Sheltering Tree (2000)

Sheltering Tree is the tenth studio album by the Christian music group NewSong. It was released on October 10, 2000 by Benson Records and Jive Records with mainstream distribution by Provident Music Distribution and Zomba/BMG Group (later to be acquired by Sony Music).

Sheltering Tree welcomed NewSong into the 2000s. The sound of this album is more adult contemporary, kind of leaving behind the polished pop from their previous albums People Get Ready and Love Revolution. With Russ Lee and Scotty Wilbanks gone, NewSong recruited Christian artist Michael O'Brien, musician Steve Reischl and Matt Butler, another Truth vocalist. The lead single "Red Letter Day" revolves around the theme of a significant, joyous day of spiritual importance, drawing on the concept of a "red-letter day" as a time to celebrate life-changing moments, likely focusing on faith, salvation, or a new beginning. "Wide Open" focuses on the theme of redemption and the expansive nature of God's love, centering on the imagery of Jesus' arms being stretched wide open on the cross to welcome believers. The title song "Sheltering Trees" features some vocal help from Rebecca St. James, Natalie Grant, Charlie Peacock, Third Day lead singer Mac Powell, Carolyn Arends and Gospel singer Fred Hammond.

Sheltering Tree's real highlight is the Christmas bonus track "The Christmas Shoes." Released as a holiday single after the album's release, the song is based on a popular 1990s urban legend/story about a young boy trying to buy shoes for his terminally ill mother on Christmas Eve. The boy tells a stranger he wants her to look beautiful when she meets Jesus, prompting the stranger to pay for them, reminding him of the true meaning of the season. NewSong caught the attention of radio personality, Isaiah "DC" Daniel (then, of "Steve & DC") and began collaborating on production ideas for future projects. DC Daniel, Eddie Carswell and Leonard Ahlstrom wrote the song with Ahlstrom producing. In 2002, Donna VanLiere produced a novelization of the song, which was published by St. Martin's Press. The book became a made-for-TV movie in December of that same year. NewSong also released a music video of "The Christmas Shoes" in 2002.

"The Christmas Shoes" was a surprise hit for NewSong as it crossed over into the mainstream market climbing to number 1 on the Billboard AC chart for one week while peaking at number 31 on the Hot Country Songs and at number 42 on the Hot 100. The single achieved Gold status by the Recording Industry Association of America by July 31, 2020 selling half a million downloads. Thanks to the track "The

Christmas Shoes," Sheltering Tree has peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart by early January 2001 (NewSong's first Top 10 album). It also made chart appearances on the Billboard 200 where it peaked at number 130 and at number 2 on the Top Heatseakers Albums charts.

Track listing

1. Red Letter Day (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom) -3:54

2. Wonderful One (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom) -3:34

3. Sheltering Trees (featuring Rebecca St. James, Natalie Grant, Charlie Peacock,

Mac Powell, Carolyn Arends and Fred Hammond) (Eddie Carswell, Leonard

Ahlstrom) -4:07

4. Defining Moment (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Buck Moore) -4:32

5. Don't It Make You Want to Go Home (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Chris

Rodriguez) -4:23

6. Wide Open (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Russ Lee) -4:47

7. Nothing Without Christ (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom) -4:37

8. God Made Man (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Michael O'Brien) -3:27

9. Anything But You (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom) -3:34

10. God and Time (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Michael O'Brien) -3:57

11. Hope Changes Everything (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Michael O'Brien)

-5:00

Christmas bonus track:

12. The Christmas Shoes (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Isaiah "DC" Daniel)

-4:51

Personnel

NewSong:

Billy Goodwin -lead vocals

Eddie Carswell -vocals, guitar

Leonard Ahlstrom -vocals, guitar

Michael O'Brien -lead vocals, keyboards

Steve Reischl -vocals, guitar

Matt Butler -vocals, keyboards, strings

Production credits

Christopher Harris -producer (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 11)

Brian Tankersley -producer (tracks 2, 7, 8 and 9)

Leonard Ahlstrom -producer (tracks 4, 10 and 12)

RIAA certifications

"The Christmas Shoes" single Gold certified in 2020.

Radio singles

2000 -2001 "Red Letter Day" -#2 Christian AC

2000 -2001 "The Christmas Shoes" -#20 Christian AC, -#1 Billboard AC, -#31

Billboard Hot Country Songs, -#42 Billboard Hot 100, -#14 R&R AC, -#50 R&R

Country

2001 "Wonderful One" -#3 Christian AC

2001 "Defining Moment" -#10 R&R Christian AC

Previous release: Arise My Love: The Very Best of NewSong (1999) (compilation

album)

Next release: The Christmas Shoes (2001)

Listen to the album Sheltering Tree includes the music video of "The Christmas Shoes" :