Stand (2006)

Stand is the seventh studio album by the Christian vocal group Avalon, released on January 24, 2006 by Sparrow Records. Shaun Shankel produced a majority of the album with Mark Hammond producing two tracks and Bernie Herms producing the track "When the Time Comes." The release marks the group celebrating 10 years since their 1996 debut album.

Stand moves Avalon away from the heavy synthesizers and drum loops of their earlier work, favoring a more "organic" pop sound that ranges from upbeat tracks to emotional ballads. The standout tracks include the lead single "Love Won't Leave You" and the ballad "Orphans of God." Written by Joel Lindsey and Twila LaBar, "Orphans of God" (the second single) carries a message of universal acceptance and divine grace. The lyrics emphasize that no matter how broken or "unworthy" someone may feel, they are never truly alone or cast out by God. The song was a Top 5 hit on the Radio & Records Christian Inspo chart and in 2007, it was nominated for a Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year. The tracks "Somehow You Are" and "Slowly" were co-written by American R&B singer - songwriter James Ingram.

Avalon also records a cover of Russ Taff's 1983 signature song "We Will Stand" featuring Taff himself on guest vocals. The song served as an inspiration for their 2008 covers album Another Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics, in which this track also appears in. Stand debuted and peaked at number 7 on the Top Christian Albums and at number 160 on the Billboard 200, making their final appearance on the latter chart.

Track listing

1. The Other Side (Jody McBrayer, Melissa Greene, Ian Eskelin, Barry Weeks, Tony

Wood) -3:40

2. Love Won't Leave You (Ben Glover, Shaun Shankel) -3:58

3. Orphans of God (Joel Lindsey, Twila LaBar) -4:32

4. Somehow You Are (James Ingram, Bernie Herms) -3:33

5. Slowly (James Ingram, Ben Glover) -4:00

6. We Will Stand (featuring Russ Taff) (Russ Taff, Tori Taff, James Hollihan, Jr.)

-4:10

7. Jesus (Ronnie Freeman, Chad Cates, Dan Muckala) -4:20

8. I Survive (Michèle Vice-Maslin, Amy Powers, Dorian Cheah) -3:10

9. When the Time Comes (Sam Mizell, Tony Wood) -4:25

10. Where Joy and Sorrow Meet (David James White) -4:37

 Personnel

Avalon:

Janna Potter -lead vocals on tracks 3, 4 and 9, vocals

Jody McBrayer -lead vocals on track 1, 4 and 7, vocals

Greg Long -lead vocals on track 2, 4, 5 and 8, vocals

Melissa Greene -lead vocals on tracks 1, 8 and 10, vocals

Production credits

Shaun Shankel -producer (tracks 1 -5, 7 and 10)

Mark Hammond -producer (tracks 6 and 8)

Bernie Herms -producer (track 9)

Radio singles

2006 "Love Won't Leave You" -#22 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#22 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#20 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#18 R&R Christian AC

2006 "Orphans of God" -#5 R&R Christian Inspo

Previous release: The Creed (2004)

Next release: Faith: A Hymns Collection (2006)