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Writer's pictureJoel Caballero

Pray (1998)


Pray is the fifth studio album by Australian Christian singer - songwriter Rebecca St. James, released on October 20, 1998 by ForeFront Records. Produced by Tedd T.


A proper follow up to her 1996 Gold selling album God, Pray would be her second Gold selling album, certified in 2006 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales of 500,000 copies. In 2000, St. James won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album for Pray at the 42nd Grammy Awards.


The album is a departure from the Alanis Morissette pretensions of God and in favor is a synth-driven pop sound as preceded by the lead single "Mirror." The song as well as the title song both did well on both Christian CHR and Christian Rock charts. St. James covers two songs: "Hold Me Jesus" by Rich Mullins and "Lord You're Beautiful" by Keith Green. The CD version contains a hidden bonus track of the hymn "Be Thou My Vision." Pray peaked at number 5 on both the Top Christian Albums and Heatseekers Album charts and climbed to number 168 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.


In 1999, St. James released a VHS to go with the Pray album. It was entitled No Secrets and it featured interviews with herself, her family and some of her friends and fellow recording artists, plus the "Pray" music video. For a limited time the VHS came with a Yes, I Believe In God single with 3 tracks: "Yes, I Believe in God" and two radio remix versions of "Omega" and "Pray." Like Michael W. Smith's 1999 song "This is Your Time," "Yes, I Believe in God" is a tribute and dedication to shooting victim Cassie Bernall, when the shooter asked her a question about believing in God at the Columbine High School shooting in Columbine, Colorado in 1999. The song was released as a radio-only single and made the Top 5 on the Christian radio charts and would later appear on her 2003 compilation album Wait for Me: The Best from Rebecca St. James.


Track listing


1. Pray (Rebecca St. James, Michael Quinlan, Tedd T.) -4:30

2. OK (Rebecca St. James, Becca Boucher, Butterfly Boucher, Joshua Thompson)

-4:38

3. Give Myself Away (Rebecca St. James, Paul A. Claegnes, Peter Morgan) -3:49

4. Hold Me Jesus (Rich Mullins) -5:05

5. I'll Carry You (Rebecca St. James, Tedd T.) -4:42

6. Come Quickly Lord (Rebecca St. James, Daniel Smallbone) -4:29

7. Peace (Rebecca St. James, Tedd T.) -5:51

8. Mirror (Rebecca St. James, Tedd T.) -4:36

9. Lord You're Beautiful (Keith Green) -6:07

10. Love to Love You (Rebecca St. James, Michael Quinlan, Tedd T.) -4:33

11. Omega (Rebecca St. James, Tedd T.) -5:11


Hidden bonus track:

Be Thou My Vision (traditional) -5:41


Gold certified in 2006.


Accolades

Grammy Award -Best Rock Gospel Album (Pray)


Radio singles

"Mirror" -#1 Christian CHR, #24 Christian AC

"Pray" -#1 Christian CHR, #2 Christian AC

"Omega" -#15 Christian CHR

"Peace" -#3 Christian CHR, #3 Christian AC

"Yes, I Believe in God" (non-album single) -#4 Christian CHR, #2 Christian AC

"Come Quickly Lord" -#12 Christian CHR


Previous release: Christmas (1997)

Next release: Transform (2000)


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