November, 2002
On the heels of the platinum certification of Michael W. Smith’s
groundbreaking 2001 Worship recording, the Grammy and Dove Award-winning Reunion artist’s Worship DVD-Video/VHS,
which released August 20, has now been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA). The initial shipment of the Worship DVD-Video/VHS qualified for RIAA gold certification, and now
the platinum status, achieved in just three months, denotes sales in excess of 100,000 units.
When notified of the platinum certification, Smith remarked, “I’m overwhelmed by the response to the DVD.
It’s just incredible. Even now, when I watch it, I’m still impacted by how people were affected that night.”
You can catch Smitty on tour this Fall on the Christmastime Tour with Point of Grace and newcomer Kara.
Steven Curtis Chapman was awarded many times over for the 2002 Professional Songwriter Awards
by American Songwriter Magazine! In the overall category, which includes all Pop, Country and R&B
music, Chapman won: #2 Songwriter of the year (just behind I. Lorenzo, who co-wrote the Ashanti hit “Foolish” - Alan Jackson was 3rd place)
and #3 Producer of the year (just behind I. Gotti and The Neptunes).
And for the Christian category, guess who grabbed #1 in every category?
You guessed it! Steven won: #1 Songwriter, #1 Artist, #1 Song (”Magnificent Obsession”),
#1 Producer (sharing the title with Brown Bannister), and #1 Publisher (Sparrow Song/Peach Hill Songs)! Congrats Steven!
Steven's new record All About Love release January 28th. You can begin preordering the album
this Friday from FamilyChristian.com. Each preorder scores a free Love Songs EP featuring the debut
single and title track from the new album, "All About Love" and four SCC love song classics,
"Go There With You," "Love & Learn," Celebrate You," and "What I Really Want To Say."
Audio Adrenaline is in the studio right now working on their
new album Worldwide! Forefront Records is featuring a Spycam that has been
set up in the studio so you can keep an eye on the guys as they
work on the album! From time to time you'll be able to catch the guys hanging out there while technicians
are working around the clock getting the album done! AudioA.com, the band's official site, is also featuring
a StudioLog with photos and journal entries for your enjoyment.
To go directly to the Spycam click on the link below!
http://www.forefrontrecords.com/ff/cam/audioa/aacam.html
For a mini interview with the band about the new record, pick up the band's brand new DVD Lift
for just $5.99! Finally, as the Holiday season nears, Christmas music will begin to flood the airwaves. One of the most unique Christmas renditions you will hear this year is Audio Adrenaline's version of the Christmas favorite "Little Drummer Boy." "We just got in the studio and played around," said guitarist Tyler Burkum. "We had no idea how it was going to turn out, but it really rocks." The song can be heard soon on radio or you can check it out on the new WOW Christmas CD.
With the 10th Anniversary Edition Free At Last album scheduled to release next month,
fans of dc Talk can hear a "new" song from that album at Christian radio NOW.
Michael, Toby and Kevin all went back into the studio recently to put a new spin, on an old favorite,
"The Hardway." "Re-doing 'The Hardway' was interesting for me," commented Kevin Max, "because when I first
actually heard the track, I wasn't so sure about it. The original song for me was a very passionate,
heartfelt, honest type song, in talking about our human condition." "As I started singing it," continues
Max, "I really appreciated it because it has such an amazing groove to it and it brought it to another
place. And the fact that it's been re-done and still holds up as a great song, tells you a lot about
how special that tune is."
Five of the year’s top rock, punk and hip-hop acts will join forces this spring on a new multi-artist
rock event called the See Spot Rock Tour, which hits the
road in February, 2003. Co-headlining the explosive “five-star” lineup are high-octane audience favorites
O.C. Supertones and Relient K,
joined by critically-acclaimed rock band Pillar, hip-hop head John Reuben
and new rockers Sanctus Real.
The See Spot Rock Tour will hit nearly 50 cities between February and May including Cleveland, Ohio;
Philadelphia, Pa.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; St. Paul, Minn.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Seattle, Wash.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Irvine, Calif., and more. The tour launches Feb. 9, 2003 and tickets for most cities go on sale Dec. 7.
Created and produced by Alabaster Arts, the See Spot Rock Tour brings together five acts that have individually continued to generate huge underground followings and audience loyalty. “Bands like Relient K receive little or no airplay or shelf space, yet continue to fill concert halls and sell hundreds of thousands of records,” says Alabaster President Steve Thomas.
The See Spot Rock Tour has been defined by organizers as “great artists coming together for the cause of encouraging Americans through rock ’n roll... to celebrate the fact that music can still move the masses for the good.”
Following the success of the VeggieTales debut animated feature
film, Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie, Artisan's FHE Pictures and Big Idea Productions announced Tuesday
their continued relationship with the next feature film from Big Idea entitled, The Bob And Larry Movie.
Slated for 2005, Big Idea is currently in pre-production on The Bob And Larry Movie, and once
again Artisan will retain all North American rights to the film. The two entities' efforts on Jonah
have garnered a domestic gross to date of over $24 million and the film will be released into the home
entertainment arena in March 2003. Artisan Entertainment CEO Amir J. Malin and Big Idea President and COO
Terry Botwick made the announcement.
The animated The Bob and Larry Movie, asks, and answers, all of the questions America has been pondering
about its favorite celebrity produce: Why do these vegetables talk? How did they meet? And who on Earth
gave them their own television show? The film features the classic VeggieTales characters Bob the Tomato
and Larry the Cucumber along with a host of new animated characters, and the first humans to appear within
a VeggieTales story. The computer generated images, writing and music will all once again be created
in-house at Big Idea's studio in the Chicago area under the leadership of Big Idea Chief Creative Officer,
Co-Founder and CEO, Phil Vischer, Co-Founder and writer/director Mike Nawrocki, and CGI animation veteran
Dan Philips.
Launching Nov. 1, to a sold-out crowd of over 18,000 in Atlanta, Ga., and concluding with another
sold-out arena holding more than 17,000 in Auburn Hills, Mi., the “Come Together and Worship Tour” visited
16 cities with an average per-night attendance of 11,500; ten sell-out dates and an overall audience of
over 180,000. In addition, ministry partners World Vision and Compassion International, jointly reported,
that over 5,000 children were sponsored through presentations made during the tour.
NBC’s Today Show co-host Matt Lauer called the “Come Together and Worship Tour,”
“one of the biggest concert tours of the fall.” The line up featured Michael W. Smith,
Third Day and very special guest Max Lucado
and exceeded expectations, with sold-out dates in ten of the 16 cities markets including, Atlanta, GA;
Lexington, KY; Memphis, TN; Winston-Salem, NC; Hershey, PA; Fairfax, VA; WestPoint, NY; Mobile, AL; Madison,
WI; Auburn Hills, MI.
“It’s been an amazing few weeks,” reflected Michael W. Smith. He continues, “Having the opportunity
to spend time with the Third Day guys was great, and Max Lucado brought everything together by adding
elements that demonstrated the heart of this tour. The highlight though, was to watch the thousands of
people worshiping with us – it was just incredible.”
The first and critically acclaimed DVD from Ardent Record’s top-selling rock band Skillet,
Alien Youth: The Unplugged Invasion, became the best-selling artist DVD this week according to
SoundScan’s Christian Video Chart following its Nov. 19 release.
In addition to the applause for The Unplugged Invasion, Skillet fans will also find the band
in several upcoming key CBA publications, including the cover of December’s On Course magazine as
well as a “best friend” feature highlighting member Korey Cooper in the January/February, 2003 issue of
GO! magazine. Skillet was also recently named as a “Christian artist that will rock you,
whether you’re a Christian or not” in December’s general market Seventeen magazine.
Rebecca St. James' successful Worship God tour, which just wrapped up its US leg last weekend, is taking their show overseas. The tour, which posted fifteen sell-out concerts and numerous near capacities domestically, is currently in Italy for a show tonight in Milan. In addition to countries like England, Germany and Sweden, Rebecca specifically asked that time be allowed on the European schedule for a concert in Romania, as a matter of fact, she will be spending Thanksgiving Day in Romania. The country and its people had won Rebecca's heart during a visit three years ago on a missions trip. She reached them-one by one-not with her music, but with her passionate message about Christ, and she has been looking forward to the opportunity to get back to that country to continue her outreach in that area.
Multi-million selling and modern worship’s founding band Delirious?
recently performed concerts in the South African cities of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Impacting the
nation already through its music and its work with HopeHIV, the band was greeted by nearly 11,000 fans attending
the band’s first-ever tour to South Africa. Although they have never performed before in the South African nation,
the band’s music has been distributed in over 100 countries around the world and has been in South Africa for
over five years. Delirious? manager Tony Patoto gives a first-hand account of the enthusiasm for the band:
“Personal reaction to the band was overwhelming, amazing! The band’s South African fans confided with
Delirious? that their music has been life-changing for them. Numerous fans told us of how Delirious? has
been their greatest artist influence, and many people became Christians at the concerts.”
From TheElms.com: Media outlets have reported in recent weeks that The Elms had
planned on appearing in Mandy Moore-starring, Michael Stipe-produced new film, Saved. The Elms were approached
to appear, as themselves, in the edgy teen drama. The band would've performed their current single, "Speaking In
Tongues," at a high school dance during a pivotal final scene. After reading the script, however, The Elms,
their management, and Sparrow Records decided not to participate in the filming due to the film's controversial
content, even at the expense of high-profile exposure.
Frontman Owen Thomas had the following to say about the ordeal: "The decision that The Elms made to end our involvement
with Saved was a difficult one... This choice has nothing to do with our band's desire to be
involved in film, or to be involved in mainstream affairs with people whose views that differ from ours. There
were simply several scenes in the script with action or dialogue that was so contrary to our beliefs, we had no
choice but to withdraw. The film, in our estimation, wasn't just work that approached life from a different
standpoint than ours. To participate in Saved would've been asking us to condone and support things
we're wholeheartedly against, moral and spiritual issues... we're not ready to forfeit our loyalty to those
things." In other Elms news, the band recently filmed a video for the song "Speaking In Tongues." Click
here for an exclusive behind the scenes photo! (Thanks to Lauren & Kristen for the shot!)
Rachael Lampa recently met St. Louis Cardinal’s 2001 National
League Rookie of the year, Albert Pujols. As left fielder for the 2002 National League Central Division Champions, Pujols is the first player in MLB history to hit .300 with 30 home runs, score 100 runs and drive in 100 runs in each of his first two seasons. Pictured backstage during her Oct. 18, Maryland Heights, MO ShoutFest Tour performance (l-r) are Pujols’ wife, Deidre, Rachael and Albert.
Lampa is currently wrapping up her time as a co-headliner on the ShoutFest tour where she performed songs
from her Oct. 29 remix release, Blur. Featuring edgy new versions of songs from her best-selling
recordings, Live for You and Kaleidoscope, Blur’s production reflects Lampa’s
desire to take her music beyond its adult contemporary origins and into a more youth-oriented realm.
For a photo of Lampa with Pujols, click here. (Love the Worship Circus hoodie, Rachael!)
Michael W. Smith’s six-year-old independent label Rocketown Records
recently inked an exclusive, U.S. distribution agreement with Provident Music Distribution. The new deal—which takes
effect Jan. 1, 2003—will include all domestic CBA and general market retail sales for all new releases.
“As an artist who records within the Provident system, I’ve seen first hand how effective this team is,”
noted Rocketown founder and Chairman Michael W. Smith. “I have complete confidence in this team’s abilities
and great respect for the company’s leadership. I’m really excited by the synergy of having the artists at
Rocketown distributed through the same system as my own projects.”
Provident Music Distribution’s sales team will begin presenting Rocketown Records’ releases with street
dates in the new calendar year. The first projects under the new agreement include the new studio album from
Dove Award winner Chris Rice, Run the Earth…Watch the Sky, and the debut release from new
folk/roots band Alathea, What Light is All About. Both albums are scheduled for a March 4, 2003
street date. Rocketown’s back catalog, all releases prior to 2003, will continue to be handled by
Word Distribution.
Here's an update on Third Day’s new follow-up worship project: The new album is entitled Offerings II – All I Have To Give
and will release on March 4th. You can expect more great new music from Third Day, including new studio
tracks and exclusive live recordings. If you’ve seen these guys live, you know that their hearts are
truly focused on leading the body of Christ in worship, and this project promises to bring that down from
the stage and the studio and out to wherever you are. Rumor has it that while on the Third Day Tour,
Mac Powell announced to the crowds that there
might be an Offerings II album on its way. This means there's a possibility that Michael Tait
could be featured on “God Of Wonders,” recorded
live during the tour, with Powell...
Gotee recording artist Out Of Eden has partnered with Interlinc
to create the Out of Eden This Is Your Life Girls' Event. According to Interlinc's
founder, Allen Weed, this will be the most focused comprehensive curriculum his company has ever created
for young women. "Out of Eden has extremely significant things to say for teen girls," affirms Weed. "I've been doing this
for a long time and I haven't seen an artist that says it in as relevant a way as they do. And while most
church youth are young women, most directors are men. With the "Out of Eden Girls' Event"
we are giving youth workers and parents a poignant tool that will allow them to teach and connect with
girls in a way that most of them never have." Interlinc describes the "Out of Eden This Is Your Life Girls' Event" as "the perfect weekend retreat or six week series to help girls in youth groups discover Biblical principles essential to live in their crazy world." Additionally, the event is perfect for a comprehensive "at home" study for parents to use with their daughters. The six part series will cover Personal Destiny and Purpose; Security and Acceptance; Modesty and Fashion; Dating and Sexual Purity; Abuse; and Parental Relationships.
Now that dc Talk's Free At Last The Movie is finally
preparing to hit the streets after being shelved for seven years,
some want to know what the biggest obstacles were in actually filming the
movie. Director/producer Ken Carpenter comments, “The biggest challenge was
to get them to forget that there was four or five cameras around at any
given time. I think we did achieve that. I think they did let us in.” That
movie hits stores on December 17th.
Before Tait's show this past Saturday in Columbus, MS, the band spent a
few hours at "Kids Growing in Christ" after school program. The band played
a few songs, and watched the kids do some skits and sing a song for them.
The program is a safe place for kids ages 7-12 to go and be ministered to,
tutored and learn more about God. After attending the school program in Columbus, MS, Tait performed to a
packed auditorium on the campus grounds. The very next day (Sunday), a
tornado ripped through the campus, killing two of the students. Initially,
Tait’s show was scheduled for Sunday, but had been rescheduled a month
earlier. If not for the schedule change, Tait would have been there when
the tornado hit...
Audio Adrenaline's drummer Ben Cissell
and his wife recently sold their house
and are getting ready to make the move. In between helping his wife out
with setting up house, Ben has been spending his time off the road in
downtown Nashville helping construct a new skate park for the
soon-to-be-opened Rocketown youth club. Look for Rocketown Nashville to
open in January of 2003.
When The Benjamin Gate lead singer, Adrienne Leisching, came off the road from
Festival Con Dios, she was surprised to find out that a family of skunks had
made their home underneath the house that she shares with four other girls.
Evidently, the skunks were “marking their territory” and Adrienne came home
to find out that all of her clothes and everything in her room smelled like
a skunk! “I have to wash everything before I put it on or you can smell me
a mile away,” Adrienne smirked.
After touring the states with her successful Worship God Tour, Rebecca St. James and
the rest of the tour will be taking their act overseas. Today the
tour will be traveling to Europe to kick off their European leg of the tour
which will take them to 14 countries in less than 2 months. Before leaving
the States, however, Rebecca got a surprise before she went on stage for her
recent show in Dallas, TX. Rebecca was caught off guard when she realized a
friend of hers from Australia made the trip across the ocean to see her
perform. Rebecca later commented that that was the biggest surprise she had
since her Grandmother made the trip to the States to celebrate Rebecca’s
25th birthday with her. In other RSJ news, Rebecca graces the cover of this month's Living With
Teen’s magazine from Lifeway. Check it out to find out what it is like growing up in a
big family like Rebecca’s.
Jars of Clay readies for the release of their fifth album on
Essential/Silvertone Records. The two-disc set titled Furthermore - From The Studio: From The Stage
features an acoustic disc with 11 songs - eight new arrangements of Jars of Clay favorites, plus three new songs recorded in the band’s own Sputnik Studio. The second disc, recorded on “The Eleventh Hour Tour,” offers 10 cuts recorded in a live setting. Furthermore - From The Studio: From The Stage will release through Provident/BMG Feb. 4, 2003.
Jars of Clay members, Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason and Matt Odmark, offer fans a unique look into their inspired recording process. “It has taken us a long time to get to the place where we felt comfortable recording a live album. It was something we avoided when our fans would ask us when we would make one. Finally, after recording ‘The Eleventh Hour’ we felt like we had the right collection of songs that would translate into a powerful live listening experience. This combination is the best of what we do live, whether it is in the acoustic performances from Sputnik, or the arena performances of this last tour, we have tried to give our most passionate live performances to date. We hope it was worth the wait.”
P.O.D.'s lead vocalist Sonny will have his handwritten lyrics for their #1 song,
"Youth of the Nation" soon put up in the Lyric Room
at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.
The illustrious Lyric Room features original lyrics from
rock 'n roll greats like Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and
Paul Simon. In addition to this, Sonny's jump suit from the "Boom" video
was placed in a case at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas this
week.
Third Day's bassist Tai Anderson recently made the following announcement for pending new material
from the band: "If you guys have been on the boards lately you might have picked up on some little rumours going around. Rumour #1, we shot for a Come Together DVD in Ft. Myers, Florida. Rumour # 2, we are recording the concerts to get some live material for an Offerings II.
Well, let me set the record straight. It's all true.
The show in Florida was great. This DVD will be even better than the first. The live recording is going
great. We're going to shake up the set list to try and get some fresh stuff." Stay tuned right here
for more info as we get it! You can currently check out the guys on tour with Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado on the
Come Together and Worship Tour!
Gotee Records recording artist John Reuben recently had his
new album, Hindsight, serviced to mainstream college radio stations. After only one week at radio,
the album was the #2 most added hip hop record in the country (even beating out The Roots) according to the
CMJ New Music Report. Reuben has followed-up this week by returning strong on the hip hop most adds list
at #5, and in just two weeks has accumulated 29 Hip Hop adds and 41 Top 200 adds, and is expected to
chart next week.
Audio Adrenaline continues to make a splash with their first
#1 AC hit, “Ocean Floor.” Last week, the song also topped the CHR charts, marking the first time Audio
Adrenaline has ever had the same song reach the #1 spot on multiple formats.
Since it hit radio waves nearly six months ago, “Ocean Floor” has steadily impacted CHR and AC radio
across the country and continues to do so. Adam Frase from 106.7 WCTL in Erie, PA, comments on the band’s
continued success at radio, "Audio Adrenaline crafts great music with introspective, relatable lyrics...
bottom line, Audio Adrenaline creates songs our listeners connect with." As their current album, Lift,
continues to make waves, and after three months on the road with Festival Con Dios, the guys are finally
able to get back in the studio to finish up their next release. They
have been locked up in the studio this week and will spend much of next week
putting the final touches on their 9th release with ForeFront.
Be looking for the new one from Audio Adrenaline, tentatively titled
Worldwide, to hit stores on February 25, 2003.
Amid a flurry of national publicity, the highly anticipated, co-billed
“Come Together and Worship Tour” featuring Michael W. Smith,
Third Day and very special guest Max Lucado,
exceeded expectations, selling out two of the first four concerts that played before nearly 60,000 fans
during its first week on the road. The tour that NBC’s Today Show co-host Matt Lauer called,
“one of the biggest concert tours of the Fall” began at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on Friday, Nov. 1,
where Michael W. Smith, Third Day and Max Lucado performed before a crowd of almost 18,000. The Nov. 2
concert was also at capacity with almost 17,000 in ticket sales at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., while
the Nov. 3 concert at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tenn., had a showing of almost 12,000.
The Nov. 4 performance at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC) Arena in Birmingham, Ala., marked
the final show of the tour’s first set of markets, where seats were filled with over 10,000 people.
Gotee records’ modern punk rock group Relient K is #3 with
more than 83,000 votes on the Channel One list for "All Request Thursday," beating out Justin
Timberlake, No Doubt, and Lifehouse! Fans go online and vote for the artist whose music they’d most
like to hear on each weeks shows. To check out the voting process, go to: http://www.channelone.com/music/articles/all.request.thursday/
In related news, Relient K's "Pressing On" is featured in the new Nintendo GameCube game
"Big Air Freestyle". It¹s a motor cross game that features 20 different
tracks, 6 freestyle arenas, multi-player head to head action, and 10
different riders. Check out http://www.bigairfreestyle.com Rated T.
Skillet has been named as a “Christian artist that will rock you,
whether you’re a Christian or not” in the December issue of Seventeen magazine. With a monthly circulation
of more than 2.3 million, the general market publication providing teenage girls with the latest information
on entertainment, fashion and life highlights the Christian Rock industry and its fans. Along with one of
the genre’s hottest bands, Skillet, other acts recognized include Delirious?, Toby Mac, Relient K, Katy
Hudson, Superchic[k] and Mary Mary. “Over the last couple of years, Skillet has established itself as a
core Christian Rock band reaching the youth culture,” says Ardent president John Fry. “Seventeen’s notice
is further evidence that the band’s messages are relevant and appealing to an ever-widening audience.”
Stacie Orrico has a brand new song called
"That's The Way (God Planned It)" which will appear on the upcoming release,
T.D. Jakes presents God's Leading Ladies. The song is a remake of the Billy
Preston classic and was produced by Michael-Anthony “Mooki” Taylor. The
God's Leading Ladies CD will hit stores on November 19, and also features
appearances from Out Of Eden, Janna Long (from Avalon), Patti LaBelle, Helen
Baylor and more. Of her opportunity to contribute to this landmark release,
Stacie said, “I’m actually the baby of all of these artists, but I am so
honored to be included with such artists like Patti LaBelle. I’ve been
inspired by her for years”. For more information and to hear a sample of
"That's The Way (God Planned It)", check out www.EMIGospel.com
tobyMac’s current video, “Irene,” is getting some great airplay on both
Christian and mainstream outlets. Here’s tobyMac’s take on the song.
“Feeling like she let everyone down: her friends, her parents and even God,
by getting pregnant and then dropping out of school her senior year, Irene
felt like a failure. Shattered hopes and dreams left her with regret as she
surrendered to the fact that she would never really shine again. But the
same courage she showed in choosing life for this child, gave her the
strength to turn her face back toward God. ‘Hush little baby, don’t you
cry. Daddy’s gonna sing you a lullabye. Everything’s gonna be alright, the
Lord’s gonna answer your prayer tonight.’ In my mind, I can hear Him in a
loving father’s tone whispering, ‘I still have hopes and dreams for you.
You are still mine, I will always love you….Irene.’”
Speaking of Third Day, the quintet
recently completed the final leg of its highly-touted, best-selling “Come Together Tour,” which traveled to
76 cities nationwide. The blockbuster tour broke attendance records across the country and became the
biggest tour in Third Day’s history, placing the band in front of more than 300,000 fans throughout the
spring and fall of 2002, and ranking it among the most successful tours in Christian music history.
While on tour, Third Day continued to make a major impact through its partnership with Habitat for Humanity
International. Ticket sales from the “Come Together Tour” raised more than $228,000 for Habitat for
Humanity, and Third Day members participated in several home-builds for the organization while out on the
road, including one with former president Jimmy Carter in South Africa. Additionally, Third Day met
regularly with pastors and youth leaders from local area churches in an effort to inform and educate
church leaders about Habitat’s efforts across the country.
Ardent Records top rock band Skillet is standing firm against
the rumors that front man John Cooper appeared in a Keystone Light Beer television
commercial. For weeks, discussions on the endorsement rose as panheads, a designation established by and
for Skillet fans, posted their questions and comments relating to the advertisement on the band’s
www.alienyouth.com website. Although no band member, management or label representative has seen the
commercial, reports state that an actor resembling John Cooper and bearing the moniker, “Skillet,” appears
in the ad. “I suppose I should start by dispelling the rumor that Skillet is advertising beer in a TV
commercial,” Cooper affirms on the website. “We started getting e-mails this week saying that people were
seeing me in this commercial… I have yet to see it, but my understanding is that there is a gorgeous hunk
(joke) that looks like me and his nickname, for whatever reason, is ‘Skillet.’ I just wanted to inform
everyone that we are not in any way advertising for this or any beer, nor would we ever do such a thing.”
This rumor is a month or two old, but this statement was officially released this week. Skillet fans are
unanimously and wisely dismissing the rumor as incorrect as it seems unfathomable that Skillet would
appear in a beer commercial.
Caedmon's Call recently completed the recording of its fifth
album, Back Home, slated to be in stores Feb. 4. The self-produced project finds the Houston-based
band trusting its creative instincts to make a record reminiscent of its beginnings, while reflecting the
group's growth over the last 10 years. In contrast to 2000's Long Line of Leavers, which lent itself
to musical experimentation, and In The Company of Angels, last year's special-event worship record,
Back Home reemphasizes the group's foundation as an eclectic, folk-influenced live band. Back Home
is a self-produced project, demonstrating a musical and spiritual maturity culled from a decade's worth
of artistic influences and experiences. "Over the last ten years, numerous people have contributed to the
development of Caedmon's Call," comments Cliff Young, founding member and lead vocalist for the band.
"On this project, we've incorporated into our music the best of everything we've been through spiritually
and musically to get to where we are now. When it comes down to it, Back Home is simply Caedmon's
being Caedmon's."
Michael W. Smith's Worship Again debuted at No. 1
on Soundscan's Christian Sales chart. The album also debuted at No. 14 on Billboard's Top 200, marking his
highest debut on this chart. This also marks the first time Michael has had two albums in the top 100 at
the same time. (Worship sits at No. 100), making him the only artist across genres this week with
two albums in the top 100. CCM Magazine recently interviewed Smitty posing the question about
his motives for releasing a follow-up to the hugely successful Worship. CCM reported,
"With a tone that was very forthright, Smith had the following to say: 'Don't be cynical. Listen to the
record. Let it speak for itself. For me, I think I can positively say it's authentic, and I think the
bottom line is that I can't change people's minds, Smith comments. 'I've got a good team of spiritual
advisers that help me hold this thing together, and I feel I had the right kind of heart when I did the record.
And that's all I can say at that point. I'm the one who's going to have to stand before God in the
end and answer to Him.'"
Steven Curtis Chapman will release his thirteenth project,
All About Love, his most diverse musically and lyrically to date, on January 28th, 2003.
Produced by Brown Bannister and Steven Curtis Chapman and executive produced by Chapman’s wife,
Mary Beth Chapman, All About Love showcases twelve new songs, plus a re-recorded version
of his hit “I Will Be Here.” All the songs were written by Chapman, except the project’s two cover songs,
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” recorded by the Scottish duo The Proclaimers, and “I’ll Take Care of You,”
originally performed by Ronnie Milsap. All the songs communicate one central theme – LOVE.
Chapman explains, “We love God best when we love each other well. I made this recording for the same
reason I make all the music I’ve made through the years, to share my journey of exploring and experiencing
the grace of God as it shows up in every part of life.
“Ultimately, this recording is a celebration of what I still believe to be one of the most mysterious,
wonderful, exciting, challenging and beautiful of all the good gifts God created for us – to enjoy and
experience true love.”
The majority of the new songs, recorded in record time of just four days at a Los Angeles studio,
transpired from love notes and cards that Chapman had written to Mary Beth during their 18 years of
marriage.
“I’ve always written songs about her, to her, about what I’m learning from our relationship together,”
Chapman explains. “And I kept in the back of my mind that one of these days I just want to make an
album of those songs. I want to do a whole record of songs about this incredible, wonderful mystery
that God has invited us into called relationships with each other. So finally, the time has come
for me to do that.”
While Festival Con Dios makes its last stop in Lakeland, FL, the Audio
Adrenaline guys will be boarding a plane and heading down to the Bahamas to
continue their “traveling” photo shoot. The guys have been taking time
while on Festival Con Dios to stop at unique and recognizable locations
along the tour to get some fun and unusual photos for their upcoming
February release, tentatively titled Worldwide.
First he tamed "The Angry Eyebrows," then he matched egos with "The Alchemist" - now Larryboy
is back to face his most villainous villain ever... "The Yodelnapper!" From the creators of the best-selling
VeggieTales children's video collection, comes the third installment in the all-new, cartoon
adventures filled with valuable lessons, side-splitting laughs and lots of veggies that has become a hit
with kids and families across the country. To date, over 300,000 units of Larryboy have sold
through to consumers this year, making the new direct-to-video series second only to VeggieTales
on the sales charts with an over 20% market share for 2002 according to Soundscan.
Scheduled for release on November 23, 2002, Larryboy - The Yodelnapper! will be distributed by
EMI Chordant on both VHS and DVD at Christian bookstores nationwide.
 The Choir Drops Surprise New Album, "Translucent"Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:25:00 EST |
| Grimscythe Premiere New Single and Playthrough Video for "From Ashes Ascend" Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:05:00 EST |
| Kirk Cameron Announces 2025 Strong Families, Strong Communities Tour with Matt Hammitt Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:55:00 EST |
| Jason Lovins Band Celebrates 20th Anniversary with "Pilgrim Road" Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:55:00 EST |
| Backdrop Entertainement Celebrates Anniversary and New Team Member Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:50:00 EST |
| Elan Brio Cherishes the Simple Things With New Single Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:40:00 EST |
| Procyse and Dave A. Drop First Single From Coming Collab Project Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:35:00 EST |
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Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)
