Redemption Songs (2005)

Redemption Songs is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Jars of Clay, released on March 22, 2005 by Essential Records/Provident Music Group. The album was produced by the band with Mitch Dane.

Redemption Songs is a collection of reinvented hymns and spiritual songs. As part of a church community that believed passionately the blessing of understanding the story of redemption through early church songs and ancient hymns, Jars of Clay found themselves a part of a growing renaissance, one that inspired them to write new songs using the rich hymn texts as the foundation. It was also their attempt to put out a "worship album," which in the 2000s and beyond, contemporary worship albums were ruling the Christian music charts, particularly from artists like Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Rebecca St. James and others.

The album was preceded by the lead single "God Will Lift Up Your Head," which previously appeared on the digital EP Roots & Wings that came out a couple of weeks before that. The track was based on the traditional hymn "Give to the Wind Thy Fears" written by John Wesley, but with slightly altered lyrics, particularly the title. Special vocal guests on Redemption Songs are The Blind Boys of Alabama ("Nothing But the Blood" and "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand"), Christian vocalist Sarah Kelly ("I'll Fly Away") and Martin Smith of the Christian U.K. rock worship band Delirious5? ("Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder").

Redemption Songs gave Jars of Clay their first No. 1 album since If I Left the Zoo on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard 200.

In 2006, the album was nominated for a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. It did however win a technical Dove Award for Recorded Music Packaging of the Year, but awarded to Jimmy A. for photography, Tim Parker for art direction, design and cover art and Stephanie McBrayer for art direction.

Track listing

All songs were arranged and additional music by Jars of Clay.

1. God Be Merciful to Me (traditional; music by Christopher Miner) -4:32

2. I Need Thee Every Hour (Robert Lowry, Annie Hawks) -3:48

3. God Will Lift Up Your Head (based on the hymn "Give to the Wind Thy Fears"

  written by John Wesley) -4:27

4. I'll Fly Away (Alfred E. Brumley) -4:43

5. Nothing But the Blood (Robert Lowry) -4:13

6. Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder (words by John Newton; composed by Laura

Taylor) -4:25

7. O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile (words by Frederick Weber Faber; music

by Eric Ashley) -4:04

8. Hiding Place (Daniel Herbert) -4:08

9. Jesus, I Lift My Eyes (based on the hymn "When Sins and Fears Prevailing Arise"

written by Anne Steele) -3:29

10. It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio Spafford, Philip Bliss) -3:56

11. On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand (words by Samuel Stennett; music by

Christopher Miner) -4:33

12. Thou Lovely Source of True Delight (words by Anne Steele; music by Kevin Twit)

-4:29

13. They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love (Peter Scholtes) -3:07

Personnel

Jars of Clay:

Dan Haseltine -lead vocals

Charlie Lowell -keyboards, backing vocals

Stephen Mason -guitars, backing vocals

Matt Odmark -guitars, backing vocals

additional musicians:

The Blind Boys of Alabama -guest vocals on tracks 5 and 11

Sarah Kelly -guest vocals on track 4

Martin Smith -guest vocals on track 6

Aaron Sands -bass guitar

Ben Mize -drums (tracks 1, 3 -9, 11 -13)

Brian Owings -drums on track 2

John Catchings -cello (tracks 9 and 12)

Laura Taylor and Andrew Osenga -backing vocals on track 3

Radio singles

2005 "God Will Lift Up Your Head" -#11 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#11 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#17 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#2 R&R Christian CHR, -#14

R&R Christian AC

2005 "I'll Fly Away" featuring Sarah Kelly -#17 R&R Christian AC

Previous release: Roots & Wings (EP) (2005)

Next release: Mini Monsters (EP) (2006)