Description
Personal Worship is a studio album by the British worship singer and songwriter Stuart Townend, released on Kingsway Music in August 1999. The album was recorded and mixed by Dave Lynch at ICC Studios in Eastbourne, England; with Malcolm DuPlessis and Stuart Townend producing. Additional engineering by Paul Burton. Edited by Matt Rowbottom. All instruments by Stuart Townend. All songs written by Stuart Townend except track 8 featuring lyrics by hymn lyricist Daniel Webster Whittle (with additional lyrics by Stuart Townend) and track 11 written by Viola Grafström.
“Coming back to the heart of worship…” Eavesdrop on the personal worship of Stoneleigh worship leader and songwriter Stuart Townend. This album is the first of a unique new series that moves away from the complexity and ‘occasion’ of the large event or polished studio recording, back to the honest, simple beauty of the individual at worship, with solo voice and spare accompaniment.
Perfect for your own personal worship time, or for small groups. Includes ten brand new songs from one of the UK’s most gifted and respected Christian songwriters. [A note printed on the back of the CD]
This album has certainly been something of an adventure into new territory! I love the large worship events like Stoneleigh, and the recordings that come out from them. I also approve of the ever increasing quality of studio worship albums, and the degree of skill and excellence that goes into making them. But recently God’s really challenged me to step out into the vulnerability of what Matt Redman so beautifully expressed in a recent song: ‘the heart of worship… [where] all is stripped away… and I simply come’.
That’s really what we’ve tried to do on this album: simple, sparse accompaniment, and occasionally no accompaniment at all; just sung words of worship to the Giver of life, to whom we owe everything. My prayer is that these songs and this recording will be a useful tool in the simplicity and humility of your own personal worship.
I’d like to thank all the people involved in this project, especially Mallie du Plessis, who started us off down this road in the first place, and who has been the greatest encourager anyone could have in making a scary album like this! Also, all my love and appreciation to Caroline, Emma and Eden for letting me loose to get the job done. And of course to the friendship, support and commitment of the whole Kingsway team.
– Stuart Townend [Album liner notes printed in the CD insert]
Mr Townend is, of course, the resident worship leader at the Stoneleigh Bible Weeks, and has many excellent songs to his credit, some of which have become P & W standards – «How Deep The Father’s Love», «My First Love», «Who Paints The Skies». So after all those live Stoneleigh albums, and his last studio project ‘Say The Word‘, Stuart has gone back to basics, and nearly all of these 12 tracks feature just piano or acoustic guitar. My white label review copy only lists the song titles, but there’s only two out of the 12 that I recognise as being not totally Townend compositions; Viola’s «We Bow Down», and a setting of El Nathan’s lyrics based on Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 1:12, «I Know Not Why». It’s refreshing to hear worship music with no twiddly bits, the singing and playing, as well as the songwriting, is of a high standard, and I was blessed to bits. Buy this one and share the experience! [Trevor Kirk, Cross Rhythms, December 1999]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/personal-worship/1792040581)
CD tracklist:
01. Like The Sunshine – 5:02
02. O My Soul, Arise And Bless Your Maker – 3:49
03. From The Squalor Of A Borrowed Stable (Immanuel) – 3:53
04. You’ve Placed A Hunger In My Heart – 2:58
05. Your Love (Pour Over Me) – 4:21
06. Please Let Me Stay – 3:45
07. Come, See This Glorious Light (Blessing and Honour) – 4:06
08. I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous Grace – 3:26
09. I’m Coming To The Cross Again (When You Touch Me) – 4:46
10. With His Hands – 3:10
11. We Bow Down – 2:52
12. Your Fragrance Is Lovely (So Beautiful) – 6:13
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