Upon its release, "Baby Baby" was Amy Grant's biggest hit since her 1986 duet with Peter Cetera, "The Next Time I Fall." In the United States, "Baby Baby" was Grant's second number one hit on the pop charts and her first as a solo artist, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts for two and three weeks, respectively. The single reached the Top Ten in seven countries, in addition to reaching #11 in Switzerland. In Britain, "Baby Baby" was the singer's first (and only) Top Five hit in that country, reaching #2. In the end, "Baby Baby" proved to be Grant's biggest hit and one of the most successful singles of 1991.
Source
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lead Me On … Again II
Looking back on the project, what over-arching message were you hoping to deliver?
Grant: Every album is just a collection of songs. I've never started a record saying, "What's the theme going to be?" It becomes what it is at the sum of its parts, and I felt those elements were honesty, imperfection, hope, and grit.
What are the songs you've received the most feedback on?
Grant: Well, I can tell you the songs I haven't gotten comments on and those are only two: "Sure Enough" and "If You Have To Go Away," both of which were just sort of funny and cheerful. But every other one has been talked about, like "Say Once More," with countless people telling me they've played it at their wedding. "Faithless Heart" has also brought in a lot of comments, and while I always favor a song speaking for itself, I chose to show some of the dark sides and honest sides of Christianity, which I think makes the good news better.
In 1988 you had already branched out to the mainstream by collaborating with Peter Cetera, but had yet to record the major crossover album Heart In Motion. What would you say the secular barometer was for Lead Me On?
Grant: I'm not really sure, though I think my credibility as a songwriter went up. I know one of most important relationships in work settings was with David Anderle—he was the head of A&R at A&M Records who had produced Judy Collins and was a real encouragement to Sting. He had been a creative backbone of the company for a long time, so when I walked in, I asked him, "What was your first experience with Christianity?" He said, "I'm Jewish and my first recollection of anything Christian was seeing anti- Semitism with a man-sized cross being burned in my front yard." There was something about making this record side-by-side with a man who'd seen the ugly side of Christian convictions and I was just affected by that. I had no agenda with him, but I loved his input and wanted him to be proud, which meant I didn't want any clichés. We still keep in touch to this day.
Do you feel like the remastering has brought new luster to this project?
Grant: I feel like we were able to rediscover the clarity of the original recording. I don't know what exactly happens to masters [over time], but they get dull sounding. They lose their sparkle and their definition. When I signed with EMI, part of their investment with me and my catalogue was to go back and blow dust off the old songs.
How did you come up with the bonus material for the double disc re-release?
Grant: EMI came to me with the idea and asked if I'd be willing do some bonus tracks, since it would benefit from something new on it. Well, I hadn't thought about them in years, but back in the summer of 1989, I paid to have two concerts recorded as multi-track recordings—I had never done anything with them. Back then, I was very aware of the musicianship of those I was touring with, all of whom were individually good and had such synergy together. I went to the label and said, "I don't even know if these old tapes are still playable, but have I got bonus for you!" We had to [take great care in transferring the audio], but then I got the call from the engineer who said they worked. Sure enough, I was transported back twenty years. It electrified something inside me and reignited a passion. It was like it turned back the clock spiritually, emotionally, and even physically like a jolt of lightening. This all happened as I was getting ready to go on spring break with my kids, but I was like a crazy woman trying to track down the band members without a tour in place!
Source
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Lead Me On … Again
Amy Grant's Lead Me On is now twenty years old, but it's not an out-of-date relic. In fact, the ambitious Christian rock collection has since become one of the genre's most celebrated projects, introducing the singer/songwriter to wider audiences on its subsequent arena tour. Fans of the album the first time around are no doubt experiencing déjà vu these days, starting with a twentieth anniversary re-release (featuring a remastered version of the original album, plus bonus tracks that include recordings from the 1989 tour), followed by a concert celebration that reunites Grant with many of original musicians from the classic album and tour. The month after that, Grant is teaming up with hubby Vince Gill for a Christmas tour in support of her newly released holiday best-of, The Christmas Collection (Sparrow).
Did you ever anticipate Lead Me On would have this lasting an impact twenty years down the road?
Amy Grant: Oh, no! I don't think I would've ever presumed to think that. I didn't work any harder on that record than any other. Life felt pretty magical at that time and was a little simpler then because I was just starting my family. [As you get older], life kind of gets layered up with every child and their commitments, so you have a little more head space for creativity [when you're just starting a family].
Why do you think the album has held up so well?
Grant: Sonically, aside from a little more echo than I would prefer, the songs were so honest from a production standpoint. I felt Brown [Bannister] was always trying to shy away from gimmicks or synthesized sounds, trying to capture very honest songs in the most organic and timeless way possible.
Looking back on the project, what over-arching message were you hoping to deliver?
Grant: Every album is just a collection of songs. I've never started a record saying, "What's the theme going to be?" It becomes what it is at the sum of its parts, and I felt those elements were honesty, imperfection, hope, and grit.
Source
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Amy Grant, Vince Gill carry their holiday joy to Grand Rapids on tour Thursday
GRAND RAPIDS -- Amy Grant was just 22 when she recorded her first Yuletide musical collection, 1983's "A Christmas Album." Today, 26 Christmases later, her view of the holiday has changed.
"That first Christmas record I made was more innocent -- certainly the person making it was more innocent," she said in a phone interview conducted on the road, touring with her husband, country superstar Vince Gill, for their joint seasonal show swinging through Grand Rapids on Thursday night.
CHRISTMAS WITH AMY GRANT AND VINCE GILL
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St.
Tickets: $77, $52, $42 and $26.50 at the arena and DeVos Place box offices, Ticketmaster outlets, 456-3333, ticketmaster.com
More info: vanandelarena.com
Special event: A limited number of VIP tickets is available for $180 (available at Ticketmaster). A portion of the ticket price will be donated to Grand Rapids Public Schools Arts Advocates. VIP tickets include access to a preshow performance featuring children helped by Arts Advocates and an appearance by Grant and Gill.
"As the baby of the family, I felt I had stepped into a (Christmas) environment created by other people," she said. "I now know, with growing and grown children, that most of us negotiate the holidays. Nothing happens without someone planning it."
It's just another piece of her Christmas "mosaic," (her 2007 New York Times Bestseller is called "Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far"), a montage of impressions, emotions and traditions that have shaped her sense of the season.
Christian Music News Source
"That first Christmas record I made was more innocent -- certainly the person making it was more innocent," she said in a phone interview conducted on the road, touring with her husband, country superstar Vince Gill, for their joint seasonal show swinging through Grand Rapids on Thursday night.
CHRISTMAS WITH AMY GRANT AND VINCE GILL
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St.
Tickets: $77, $52, $42 and $26.50 at the arena and DeVos Place box offices, Ticketmaster outlets, 456-3333, ticketmaster.com
More info: vanandelarena.com
Special event: A limited number of VIP tickets is available for $180 (available at Ticketmaster). A portion of the ticket price will be donated to Grand Rapids Public Schools Arts Advocates. VIP tickets include access to a preshow performance featuring children helped by Arts Advocates and an appearance by Grant and Gill.
"As the baby of the family, I felt I had stepped into a (Christmas) environment created by other people," she said. "I now know, with growing and grown children, that most of us negotiate the holidays. Nothing happens without someone planning it."
It's just another piece of her Christmas "mosaic," (her 2007 New York Times Bestseller is called "Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far"), a montage of impressions, emotions and traditions that have shaped her sense of the season.
Christian Music News Source
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