Beauty for Ashes/La Belleza de la Cruz (1996)
Beauty for Ashes is the seventh studio album by American singer - songwriter Crystal Lewis. It was released jointly by Metro One and Myrrh/Word Records with distribution by Word Entertainment on September 23, 1996. The album was produced by Brian Ray and Dan Posthuma.
Beauty for Ashes was considered a breathrough album for Lewis as it, in some ways, re-introduced her to an adult contemporary audience, where in previous releases, she was strickly aiming for a young audience in Christian CHR. Lewis has charted songs on the Christian AC chart but with varying degrees of success. Widely considered her definitive masterpiece and a milestone of 1990s Christian pop, the album seamlessly blends high-energy R&B rhythms, power ballads, and gospel elements. The lead single "People Get Ready...Jesus is Comin'" was a massive radio hit topping both Christian CHR and AC charts and doing well on Christian Inspo radio, becoming Lewis' first multi-format hit.
"People Get Ready..." was written by Lewis' then-husband Brian Ray. The story goes as Lewis had recently finished performing at several Harvest Crusades
evangelical events in Costa Rica. Ray wanted her to have a powerhouse anthem that was completely upfront and unapologetic about Christian identity and the anticipation of Christ's return. In 2006, CCM Magazine listed "People Get Ready..." at No. 42 in their 2006 book The 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music.
Other songs on the album include the title track featuring Gospel singer and worship leader Ron Kenoly, "The Beauty of the Cross," "God's Been Good to Me" and the Marvin Winans track "In Return." Lewis also released Beauty for Ashes in Spanish as La Belleza de la Cruz (The Beauty of the Cross) with the same track listing. Beauty for Ashes charted on the following Billboard album charts:
-No. 5 Top Christian Albums
-No. 4 Heatseekers Albums
-No. 134 Billboard 200
Beauty for Ashes was Lewis' lone Gold-certified album, selling half a million copies by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 1997 after more than a decade as a developing artist, Lewis earned her first Dove Award nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. She won the title a year later, along with being the first recipient in the inaugural category of Spanish Language Album of the Year for La Belleza de la Cruz at the 29th GMA Dove Awards. Ray was nominated twice for Song of the Year for "People Get Ready..." in 1997 and 1998.
Lewis also released a concert video on VHS titled Beauty for Ashes - Live performing songs from this album and other favorites like "I Now Live," "Only Fools" and "You'll Be Back for Me."
Track listing in English
1. The Beauty of the Cross (Brian Ray) -5:31
2. It's Heaven (Brian Ray) -4:39
3. People Get Ready...Jesus is Comin' (Brian Ray) -6:05
4. Lion and the Lamb (Anne Barbour, Billy Batstone) -5:05
5. Beauty for Ashes (featuring Ron Kenoly) (Crystal Lewis) -3:54
6. In Return (Marvin Winans) -3:47
7. God's Been Good to Me (Crystal Lewis, Brian Ray) -5:10
8. Seasons Change (music by Randy Goodrum, words by Crystal Lewis) -4:41
9. Over Me (Maria McKee, Patrick Sugg) -6:15
10. Healing Oil (Chris Lizotte) -6:13
Track listing in Spanish
1. La Belleza de la Cruz -5:25
2. Tu Esperanza Está En Mí -4:41
3. Pueblo Preparate… Cristo Ya Viene -5:58
4. El Cordero Y El León -4:59
5. Esplendor Por Ceniza (featuring Marcos Witt) -3:53
6. En Cambio -3:47
7. Dios Me Ha Hecho Bien -5:11
8. El Día Vendrá -4:43
9. Sobre Mí -6:13
10. Bálsamo Que Sana -6:38
RIAA certifications
Gold certified in 2002.
Accolades
Dove Award -Female Vocalist of the Year
Spanish Language Album of the Year (La Belleza de la Cruz)
Radio singles
1996 "People Get Ready...Jesus is Comin'" -#1 Christian CHR for 3 weeks, -#1
Christian AC
1997 "Beauty for Ashes" featuring Ron Kenoly -#5 Christian CHR, -#2 Christian
AC
1997 "The Beauty of the Cross" -#14 Christian CHR, -#1 Christian AC
1997 "God's Been Good to Me" -#1 Christian CHR, -#2 Christian AC
1997 "Lion and the Lion" -#10 Christian CHR, -#9 Christian AC
Previous release: Hymns: My Life/Hymnos de Mi Vida (1995)
Next release: Gold/Oro (1998)
Beauty for Ashes:
La Belleza de la Cruz:
Watch the music video of "Beauty for Ashes" featuring Ron Kenoly here:
Watch the music video of "Esplendor Por Ceniza" featuring Marcos Witt here:
Watch the music video of "The Beauty of the Cross" here:
Comments