Margaret Becker was born on July 17, 1959 in Bay Shore, New York. She has a degree in communication from James Madison University. Her debut album was 1987's NEVER FOR NOTHING. Fast forward to 1999 and she released her ninth record, WHAT KIND OF LOVE (Sparrow). It was produced by Tedd Tjornhom and executive produced by Lynn Nichols. Margaret thanks "World Vision for allowing me the opportunity to work with them and visibly see lives changed".
Starting things off is 'Friend For Life', one of two co-writes with Chris Eaton. It's an adult pop song about sharing one's faith: "I want to be the one to tell you, to tell it like it is/To let you know the God of love will never leave your side/I want to be the one to lead you with everything I am/And see the day when you let Him in and make a Friend for life". 'Worlds Apart' is one of four co-writes with Robbie Nevill. This adult contemporary ballad anticipates a reunion with Father God: "When that day comes and You're standing inches away/I'll reach out my arms and fall into love's embrace/And when You call my name/I know my true life is gonna start/When we will finally be/No longer, no longer worlds apart".
'What Kind of Love' is the adult pop title track. It contains this chorus of wonder: "What kind of love is this?/That You would lay down Your life for someone such as me/I'll spend my lifetime wondering why/The beauty of heaven chose here in my heart/To pour out His perfect gift/What kind of love is this?" 'I Won't Be Persuaded' begins with these very relatable words: "Sometimes it hurts to be so close to the pain/When I know the One who loves me most/Could make it all change/Sometimes I'm lost in the land of questioning/And I rub together timeless truths/Like flint and stone in the rain/And I don't understand where You are in all this/Still I wait and hope and pray and wish".
Next up is 'Love By Your Side', an adult pop ballad of devotion: "If you wanna feel love by your side/If you're looking for someone that you never seem to find/Turn around and look into my eyes/Cause I've always been right here by your side". It would fit nicely on mainstream radio. 'Feel It All' asks a couple of great questions: "Oh, and what is life/If not to see Your Spirit passing by?/Oh, and what is love/If not to leave the imprint of Your touch?"
Phil Roy and Bob Thiele, Jr wrote 'Hope in a Hopeless World'. It's a great R&B song addressing society's ills: "On a corner stands a young girl/The home she left was from the better part of town/Her daddy did things she just can't talk about/Is there hope in a hopeless world?/You got a quarter for the homeless man/Can you spare more change for the soldiers who fought the war?/Put some money in those hats and those tins/Give them hope in a hopeless world". 'One More Reason' is a song of praise: "Just when I think You've given me all I need/You turn around and You come to me/With one more reason to be lost in Your love/One more reason to be the One that I want/You're more than I needed/More than enough/You keep giving me one more reason".
'All That's Left' includes these prayerful words: "With Your grace/Make me less/Fill me with Your brokenness/Till I raise these hands/To Your lovely face". Last up is 'Poor in Paradise'. Margaret co-wrote this one with Lowell Alexander. It's a beautiful inspirational number of gratitude: "And my eyes are filled to overflowing/As I'm watching all Your love unfold/Cause I can't contain the precious bounty/You've poured out on this tattered soul".
Margaret Becker's seasoned vocals are superb on WHAT KIND OF LOVE. There are five adult pop songs, two each of adult contemporary and R&B, and one inspirational song on this project which has about an equal number of fast and slow songs. God's love and the hope He offers us seem to be the main topics Margaret is concerned with here. She expresses her wish to trust God completely and be devoted to Him. There's also a good song about human companionship ('Love By Your Side'). I'm rating this album 93% and recommending it to fans of Jann Arden and Amanda Marshall. For more info visit www.margaretbecker.com and/or connect with her on Facebook.