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| Source | Rating |
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| AllMusic | [1] |
House of Love is the eleventh studio album by Christian and Pop singer Amy Grant, released in 1994.
The album is the follow-up to her quintuple-platinum 1991 release Heart in Motion. Although House of Love sold less than half of what its predecessor sold, it similarly combines pop music with Christian values. "Lucky One" was the album's biggest hit at No. 18 Pop and No. 2 Adult Contemporary in the U.S., followed by the title song and a remake of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". "Say You'll Be Mine" also was a UK Top 50 hit. When it was released in 1994, House of Love was the biggest initial release in Christian music history, shipping almost a half million copies on its first day alone.
Copies of this album sold in Europe, Australia, and Japan feature the additional track "Politics of Kissing". Some of the album's other tracks garnered more notice later on when covered by other artists. "The Power" (written by Tommy Sims and Judson Spence) is featured on Cher's 1998 album Believe, and Vanessa Williams had an AC hit with her version of "Oh How the Years Go By" (written by Simon Climie and Will Jennings) from her 1997 album Next.
In 2007, House of Love was reissued and digitally remastered by Grant's new record label, EMI/Sparrow Records. The remastered edition is labeled with a "Digitally Remastered" logo in the 'gutter' on the CD front.[2]
On September 27, 2024, in celebration of the album's 30th anniversary, it was reissued in expanded form: the original 11-song album with the inclusion of the non-album b-sides ("Politics of Kissing" and "Life’s Gonna Change"), remixes, alternate mixes, and re-recordings of previously released songs. Released in two formats: a 2-CD/digital version and a 2-LP version with the non-album b-sides and selected track mixes from the 2-CD/digital version.[3]
Track listing
| Title | Writer(s) |
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| 1. | "Lucky One" | Amy Grant, Keith Thomas | 4:11 |
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| 2. | "Say You'll Be Mine" | Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Thomas | 4:04 |
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| 3. | "Whatever It Takes" | Grant, Gary Chapman, Thomas | 4:10 |
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| 4. | "House of Love" (duet with Vince Gill) | Greg Barnhill, Kenny Greenberg, Wally Wilson | 4:38 |
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| 5. | "The Power" | Tommy Sims, Judson Spence | 3:54 |
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| 6. | "Oh How the Years Go By" | Simon Climie, Will Jennings | 5:12 |
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| 7. | "Big Yellow Taxi" | Joni Mitchell | 3:01 |
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| 8. | "Helping Hand" | Grant, Beverly Darnall, Sims | 4:39 |
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| 9. | "Love Has a Hold On Me" | Grant, Thomas | 3:55 |
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| 10. | "Our Love" | Grant, Tom Hemby | 5:08 |
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| 11. | "Children of the World" | Grant, Kirkpatrick, Sims | 5:16 |
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- For the UK version of the album, the "Big Yellow Taxi" b-side "Politics of Kissing" is listed as track 9 (in between "Helping Hand" and "Love Has a Hold On Me") and "Say You'll Be Mine" (Radio Mix) is listed as track 13, closing out the album.
30th Anniversary Expanded Edition (disc one bonus tracks)[4]| Title | Writer(s) |
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| 12. | "House of Love" (Michael Omartian Version) | Barnhill, Greenberg, Wilson | 4:12 |
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| 13. | "Oh How the Years Go By" (Keith Thomas Version) | Climie, Jennings | 5:00 |
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30th Anniversary Expanded Edition (disc two)[4]| Title | Writer(s) |
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| 1. | "The Power" (2024 Version) | Sims, Spence | 3:30 |
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| 2. | "Helping Hand" (2024 Version) | Grant, Darnall, Sims | 4:24 |
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| 3. | "Politics of Kissing" ("Big Yellow Taxi" b-side) | Grant, Kirkpatrick, Clif Magness | 4:14 |
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| 4. | "Life's Gonna Change" ("Say You'll Be Mine" b-side) | Grant, Michael Omartian | 3:42 |
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| 5. | "House of Love" (The Classic Philly Soul Mix) | Barnhill, Greenberg, Wilson | 4:31 |
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| 6. | "Lucky One" (The Lucky Street Mix) | Grant, Thomas | 3:57 |
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| 7. | "Big Yellow Taxi" (The Alternate Paradise Mix) | Mitchell | 3:02 |
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| 8. | "House of Love" (The South Street Mix) | Barnhill, Greenberg, Wilson | 4:35 |
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| 9. | "Lucky One" (The A/C Rhythm Mix) | Grant, Thomas | 3:42 |
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| 10. | "Say You’ll Be Mine" (Radio Mix) | Grant, Kirkpatrick, Thomas | 3:37 |
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| 11. | "Lucky One" (Remix) | Grant, Thomas | 4:05 |
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| 12. | "Big Yellow Taxi" (The Paradise Mix) | Mitchell | 3:05 |
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| 13. | "Children of the World" / "Jesus Loves the Little Children" | Grant, Kirkpatrick, Sims / Traditional | 5:37 |
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| 14. | "Lucky One" (Kupper Radio) | Grant, Thomas | 3:41 |
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| 15. | "Oh How The Years Go By" (Radio Mix with Intro) | Climie, Jennings | 5:15 |
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| 16. | "Lucky One" (Kupper 12” Mix) | Grant, Thomas | 5:20 |
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| 17. | "Lucky One" (Churban 12” Mix) | Grant, Thomas | 5:42 |
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Personnel
- Amy Grant – vocals
- Keith Thomas – acoustic piano (1-3, 9), synthesizers (1-4, 9, 11), bass programming (1-3, 9), drum programming (1, 3), electric piano (4), additional synthesizer programming (5), percussion programming (9, 11)
- Phil Madeira – Hammond B3 organ (4, 11)
- Michael Omartian – keyboards (6-8, 10), drum sequencing (8), horn arrangements (8)
- Tom Hemby – keyboards (10), guitars (10), drum programming (10)
- Jerry McPherson – electric guitars (1, 3, 4, 11), guitars (7)
- Scott Denté – acoustic guitars (1, 11)
- Will Owsley – acoustic guitars (1, 5)
- Dann Huff – electric guitars (2), guitars (6, 8), acoustic guitar (9)
- Kenny Greenberg – acoustic guitars (4), electric guitars (4)
- Judson Spence – acoustic guitars (5)
- Brent Rowan – guitars (7), mandolin (7)
- Jerry Douglas – dobro (5)
- Gary Chapman – lap steel guitar (7)
- Tommy Sims – bass guitar (1, 4, 11), synthesizers (5), bass programming (5), drum programming (5)
- Danny O'Lannerghty – bass guitar (7)
- Mark Hammond – drum programming (1-3), drums (9)
- Chad Cromwell – drums (4, 11)
- Chris McHugh – drums (6, 7)
- Terry McMillan – percussion (4)
- Eric Darken – percussion (7)
- Mark Douthit – saxophone (8), soprano saxophone (10)
- Doug Moffett – saxophone (8)
- Mike Haynes – trumpet (8)
- George Tidwell – trumpet (8)
- Mark O'Connor – violin (11)
- Ronn Huff – string arrangements and conductor (5)
- Carl Gorodetzsky – string contractor (5)
- The Nashville String Machine – strings (5)
- Background vocalists
- Athena Cage – backing vocals (1, 3)
- Amy Grant – backing vocals (1, 2, 8, 11)
- Lisa Keith – backing vocals (1)
- Ada Dyer – backing vocals (2-5)
- Judson Spence – backing vocals (2-5)
- Audrey Wheeler – backing vocals (2-5)
- Vince Gill – guest vocals (4)
- Tommy Sims – backing vocals (5)
- Ashley Cleveland – backing vocals (6-8)
- Donna McElroy – backing vocals (6, 8)
- Michael Mellett – backing vocals (6-8)
- Lisa Bevill – backing vocals (7)
- Gary Chapman – backing vocals (7)
- Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (8)
- Choirs (Track 11)
- Beverly Darnall – choir contractor
- Leann Albrecht, Jackie Cusic, Butch Curry, Beverly Darnall, Gail Farrell, Rick Gibson, Lisa Glasgow, David Holloway, Sarah Huffman, Michael Mellett, Donny Monk, Ellen Musick, Guy Penrod, Gary Robinson, Beau Stroupe, Kristine Stroupe, Leah Taylor, Melodie Tunney, Scott Williamson and Chris Willis – adult choir
- Isaac Darnall, Katy Dunham, Lance High, Aubrey Hunt, Asher Larrison, Shannon Love, Trevor Matheison and Mary Catherine Musick – children choir
Production
- Brown Bannister – executive producer
- Michael Blanton – executive producer
- Amy Grant – executive producer
- Keith Thomas – producer (1-5, 9, 11), arrangements (1-5, 9, 11)
- Michael Omartian – producer (6-8, 10)
- Todd Moore – production coordinator (1-5, 9, 11)
- Suzy Martinez – production coordinator (6-8, 10)
- Norman Moore – art direction, design
- Richard Frankel – art direction
- Albert Sanchez – photography
- Technical credits
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Mastering (Hollywood, California)
- Bill Whittington – recording (1-5, 9, 11), mixing (1-5, 9, 11)
- Terry Christian – engineer (6-8, 10), mixing (7, 8, 10)
- Mick Guzauski – mixing (6)
- Shawn McLean – assistant engineer (1-5, 9, 11)
- Greg Parker – assistant engineer (1-5, 9, 11)
- Danny Duncan – MIDI assistant (5)
- Mark Capps – assistant engineer (6-8, 10)
- John Dickson – assistant engineer (6-8, 10)
- Scott Link – assistant engineer (6-8, 10)
- Keith Robichaux – assistant engineer (6-8, 10)
- Jim Dineen – additional engineering (6-8, 10)
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1994)
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Peak position
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| Australian Albums (ARIA)[5]
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127
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| US Billboard 200
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13
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| US Top Contemporary Christian
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1
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Year-end charts
| Chart (1994)
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Position
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| Billboard Top Contemporary Christian Albums
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17
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End-of-decade charts
| Chart (1990–1999)
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Rank
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| US Billboard Top Contemporary Christian[6]
|
9
|
Certifications and sales
References
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| Related articles | |
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| Authority control databases | |
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