Description
WoW 1998, sub-titled The Year’s 30 Top Christian Artists And Songs, is a multi-artist double disc compilation released in co-operation by EMI Christian Music Group, Word Entertainment, and Provident Music Distribution in 1997. Marketed and manufactured by Sparrow Communications Group.
WoW 1998
With all the great Christian music available today, where do you go to get a sample of the best? You’re looking at it. WoW 1998 contains 30 of the coolest songs we could find, from the industry’s hottest artists and some fabulous new artists you may not have heard yet.
WoW 1998 includes brand new songs from Amy Grant, Carman, Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, Third Day, Twila Paris and more. OK, so the music’s great … but there’s more to it. This is music that can make an eternal difference.
WoW 1996 and 1997 have been monstrous successes, selling over a million units! Now comes WoW 1998. Share it with a friend.
A portion of the royalties from the sale of this recording will benefit the CMTA and Gospel Music Association. [A note printed on the back of the CD]
If you want an introduction into the best of CCM, there’s no better place to start than right here. A calling card for Nashville CCM featuring established artists like Jars Of Clay, SCC, Newsboys, Petra (described incidentally in Rolling Stone magazine’s review of “WOW ’97” as “a hell of a pop metal band”! Not quite the kind of endorsement the band will be putting on future tour posters!), Gary Chapman, Twila Paris as well as a smattering of newer artists, Caedmon’s Call, Third Day, Out Of Eden and Jaci Velasquez. In the USA, the “WOW series” are amongst the biggest selling albums in the industry, each a million seller and with quality like this it is not hard to see why. What happens is that America’s three largest Christian record labels join forces and put their best acts on the disc and then watch the cash roll in! Having said that, this is a great way to check out artists and it’s hard to nail down the standout tracks because the album is chocker with classics! However, I can say I especially like the new Amy tune «Carry You» because it’s unreleased and proves that contrary to yet more rumours, she hasn’t backslidden! I like BeBe & CeCe’s sanctified version of «Up Where We Belong» but then I’m just a schmuck for an inspiring tune! “WOW ’98” also gives you a welcome preview of the new Michael W Smith album with «Missing Person» but mysteriously there’s some stuff that’s way past its sell by date. DC Talk’s «Coloured People» could have been on “WOW ’96” and the choice of Audio Adrenaline’s old «Man Of God» defies all logic when they could have chosen a hot cut off their brilliant new album. The sound you can hear is the distant ker-ching of cash registers as EMI et al executives rub their hands in glee. A veritable hit and if you want to discover a pile of great CCM artists, you’d be off your head not to buy it! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, February 1998]
> Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/0HH4yjfKjqSA16WSrwJo8P)
2CD tracklist:
Disc One – Red Disc
1-01. Jars Of Clay – Overjoyed – 2:57 (from the album Much Afraid)
1-02. dc Talk – Colored People – 4:26 (from the album Jesus Freak)
1-03. Caedmon’s Call – Hope To Carry On – 2:46 (from the album Caedmon’s Call)
1-04. Rebecca St. James – Abba (Father) – 5:20 (from the album God)
1-05. Third Day – My Hope Is You – 4:18 (from the album Conspiracy No. 5)
1-06. Michael W. Smith – Missing Person – 5:09 (from the album Live the Life)
1-07. Audio Adrenaline – Man Of God – 4:18 (from the album Bloom)
1-08. Out Of The Grey – Disappear – 5:33 (from the album (see inside))
1-09. Carman – Mission 3:16 – 4:14 (from the album Mission 3:16)
1-10. Newsboys – Reality – 3:08 (from the album Take Me to Your Leader)
1-11. Jaci Velasquez – We Can Make A Difference – 3:49 (from the album Heavenly Place)
1-12. Crystal Lewis – People Get Ready… Jesus Is Comin! – 6:01 (from the album Beauty for Ashes)
1-13. Clay Crosse – Saving The World – 4:23 (from the album Stained Glass)
1-14. Petra – We Need Jesus – 4:12 (from the album Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus)
1-15. Out Of Eden – More Than You Know – 3:59 (from the album More Than You Know)
Disc Two – Black Disc
2-01. Steven Curtis Chapman – Let Us Pray – 3:57 (from the album Signs of Life)
2-02. Point Of Grace – Circle Of Friends – 4:14 (from the album Life Love & Other Mysteries)
2-03. Bob Carlisle – On My Way To Paradise – 4:15 (from the album Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace))
2-04. Amy Grant – Carry You – 4:49 (previously unreleased)
2-05. 4Him – The Measure Of A Man – 4:04 (from the album The Message)
2-06. Avalon – Give It Up – 3:44 (from the album Avalon)
2-07. Kathy Troccoli – I Call Him Love – 3:59 (from the album Love & Mercy)
2-08. Anointed – Adore You – 3:58 (from the album Under the Influence)
2-09. Phillips, Craig & Dean – Just One – 3:09 (from the album Where Strength Begins)
2-10. Bebe & Cece Winans – Up Where We Belong – 5:02 (from the album Greatest Hits)
2-11. Susan Ashton – You Move Me – 5:11 (from the album A Distant Call)
2-12. Sandi Patty – Breathe On Me – 3:30 (from the album Artist of my Soul)
2-13. Gary Chapman – One Of Two – 4:56 (from the album Shelter)
2-14. Bryan Duncan – A Whisper Heard Around The World – 4:26 (from the album Blue Skies)
2-15. Twila Paris – My Utmost For His Highest – 4:05 (previously unreleased)
Note: Simultaneously released as a double cassette and a double disc CD.
Album liners notes:
DISC 1
1. Jars of Clay – Overjoyed (Essential Records)
After selling nearly two million copies of their debut album, Jars of Clay rockets to the next level of musical excellence with their sophomore release, Much Afraid, featuring this track which speaks poetically about out response to the way God views us.
2. dc Talk – Colored People (ForeFront Communications)
From their supersonic live concerts to their intensely passionate brand of rock recordings, dc Talk is determined to challenge our culture to look beyond the color of a person’s skin and to see the heart within.
3. Caedmon’s Call – Hope to Carry On (Warner Alliance)
As on of the most popular bands on the college circuit, Caedmon’s Call went big-time with widespread distribution of their self-titled project in 1997. After recording numerous independent projects, they scored big with this album and its cover of the Rich Mullins tune, “Hope To Carry On.”
4. Rebecca St. James – Abba (Father) (ForeFront Communications)
After her 1994 debut album secured her a handful of hits and a New Artist Dove nomination, she partnered with producer Tedd T. and delivered her latest project, God. This song speaks of the faithfulness of God in an extremely creative and spontaneous manner.
5. Third Day – My Hope Is You (Reunion Records)
After being nominated for the ’97 New Artist Dove for the amazing success of the unique brand of rock found on their self-titled debut album, Third Day cranks it up to ten with a more aggressive modern rock sound for their newest release, Conspiracy No. 5.
6. Michael W. Smith – Missing Person (Reunion Records)
As one of Christian music’s top-selling male artists, Michael W. Smith proves again with his latest project that he has his finger on the pulse of the needs of tomorrow’s leaders through his ability to encourage evangelism among young people.
7. Audio Adrenaline – Man of God (ForeFront Communications)
With their straight-ahead modern rock, catchy hooks and singable choruses, Audio Adrenaline is aiming straight to the hearts of their generation. AA confesses with jolting honesty the difficulty of being a “Man of God” with this cut from their smash album Bloom
8. Out of the Grey – Disappear (Sparrow Records)
This husband and wife duo, Scott and Christine Dente, deliver the album of their career with See Inside. “Disappear” combines their poetic songwriting with Christine’s signature vocal styling and Scott’s guitar prowess to express a desire to be lost in the glory of God.
9. Carman – Mission 3:16 (Sparrow Records)
From record-breaking concert attendance and album sales to dramatic musical story-telling, Carman never settles for being predictable. His newest project, Mission 3:16, continues Carman’s evangelical, crusade-oriented ministry to encourage the church and spread the gospel, no holds barred.
10. Newsboys – Reality (Star Song Records)
With clever lyrical crafting, Christian rock music’s Newsboys deliver this contemporary telling of the Prodigal Son story taken from the gold-selling Take Me To Your Leader album. “Reality” was also the basis for their first feature film, Down Under the Big Top.
11. Jaci Velasquez – We Can Make A Difference (Myrrh Records)
Her debut album, A Heavenly Place, scored Jaci Velasquez a handful of #1 hits, as well as the ’97 Dove for New Artist of the Year. “We Can Make A Difference” is an encouragement to reach out and impact the world around us with the love of Christ.
12. Crystal Lewis – People Get Ready… Jesus is Comin’ (Myrrh Records)
She was Christian music’s best kept secret … at least until the release of her fourteenth album, Beauty For Ashes. She’s a favorite on the crusade circuit with her contemporary brand of praise pop, exemplified on this tune, a compelling call for people to be prepared for the return of Christ.
13. Clay Crosse – Saving the World (Reunion Records)
Clay Crosse is one of the most soulful vocalists on the scene, perhaps due in part to his Memphis roots. On this third album, Stained Glass, Clay cranks out a soulful-rock tune that gives a description of the highlights of the life of Christ.
14. Petra – We Need Jesus (Word Records)
As a follow-up to their gold-selling Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out project, Christian music’s top-selling rock band releases Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus, with its anthemic title tune featuring Lou Gramm of Foreigner and John Elefante, former lead singer of Kansas.
15. Out of Eden – More Than You Know (Gotee Records)
These three sisters combine their voices to deliver straight-ahead R&B/pop. On this title track from their second album, the girls’ sweet vocals sit atop a stomping track that speaks of God’s love for us being greater than we could ever imagine.
DISC 2
1. Steven Curtis Chapman – Let Us Pray (Sparrow Records)
After ten years of music ministry, Steven Curtis Chapman is a continual favorite, writing music that takes a daily walk with Christ to a deeper level, as he does here in his anthem to the importance of prayer, taken from his gold-selling Signs of Life project.
2. Point of Grace – Circle of Friends (Word Redcords)
Some people have a hard time getting a top ten hit. Point of Grace has not … every single released has gone number one. From their Grammy and Dove nominated, gold-selling third album, Life, Love and Other Mysteries, Point of Grace offers up this ode to the common bond found between fellow believers.
3. Bob Carlisle – On My Way to Paradise (Diadem Music Group)
From the multi-platinum album, Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace), comes this soulful, visionary hit, delivered with a light, pop-groove. With trademark soaring vocals and introspective songwriting, Carlisle expresses the hope of a future walking on the streets of gold in heaven.
4. Amy Grant – Carry You (Myrrh Records)
After two decades of making music, Amy Grant is continually a favorite of music fans around the world. The song, “Carry You,” is a previously unreleased track recorded during the sessions for her Behind The Eyes project.
5. 4HIM – The Measure of A Man (Benson Music Group)
4Him delivers up this stirring testimony with the importance of what’s found on the inside being the determination of a man’s success. Taken from The Message, 4Him’s contemporary four-part harmonies and straight-forward lyrics make them a favorite of all ages.
6. Avalon – Give It Up (Sparrow Records)
Imagine a combination of smooth, groovin’ synth-pop with four of the best vocalists you’ve ever heard and you’ve got Avalon. This new group has scored a handful of number one radio hits, including “Give It Up” which talks about how important it is to give up control to God.
7. Kathy Troccoli – I Call Him Love (Reunion Records)
This song from her latest project, Love & Mercy, demonstrates Kathy’s ability to keep God-focused pop music contemporary and relevant to all walks of life.
8. Anointed – Adore You (Myrrh Records)
This Grammy nominated and multiple Stellar and Dove Award winning trio chalks up another hit with “Adore You.” Anointed’s smooth R&B/pop harmonies and effortless vocal stylings make this song a highlight from their third album, Under the Influence.
9. Phillips, Craig & Dean – Just One (Star Song Records)
These three guys pastor three different churches … when they’re not off doing concerts and recording albums. “Just One” is the first #1 hit from their fourth album, Where Strength Begins, and continues their tradition of setting the Christian walk to music with energetic three-part harmonies and contemporary pop arrangements.
10. BeBe & CeCe Winans – Up Where We Belong (Sparrow Records)
Respected as ground-breaking solo performers, BeBe & CeCe Winans are one of the most popular sibling duos in musical history. This newly recorded version of the song that began their career, featured on their Greatest Hits album, turns this popular movie theme into a prayer to God.
11. Susan Ashton – You Move Me (Sparrow Records)
As one of Christian music’s favorite female vocalists, Susan Ashton is able to pull every nuance from a lyric, taking the listener down roads rarely traveled. This track from A Distant Call sings of God’s power to move us out of our comfort zones.
12. Sandi Patty – Breathe On Me (Word Records)
Sandi Patty is one of the most critically-acclaimed vocalists in any genre of music, perhaps because of her delicate expressiveness combined with her powerful, soaring vocal strength. “Breathe On Me” is from her latest project, Artist of My Soul.
13. Gary Chapman – One Of Two (Reunion Records)
With his Shelter release, Gary Chapman has firmly established himself as one of the top male vocalists in Christian music. On “One of Two,” Gary is joined by his well-known spouse, Amy Grant, singing together of the power of God to take two lives and make them one.
14. Bryan Duncan – A Whisper Heard Around The World (Myrrh Records)
Bryan Duncan is always a favorite with his slamming vocals, comic personality, expressive delivery and songs that bring hope and light into day to day faith struggles, like this one from his Blue Skies project.
15. Twila Paris – My Utmost For His Highest (Word Records)
Sparrow Recording artist Twila Paris enlisted the help of Steven Curtis Chapman, Sandi Patty, Bryan Duncan, Cindy Morgan and Avalon on this previously unreleased radio anthem. What results is a challenge to live life completely for God.
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