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Writer's pictureJoel Caballero

Take Me to Your Leader (1996)

Updated: Apr 13


Take Me to Your Leader is the sixth studio album by the Australian Christian rock band Newsboys, released on February 20, 1996 by Star Song Records. The album is produced by Peter Furler and Steve Taylor.


It was both the last Newsboys album to feature lead vocalist John James and the first to feature bassist/vocalist Phil Joel (singing lead on three tracks). It is the first Newsboys album to feature them as a sextet. It became another successful album with 10 out of the 11 songs released to Christian radio as multi-format singles and every song went to the Top 10 on The CCM Update's Christian music charts in CHR, AC and Rock.


Take Me to Your Leader gave Newsboys their first number one album on Billboard's Top Christian Albums and peaked at number 35 on the Top 200 Albums chart. This album spawned the Newsboys' first movie on VHS, Down Under the Big Top, which was based on the song "Reality." The film also features some CCM artists acting with the band like producer Taylor (who produced and directed the film), Gary Chapman and Mark Lowry, among others. It also features music videos for the title song and "Shine" from their previous album Going Public.


In 1997, Newsboys earned their third Grammy nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album and were nominated for three Dove Awards for Rock Album of the Year, Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "God Is Not a Secret" and Short Form Music Video for "Take Me to Your Leader." Take Me to Your Leader did win a technical Dove Award for Recorded Music Packaging given to the art directors and photographers. That same year, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).


Track listing

All songs were written by Peter Furler and Steve Taylor, except where noted.


1. God Is Not a Secret -3:10

2. Take Me to Your Leader -2:59

3. Breathe (Peter Furler, Steve Taylor, Phil Joel) -3:16

4. Reality -3:09

5. Breakfast -3:40

6. Let It Go (Peter Furler, Steve Taylor, Jeff Frankenstein) -3:39

7. Cup 'O Tea (Peter Furler, Phil Joel) -2:41

8. It's All Who You Know -3:12

9. Miracle Child (Peter Furler, Steve Taylor, Jody Davis) -3:11

10. Lost the Plot -4:57

11. Breathe (Benediction) (Peter Furler, Steve Taylor, Phil Joel) -3:16


Personnel


Newsboys:

John James -lead vocals on tracks 2, 4 and 9, backing vocals

Peter Furler - lead vocals on tracks 1, 3 -8 and 10, backing vocals, drums,

 guitar, keyboards, kazoo, whistling on track 5

Duncan Phillips -percussion

Jody Davis -guitar, backing vocals

Phil Joel -lead vocals on tracks 2, 6 and 11, bass guitar, backing vocals, whistling

on track 5

Jeff Frankenstein -keyboards


Gold certified in 1997.


Radio singles

1996 "Reality" -#1 Christian CHR for 5 weeks, #9 Christian AC

1996 "Take Me to Your Leader" -#1 Christian CHR for 4 weeks, #37 Christian AC

1996 "Let It Go" -#1 Christian CHR for 2 weeks, #4 Christian AC

1996 -1997 "Breakfast" -#4 Christian CHR

1997 "Breathe (Benediction)" -#2 Christian CHR

1997 "It's All Who You Know" -#6 Christian CHR


Previous release: Going Public (1994)

Watch the Newsboys film Down Under the Big Top here:

Watch the music video of "Take Me to Your Leader" here:


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