Skillet (1996)

Joel Caballero
1 day ago
2 min read

Skillet is the debut studio album by the Christian rock band Skillet. It was released on October 29, 1996 by ForeFront Records and Ardent Records. It was later distributed by INO Records (later renamed Fair Trade Services) and Sony Music. Skidd Mills and Paul Ebersol produced the album. The band started out as a trio with John Cooper on lead vocals and bass guitar, Ken Steorts in guitars and vocals and Trey McClurkin on drums and vocals as their self-titled debut album showcases Christian lyrics with a grunge sound. It was just the beginning of Skillet's musical transformation, both personnel and sound wise. Skillet was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis with the label's co-founder and former DeGarmo & Key band member Dana Key serving as executive producer. Music videos were made for the tracks, "I Can," "Gasoline" and "Saturn."

Prior to releasing their eponymous debut album, the band recorded Right Upside Your Head, a six-song demo on cassette tape, earlier that same year. The songs "Shovel" and "Darn Great Day" were exclusive to the demo while "Gasoline," "Promise Blender" and "Boundaries" would be re-recorded for Skillet. The demo version of "Boundaries" features Steorts on vocals. The demo track "Safe With Me" was re-recorded as "Safe With You" on the band's debut album.

In 1997, Skillet garnered their first two Dove Award nominations for Modern Rock/

Alternative Album of the Year and Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Recorded Song of the Year for "Gasoline."

Track listing

All songs were written by John Cooper, except where noted.

1. I Can -4:19

2. Gasoline -4:03

3. Saturn (Ken Steorts) -5:09

4. My Beautiful Robe -3:39

5. Promise Blender (John Cooper, Ken Steorts) -3:56

6. Paint (Ken Steorts) -3:21

7. Safe With You -3:50

8. You Thought (John Cooper, Ken Steorts) -3:42