Miracle (2012)
- Joel Caballero
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Miracle is the 11th studio album by the Christian rock band Third Day, released on November 6, 2012 by Essential Records/Provident Music. The album was produced by Brendan O'Brien, who is best known for producing and engineer
mainstream rock acts like AC/DC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Bruce
Springsteen and The Fray among others. It was recorded at the band's studio
The Quarry in Kennesaw, Georgia.
After the release of their 2010 album Move, as well as touring to support the release, Third Day were in the process of taking a break from touring and recording. A chance meeting with producer O'Brien, whom the band met the year before, changed that. Third Day wanted to record an album that sounded fresh and new, especially with what happened with the lackluster singles from Move. Still retaining their southern rock sound, the band was experimenting and exploring new elemental sounds on Miracle, such as layered guitars and harmonies and sing-a-long "gang" vocals. The title track, "I Need a Miracle," was released as the lead single to Christian radio and streaming formats on
September 14, 2012. According to lead singer Mac Powell, the idea came from a post-concert meeting with a New Jersey couple. They mentioned their son had been depressed and drove deep into the woods, planning to kill himself. He turned on the radio and heard "Cry Out to Jesus" (from their 2005 album Wherever You Are), which gave him encouragement to keep going.
A music video for "I Need a Miracle" was released on the band's YouTube channel on the day of the album's release in November. The video is based around the story in the lyrics. A man leaves a suicide note on a desk before leaving in his truck. He drives to a wooded area. His wife reads the note and is in shock. The man hears a song on the radio that gives him hope to keep him from ending his life. He returns home to embrace with his wife. It is Third Day's best track since "Cry Out to Jesus" and "Call My Name." The song went to No. 1 across the Billboard Christian charts including the Christian AC Airplay chart where it stayed for two weeks and even peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Heatseekers Songs survey.
Miracle became another successful album for Third Day. Besides topping the Billboard Top Christian Albums, it also charted on the following album charts:
-#10 Billboard 200
-#3 Top Rock Albums
-#13 Digital Albums
In the album's debut week, Miracle sold 29,000 copies giving Third Day their fourth and final Top 10 placement on the Billboard 200. Despite the album and the track's success, neither the album or "I Need a Miracle" picked up any Grammy or Dove nominations. And also Miracle was not Gold certified, thus ending their streak of Gold-certified albums. As of February 2015, the album has sold 106,000 copies in the United States.
Track listing
All songs written by Mac Powell, except where noted.
2. Kicking and Screaming -2:47
3. Your Love Is Like a River -4:16
4. I Need a Miracle -3:43
5. You Are My Everything -3:47
6. For the Rest of My Life -2:49
7. I Want to Believe In You -3:19
8. The Victory -3:13
9. Take Me Back -3:18
10. Forever Your -4:05
11. Time's Running Out On Me -3:21
12. Morning Has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon; arranged by Third Day) -3:26
Personnel
Third Day:
Mac Powell -lead vocals, backing vocals
Mark Lee -guitar
Tai Anderson -bass guitar
David Carr -drums
additional musicians:
Brendan O'Brien -acoustic piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ, percussion,
parlor guitar, additional backing vocals
Scotty Wilbanks -acoustic piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Mellotron
Radio singles
2012 -2013 "I Need a Miracle" -#1 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#1 Billboard
Christian Airplay, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for 2 weeks, -#24
Billboard Heatseekers Songs
2013 "Your Love Is Like a River" -#14 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#14
Billboard Christian Airplay, -#14 Billboard Christian AC Airplay
2014 "Kicking and Screaming" -#48 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#30
Billboard Christian Airplay, -#29 Billboard Christian AC Airplay
Next release: Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship (2015)
Listen to the album from YouTube Music containing audio and lyric videos and a music video of "I Need a Miracle.":
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