Speechless (1999)

Speechless is the ninth studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, released on June 3, 1999 by Sparrow Records. Produced by Chapman and Brown Bannister.

Speechless provided five No. 1 singles on the Christian AC radio chart than any of Chapman's other albums: "The Change," "Fingerprints of God," "Great Expectations," "Dive" and the title song "Speechless" in addition to two Top 5 Christian CHR hits, "Whatever" and "I Do Believe." The album is considered one of Chapman's greater works by many and is recognized by many as being one of the best Christian albums of all time.

The song "Dive" is based on Chapman's friend and pastor Scotty Smith, who went on a fishing trip with his friend and there they fond an idyllic stream of water and waded out chest deep with their flying fishing rods. That afternoon, they caught a lot of fish in that deep water area and Smith drew an analogy to the Christian life, encouraging his congregation to not sit on the sidelines, but to brave the deep waters and fully experience the scary, sometimes dangerous places God has called His people to walk. The track is named as one of the 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music by CCM Magazine in 2006, listing it at number 78.

The album topped the Billboard Top Christian Albums and peaked at number 31 on the Billboard 200 Albums charts. It was certified Gold in November 1999 and Platinum a year later selling over a million copies by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2000, Chapman won his fourth Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album at the 42nd Grammy Awards and also won four Dove Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Artist of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "Dive" at the 31st GMA Dove Awards and winning another Male Vocalist title the following year.

Track listing

All songs written by Steven Curtis Chapman, except where noted.

1. Dive -3:58

2. Speechless (Steven Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore) -5:07

3. The Change (Steven Curtis Chapman, James Isaac Elliot) -3:47

4. Great Expectations -5:03

5. Next Five Minutes (Steven Curtis Chapman, Adam Anders) -4:20

6. Fingerprints of God – 4:03

7. The Invitation (Steven Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore) –4:58

8. Whatever –4:02

9. I Do Believe – 4:02

10. What I Really Want to Say -4:23

11. With Hope –5:13

12. The Journey (Steven Curtis Chapman, J. A. C. Redford) -3:06

13. Be Still and Know –3:20

RIAA certifications

Gold certified in 1999.

Platinum certified in 2000.

Accolades

Grammy Award -Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (Speechless)

Dove Award -2000, 2001 Male Vocalist of the Year

2000 Artist of the Year

2000 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Speechless)

2000 Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Dive")

Radio singles

1999 "Speechless" -#2 Christian CHR, -#1 Christian AC for 4 weeks

1999 "Dive" -#1 Christian CHR for 3 weeks, -#1 Christian AC for 3 weeks

2000 "Whatever" -#3 Christian CHR

2000 "Fingerprints of God" -#1 Christian AC for 4 weeks

2000 "I Do Believe" -#3 Christian CHR

2000 "Great Expectations" -#1 Christian AC

2000 "The Change" -#4 Christian CHR, -#1 Christian AC for 7 weeks

Previous release: Greatest Hits (1997) (compilation album)

Next release: Declaration (2001)

Watch the music video of "Dive" here: