Special Love (1989)
Special Love is the thirteenth studio and second full-length Gospel album by American R&B singer Deniece Williams. It was released in 1989 and is the first and only album on MCA Records for the mainstream market and Sparrow Records for the Christian market.
Williams re-recorded the song "Healing" from her 1986 album Hot on the Trail and was the lead single to Christian radio. The second single "Every Moment" was released to both mainstream R&B and Christian radio stations accompanied by a music video. The song did well on the Christian radio charts and only climbed to number 55 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.
In 1990, Williams was nominated for two Grammy Awards for the songs from Special Love: Best Gospel Performance, Female for "Healing" and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for "We Sing Praises," a duet with fellow American R&B singer and Williams' friend Natalie Cole. Special Love peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. Some North American CD editions of Special Love contained a bonus track of "Do You Hear What I Hear?," originally recorded for the Sparrow Records holiday album simply titled Christmas. Christian singer/songwriter/producer Roby Duke co-produced the track, with Williams' then-husband Brad Westering producing the rest of the album.
Track listing
1. Special Love (Deniece Williams, Lee Ritenour, Greg Matthieson) -3:56
2. Fire Inside My Soul (Russ Hollingsworth, Mark Baldwin) -3:54
3. Healing (Jeremy Lubbock, Paul Gordon) -4:40
4. Free (Sheldon Gooch) -5:34
5. Every Moment (Deniece Williams, Dave Raynor) -4:13
6. Who's Who (Deniece Williams, Brad Westering, Roby Duke) -4:03
7. His Eye Is On the Sparrow (Civilla D. Martin, Charles H. Gabriel; arranged by
Deniece Williams and Greg Mathieson) -5:05
8. Give It All to You (Deniece Williams, Dave Raynor, Kenny Lamar) -4:58
9. Somebody Loves You (Deniece Williams, Bob Baldwin, Porter Carroll, Jr.) -3:48
10. We Sing Praises (duet with Natalie Cole) (Deniece Williams, Dave Raynor, Jay Gruska) -4:50
Radio singles
"Healing" -#3 Christian CHR, #1 Christian AC
"Every Moment" -#3 Christian CHR, #2 Christian AC, #55 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs
"We Sing Praises" (with Natalie Cole) -#23 Christian CHR, #7 Christian AC
"Somebody Loves You" -#8 Christian CHR, #7 Christian AC
"Fire Inside My Soul" -#9 Christian CHR
Previous release: As Good As It Gets (1988)
Next release: Change the World (1990) (compilation)
Listen to Special Love here: