Straight Ahead is the sixth studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Amy Grant, released in 1984 on Myrrh Records.
Straight Ahead was the follow-up to Grant's ground-breaking 1982 album Age to Age. Containing songs that were more aggressive than the ones found on Age to Age, Straight Ahead topped the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart for 61 weeks, knocking Petra's Not Of This World for one week, which in turn knocked out Grant's Age to Age after 82 weeks.
The first single "Angels" was a number-one Christian radio hit for 13 weeks and won Grant her third Grammy award for Best Gospel Performance, Female. The second single "Thy Word," based on Psalm 119:105, was ranked at number 30 in CCM Magazine's 2006 book The 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music.
Straight Ahead was the first Christian album to chart on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. A&M Records reissued it in 1985, just as Grant was appearing at the Grammy Awards performing "Angels." The album peaked at number 133 and was certified Gold in 1985.
Track listing
1. Where Do You Hide Your Heart (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith) -3:57
2. Jehovah (Geoffrey P. Thurman) -5:57
3. Angels (Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Brown Bannister, Michael W. Smith) -4:10
4. Straight Ahead (Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Michael W. Smith) -3:47
5. Thy Word (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith) -3:19
6. It's Not a Song (Robbie Buchanan, Gary Chapman) -3:27
7. Open Arms (Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Bruce Hibbard) -3:22
8. Doubly Good to You (Rich Mullins) -3:12
9. Tomorrow (Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Bruce Hibbard) -3:24
10. The Now and the Not Yet (Pam Mark Hall) -3:36
Gold certified in 1985.
Accolades
Grammy Award - Best Gospel Performance, Female ("Angels)
Dove Award - Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Straight Ahead)
Radio singles
1984 "Angels" -#1 for 13 weeks Christian AC/CHR
1984 "Thy Word" -#4 Christian AC/CHR
1984 "Jehovah" -#2 Christian AC/CHR
1984 -1985 "The Now and the Not Yet" -#20 Christian AC/CHR
Previous release: A Christmas Album (1983)
Watch the music video of "Angels" here:
Watch the music video of "It's Not a Song" here: