modern means. On the neo-disco "Celebrate," another
production,
is joined by
Whitney Houston
(Sparkle's mother Emma), the latter of whom is showcased on a piano, organ, and choir rendition of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."
Houston
sounds as commanding as one can expect from a later recording.
Cee-Lo Green
(Black) contributes the rollicking "I'm a Man," seemingly made in the mould of
Edwin Starr
's 1969 single "25 Miles."
Ejogo
takes the lead on the bouncy "Yes I Do," one of three songs involving songwriter and producer
Andrew Wansel
(whose father,
Dexter Wansel
, was in full flight as a soul artist, songwriter, and producer in 1976). Lastly, "Running" is a similarly bright and energetic
Supremes
/
Vandellas
-style showcase for veteran R&B singer
Goapele
. ~ Andy Kellman