Hymns (Michael W. Smith album)
| Hymns | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 24, 2014 | |||
| Length | 53:00 | |||
| Label | Provident | |||
| Producer | Kyle Lee, Jim Daneker | |||
| Michael W. Smith chronology | ||||
| ||||
Hymns is a studio album by Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith, released exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on March 24, 2014.[1] The album consists of Smith's rendition of traditional hymns, including many that he sang at church when he was young.[1]
The album won 2014 Dove Award for "Inspirational Album of the Year".[2]
This was Smith's last album to be distributed by Provident before beginning his new contract with Capitol CMG.
Commercial performance[edit]
The album debuted at No. 24 on the US Billboard 200, selling 12,000 copies in its first week of release.[3] According to Nielsen SoundScan, it was the best-selling Christian music album for the week of April 19, 2014.[4]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Old Rugged Cross" | George Bennard | 4:02 |
| 2. | "My Jesus, I Love Thee" | William R. Featherston | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Were You There" | C. Winfred Douglas | 3:21 |
| 4. | "Victory in Jesus" | E.M. Bartlett | 3:46 |
| 5. | "How Great Thou Art" | Stuart K. Hine | 4:21 |
| 6. | "Just As I Am" | Charlotte Elliott | 3:12 |
| 7. | "Near the Cross" | Fanny Crosby | 3:36 |
| 8. | "It is Well" | Horatio Spafford | 5:05 |
| 9. | "Softly and Tenderly" | Will L. Thompson | 3:20 |
| 10. | "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" | Isaac Watts | 3:34 |
| 11. | "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" | Joseph M. Scriven | 4:07 |
| 12. | "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" (Selah cover) | Dawn Rodgers and Eric Wyse | 3:20 |
| 13. | "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" | Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan | 3:53 |
| 14. | "God of Our Fathers" | Daniel C. Roberts | 2:23 |
| 15. | "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" | Peter C. Lutkin | 1:40 |
| Total length: | 53:00 | ||
Personnel[edit]
- Michael W. Smith – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1-14), Hammond B3 organ (1-5, 10, 14)
- Kyle Lee – keyboards (1-5, 10, 14), programming (1-5, 10, 14), backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Jim Daneker – keyboards (6-13), programming (6-13), Hammond B3 organ (6-13), accordion (6-13), steel guitar (6-13), bass (6-13), cello (6-13), strings (6-13), brass (6-13), backing vocals (6-13)
- Cody Kilby – acoustic guitar (1-5, 10, 14)
- Kyle Aaron – acoustic guitar (6-13), banjo (6-13), mandolin (6-13), ukulele (6-13), fiddle solo (6)
- Micah Wilshire – electric guitars (6-13)
- Rob Ickes – dobro (1-5, 10, 14)
- Andy Leftwich – mandolin (1-5, 10, 14), fiddle (1-5, 10, 14)
- Jake Johnson – upright bass (1-5, 10, 14)
- Tony Morra – drums (6-13)
- Paul Cookson – orchestral percussion (6-13)
- Elliot Eicheldinger – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Roger Jaeger – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Haley Johnson – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Richard Jordan – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Julie Kelitonic – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Lara Landon – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Shelly Lee – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Racheal Mann – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Jared Martin – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Ryan Rose – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Jessie Sellers – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Morgan Shirley – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Rhyan Shirley – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Johnathan Warren – backing vocals (1-5, 10, 14)
- Janice Gaines – backing vocals (3)
- Gale Mayes – backing vocals (3)
- Debi Selby – backing vocals (3)
- Laura Cooksey – backing vocals (6-13)
- Phil King – backing vocals (6-13)
- Katie Rees – backing vocals (6-13)
- Stephen Rees – backing vocals (6-13), fiddle solo (11)
- Mercy Stevens – backing vocals (6-13)
- The Brentwood Baptist Worship Choir – choir (14)
Production[edit]
- Chaz Corzine – executive producer
- Greg Ham – executive producer
- Jim Daneker – producer (1-14), recording (6-13), mixing (6-13)
- Kyle Lee – producer (1-14), recording (1-5, 10, 14), mixing (1-5, 10, 14, 15)
- Michael W. Smith – producer (15)
- Brad Pooler – engineer (15)
- Bob Boyd – mastering
- Rebecca Jones – packaging coordinator
- Russ Harrington – photography
Studios
- Recorded at The Whine Cellar (Spring Hill, Tennessee).
- Engineered at The Court (Franklin, Tennessee).
- Mixed at The Whine Cellar and The Court.
- Mastered at Ambient Digital (Houston, Texas).
Chart performance[edit]
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[5] | 25 |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[6] | 1 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[7] | 5 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Michael W. Smith Announces Exclusive "Hymns" Release At Cracker Barrel". NewReleaseTuesday.com. March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
- ^ "Dove Awards 2014 Winners: Pre-Show Awards Given Out to Switchfoot, Skillet, Michael W. Smith, and More [LIST]". BREATHEcast. October 7, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 4, 2014). "Chart Moves: 'God's Not Dead' Sales Surge, London Grammar Gains, Karmin's Full-Length Arrives". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ "Christian Albums (link shows current list and at the bottom there's an archive for every week back to year 2000)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2016.