Speechless (Steven Curtis Chapman album)
| Speechless | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Steven Curtis Chapman | ||||
| Released | June 15, 1999 | |||
| Genre | CCM | |||
| Length | 55:25 | |||
| Label | Sparrow | |||
| Producer | Brown Bannister and Steven Curtis Chapman | |||
| Steven Curtis Chapman chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |  [2] |
Speechless is the ninth studio album by the Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman. It was released on June 15, 1999, by Sparrow Records.
It was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 27, 2000. Chapman received the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Dove Awards for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (for "Dive").
The album provided more No. 1 chart singles (seven) on Christian contemporary radio than any of Chapman's other albums: "The Change", "Fingerprints of God", "The Invitation", "Great Expectations", "Be Still And Know", "Dive" and the title song "Speechless". The album is considered one of Chapman's greater works by many, and is recognized by many as being one of the best Christian albums of all time.[3]
The concert tour in support of Speechless featured Chapman's longtime friend and co-writer Geoff Moore.
Track listing
All songs written by Steven Curtis Chapman, except where noted.
- "Dive" – 3:57
- "Speechless"(Chapman, Geoff Moore) – 5:06
- "The Change"(Chapman, James Issac Elliot) – 3:46
- "Great Expectations" – 5:02
- "Next 5 Minutes"(Adam Anders, Chapman) – 4:19
- "Fingerprints of God" – 4:02
- "The Invitation"(Chapman, Moore) – 4:57
- "Whatever" – 4:01
- "I Do Believe" – 4:01
- "What I Really Want to Say" – 4:22
- "With Hope" – 5:12
- "The Journey"(Chapman, J.A.C. Redford) – 3:05
- "Be Still and Know" – 3:19
Track information
- Chapman dedicated the song "Fingerprints of God" to his daughter Emily who, at the time had turned 13.[4]
- "With Hope" was written for a family, the Mullicans (friends of the Chapmans), who lost a child. It was later sung in honor of the victims of the shooting at Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky, Chapman's alma mater.[5]
- "What I Really Want to Say" is dedicated to Chapman's wife, Mary Beth.
Personnel
Musicians
- Steven Curtis Chapman: lead vocals, backing vocals (1-6,8,9), acoustic guitar (1,2,4-11), electric guitar (1,3,4,6,7,9,10,11), dobro (1,5,8), mandolin (2,7), "Papoose" guitar (2,3), synth solo (8), track arrangements
- Randy Pearce: electric guitar (1-11), acoustic guitar (7), track arrangement (5)
- Adam Anders: bass guitar (1-11), programming (1-4,8,9,10), track arrangement (1,3,4,5,9,10)
- Will Denton: drums (2,3,5-8,10,11), drum loops (1), track arrangement (5)
- Shane Keister: piano (2,13)
- Hardy Hemphill: piano (11)
- Scott Sheriff: Hammond B-3 organ (6), piano (4), backing vocals (1,3,6,8)
- Eric Darken: percussion (2,8,10)
- Chris Eaton: backing vocals (9)
- The London Session Orchestra: strings (2,3,4,7,10,12,12)
- Gavyn Wright: concertmaster
- J.A.C. Redford: orchestral arrangement (2,4,7,12,13)
- Carl Marsh: orchestral arrangement (3,10)
- Choir (2): Scott Sheriff, Hardy Hemphill, Stacy Jeanette, Mark Smeby, Tina Tyler, Marvin Copaus, Rhonda Hampton, Scot Tyler, Layde Love Smith, Andy Sperry, Shari Davis and Teresa Easterling
- Scripture reading (3): Emily, Caleb and Will Franklin Chapman
- Handclaps (6): Steven Curtis Chapman, Steve Bishir, David Trask, Ray Mullican and Hank Nirider
Recording and production
- Brown Bannister and Steven Curtis Chapman - producers
- Peter York and Dan Raines - executive producers
- Traci Sterling Bishir - production manager
- Bill Baumgart - A&R coordinator
- Recorded and mixed by Steve Bishir at Sound Kitchen (Franklin, Tennessee)
- Assisted by Hank Nirider, Jedd Hackett and Melissa Mattey
- Hank Nirider - mix assistant
- Aaron Swihart, Hank Nirider, Shane Wilson, Gary Paczosa, jb, Patrick Kelly - additional engineering
- Orchestra recorded by Mark Tucker at Abbey Road Studio (London)
- Assisted by Andrew Dudman
- Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York City)
- Art Direction – Wayne Brezinka and Jan Cook
- Design – Wayne Brezinka
- Creative director – Christiév Carothers
- Photography – Robert Fleischauer
- Stylist – Gino Tanabe
- Grooming – Catherine Furness
References
- ↑ Speechless at AllMusic
- ↑ "Steven Curtis Chapman, "Speechless" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. June 15, 1999. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
- ↑ #1 Radio History
- ↑ Connection Magazine (November 2000). "Story Behind Song".
- ↑ Connection Magazine. "Curtis Chapman".