Revelation (2008)

Revelation is the ninth studio album by the Christian rock band Third Day, released on July 29, 2008 by Essential Records/Provident Music. Starting with this release and in subsequent releases, Third Day became a four-piece band as original guitarist Brad Avery left the band but was an additional musician on this release.

For Revelation, Third Day worked with producer Howard Benson, who is a two-time Grammy nominee for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical and has produced mainstream acts like Kelly Clarkson, The All-American Rejects, Santana and Seether and has produced some Christian rock acts like Skillet, P.O.D. and Flyleaf. The band aimed to produce a southern rock album while being creative musically; Third Day felt the result was their best album to date. As a whole, the album is noted as adopting a heavier and edgier rock sound than Third Day's previous adult contemporary-projects such as Wherever You Are, while the album's lyrics reflect Christian themes. The album features guest appearances from Daughtry lead singer and American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry, Lacey Mosley of Flyleaf (on two tracks) and pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph. Benson decided to work with Third Day after Daughtry drew attention to lead singer Mac Powell's vocal ability. Although they were initially uncomfortable working with Benson, Third Day achieved a positive working relationship with Benson, who felt that their different religious beliefs (Benson is Jewish) made them challenge each other in a way reflected in the record.

Revelation was preceded by its lead single "Call My Name." Lyrically, it has been alternately described as being set from the perspective of God or being a cry out to God. It was released to both Christian CHR and AC radio formats and it became an immediate hit topping both Billboard and Radio & Records Christian music charts. It was the band's second multi-format hit since "Cry Out to Jesus." The title track was the second single released and topped the Christian AC chart on both publications, while peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts and making the Top 10 on the Radio & Records Christian Inspo chart. Released concurrently was "Run to You" peaking in the Top 10 on R&R's Christian CHR chart while peaking at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts. The final single "Born Again" peaked in the Top 5 on the Billboard Christian charts and peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Heatseekers Songs.

Revelation became Third Day's fourth number one album on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and debuted and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. It is Third Day's highest charting album on the latter chart and at their highest position to date during their career. The album sold 75,000 copies in its first week, besting their number 8 peak of Wherever You Are which sold 63,000 copies in its first week. The album also charted and peaked on the following Billboard album charts:

-#2 Rock Albums

-#6 Digital Albums

-#3 Top Catalog Albums in 2011

Third Day earned accolades for this release including their only American Music Award win for Favorite Christian Inspirational Artist in the fall of 2008 and in 2009, they won Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards. The album cover won Recorded Music Packaging of the Year awarded to the art designers and for photography. The album cover is of Salvation Mountain, a monument created by Leonard Knight located in Calipatria, California, with the song titles of Revelation composed on it, "to send [Third Day's] own message of God's love to the world." According to bassist Tai Anderson, the idea to use Salvation Mountain as the album cover art was Powell's idea. Revelation was Gold certified in 2010 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) giving them their sixth Gold album. That same year, "Born Again" was nominated in two Grammy Gospel categories: Best Gospel Performance and Best Gospel Song.

Track listing

All songs written by Mac Powell, except where noted.

1. This Is Who I Am -2:30

2. Slow Down -3:09

3. Call My Name -4:03

4. Run to You -3:24

5. Revelation -3:34

6. Otherside (Mac Powell, Tai Anderson) -3:12

7. Let Me Love You -3:04

8. I Will Always Be True -3:10

9. Born Again -3:37

10. Give Love -3:19

11. Caught Up In Yourself -3:29

12. Ready -3:18

13. Take It All (Mark Lee) -3:27

Personnel

Third Day:

Mac Powell -lead vocals, backing vocals

Mark Lee -guitars

Tai Anderson -bass guitar

David Carr -drums

additional musicians:

Brad Avery -additional guitars

Howard Benson -Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, programming

Scotty Wilbanks -acoustic piano on track 5

Marc VanGool -additional guitars on track 11

Robert Randolph -petal steel guitar on track 6

Debbie Lurie -string arrangements on track 7

Chris Daughtry -backing vocals on track 2

Lacey Mosley -backing vocal on track 4, featured vocalist on track 9

RIAA certifications

Gold certified in 2010.

Accolades

American Music Award -Favorite Christian Inspirational Artist

Dove Award -Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Revelation)

Radio singles

2008 "Call My Name" -#1 Billboard Hot Christian Songs for 13 weeks, -#1 Billboard

Christian Airplay for 13 weeks, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for 11 weeks,

-#1 R&R Christian CHR for 6 weeks, -#1 R&R Christian AC for 11 weeks

2008 -2009 "Run to You" -#30 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#30 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#8 R&R Christian CHR

2008 -2009 "Revelation" -#3 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#3 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for 6 weeks, -#1 R&R

Christian AC for 6 weeks, -#8 R&R Christian Inspo

2009 "Born Again" featuring Lacey Mosley -#3 Billboard Hot Christian Songs,

-#3 Billboard Christian Airplay, -#4 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#41 Billboard

Heatseeker Songs

Previous release: Chronology Volume 2 (2007) (compilation 2 disc CD/DVD) 

Next release: Live Revelations (2009) (live CD/DVD)

Watch the music video of "Revelation" here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u0P9kwfF4s