Brother to Brother (1996)

Brother to Brother is a collaborative album by Christian singer/songwriter/

author Michael Card and American Catholic musician/songwriter/author John Michael Talbot. It was released jointly in late May 1996 by Talbot's Troubadour for the Lord label and a new independent label for Card called Covenant Artists, with distribution by Myrrh Records, a division of Word, Inc.

For Card, it is his 14th studio album and his first on the newly-formed independent label Covenant Artists and for Talbot, it is his 28th studio album. Both were former label mates on Sparrow Records. Brother to Brother came about when Card and Talbot admired each others recordings and songs. Card and Talbot got together in the studio and were tasked to cover each other's songs as well as each exchanging acoustic guitars. On the opening track "One Faith," Card and Talbot, along with fellow musicians and friends Phil Keaggy and Wes King, all performed on acoustic guitar with Card arranging Talbot's song. Talbot cover's Card's song "Immanuel" in a medley with his composition "Behold, Now the Kingdom."

Brother to Brother was critically acclaimed, but not without controversy: Card caused some concern from within his primarily evangelical fan-base by co-releasing this album and touring with Talbot. Some fans and critics felt betrayed by the collaboration since Card is known for lyrics that scrupulously adhere to Protestant theology whereas Talbot is a Roman Catholic.

Brother to Brother peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.

Track listing

1. One Faith (John Michael Talbot) -4:46

2. Come Worship the Lord (Psalm 95) (John Michael Talbot) -5:23

3. Glory to Thee (O God of Life) (John Michael Talbot) -2:58

4. Immanuel/Behold, Now the Kingdom (Michael Card, John Michael Talbot)

-3:52

5. Advent Suite (John Michael Talbot) -4:45

6. The Word (Michael Card) -2:55

7. The Final Word (Michael Card) -3:02

8. Why (Michael Card) -4:08

9. The Mystery (John Michael Talbot) -2:23

10. Healer of My Soul (John Michael Talbot) -3:10

11. Live This Mystery (Michael Card) -3:10

12. Come to the Table (Michael Card) -4:31

Production credits

John Michael Talbot and Phil Perkins -producers (tracks 4, 6 -8, 11 and 12)

Phil Naish -producer (tracks 1 -3, 5, 9 and 10)

Michael Card:

Previous release: Poiema (1994) 

Next release: Close Your Eyes So You Can See (1996)

John Michael Talbot:

Previous release: Chant From the Hermitage (1995) (with the Monks of Little

Portion Hermitage)

Next release: Table of Plenty (1997)