Amy Grant Album: “House of Love [Remaster]”

Description :

Personnel includes: Amy Grant (vocals), Brent Rowan (guitar, mandolin), Tom Hemby (guitar, keyboards, programming), Kenny Greenberg (acoustic & electric guitars), Judson Spence (acoustic guitar, background vocals), Scott Dente, Bill Owsley, Jerry McPherson (guitar), Mark Douthit (saxophone), Phil Madeira (B-3 organ), Tommy Sims (synthesizer, bass, programming, background vocals), Danny O'Lannerghty (bass), Chris McHugh, Chad Cromwell (drums), Athena Cage, Chris Rodriguez, Michael Mellett, Audrey Wheeler (background vocals). Additional guest artists: Keith Thomas, Lisa Keith, Michael Omartian, Eric Darken, Donna McElroy. Engineers: Bill Whittington (tracks 1-5, 9, 11); Terry Christian (6-8, 10). Recorded at The Soundshop, Nashville, Tennessee; The Bennett House and Tejas Recorders, Franklin, Tennessee. All songs co-written by Amy Grant except "House Of Love" (Wally Wilson/Kenny Greenberg/Greg Barnhill), "The Power" (Judson Spence/Tommy Sims), "Oh How The Years Go By" (Simon Climie/Will Jennings) and "Big Yellow Taxi" (Joni Mitchell). For Amy Grant, the transition from gospel diva to pop songstress has been a smooth one, every bit as smooth and mellifluous as her own distinctive vocals. Because in truth, Amy Grant transcends the distance between I love you Lord and I love you baby so fluently, and with such sincerity and simple grace, that in the end one is left with a sense of unity--a veritable HOUSE OF LOVE. Grant's instrument has a soft reedy quality, perfect for the girlish blush of love on the opening "Lucky One," "Say You'll Be Mine," a paean to monogamous devotion, the gospelish "Whatever It Takes" (which speaks of the endurance needed to sustain a relationship), and the power ballad "Love Has A Hold On Me" (which reflects on the doubt). HOUSE OF LOVE projects a sensual propriety that is no less sexy for being so clean scrubbed and virtuous. And, as the riveting title tune suggests, there's a critical element of patience and forgiveness implicit in all these themes--which enlivens her harmonies with Vince Gill (echoes of "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing Baby" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell). Falling and being saved are, after all, central themes both to country music and traditional gospel. Which is why Amy Grant's seamless pop stylings share the Top 20 with the likes of Warren G., the Rolling Stones and the Three Tenors. Personnel: Amy Grant (background vocals); Vince Gill (vocals); Brent Rowan (guitars); Bill Owsley, Dann Huff, Judson Spence, Kenny Greenberg, Scott Dente (acoustic guitar); Jerry McPherson (electric guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Mark O'Connor (violin); Doug Moffet, Mark Douthit, George Tidwell, Michael Haynes (horns); Phil Madeira (Hammond b-3 organ); Danny O'Lannerghty, Keith Thomas (bass guitar); Chris McHugh, Chad Cromwell (drums); Eric Darken, Terry McMillan (percussion); Mark Hammond, Michael Omartian, Tom Hemby (drum programming); Chris Rodriguez, Leah Taylor, Asher Larrison, Shannon Love, Jackie Cusic, Audrey Wheller, Micahel Mellet, Kristine Stroupe, Rick Gibson, Donny Monk, Beau Stroupe, Aubrey Hunt, Mary Catherine Musick, Issac Darnall, Lance High, Trevor Mathieson, Sarah Huffman, Katy Dunham, Michael Mellett, Donna McElroy, Ellen Musick, Gail Farrell, Gary Chapman , Guy Penrod, Ada Dyer, Leann Albrecht, Lisa Bevill, Lisa Glasgow, Lisa Keith, Melodie Tunney, Scott Williamson, Ashley Cleveland, Athena Cage, Tommy Sims, Beverly Darnall, David Holloway , Chris Willis, Gary Robinson, Butch Curry (background vocals); Nashville String Machine, Ronn Huff. Audio Remasterer: Brian Gardner. Amy Grant's follow-up to her best-selling HEART IN MOTION album was not quite as commercially successful as its predecessor, but it continued the artistic exploration begun in earnest a few years before. Along with spiritually driven songs like "Helping Hand" and "The Power" are gorgeous secular numbers like the soulful title track--a duet with new boyfriend Vince Gill--and a surprisingly deft take on Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi."

I used to have this album. I made the transformation in the second half of 1994, and pretty much I found this not to be the Christian album I was expecting. I believe that Amy loves the Lord with all her heart, but this to me conveyed a silky pop album nothing more nothing less. I enjoyed listening to "Lucky One", and the title track as they are the 2 strongest songs on here. I feel that Amy was distracted with the fact she had a mega hit album with "Heart In Motion", and she didn't know how to follow up, and this album would also spell the end of her marriage to Gary Chapman as she began an affair with Vince Gill to whom she's now married. So she was definitely distracted, and it shows up on here. I was surprised that no one wrote a review for this album whether good, or bad. I know that she lost some popularity after the affair, but come on. I wasn't expecting to be the first one to write a review for this album. I know she tried to get everything back together with "Between The Eyes", so I will check out that album next. For this it's o.k., but to me it doesn't really convey Jesus.