The Bride/La Esposa (1993)

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The Bride is the fifth studio album by American singer - songwriter Crystal Lewis, released in December 1993 by Metro One. The album was produced by Brian Ray.

Though The Bride was Lewis' fifth release, it was only her second as a newly independent artist on the Metro One label who was still establishing herself. The largely acoustic sound of the album was fairly mature for the then-24-year-old singer, but well-chosen. After her time on the Nickelodeon show Roundhouse ended for the first season, Lewis spent more time with music.

The Bride features "You'll Be Back For Me," a bluesy-type rock number. "Little Jackie"'s funky acid jazz complements her Gospel side on "The Mother and the Bride." Leaning heavily on devotional ballads like “My Redeemer Lives” and a foray into lush jazz with “Jesus Belongs in Your Heart,” The Bride positioned her for wider exposure on Christian networks like TBN, and performing at events like Harvest Crusades that were attended by thousands.

Lewis recorded The Bride in Spanish as La Esposa with a different track listing order, but omitted the track "Holy Place." "Little Jackie" and the live version of "Amazing Grace" appear in their original English versions. The Bride was Lewis' first appearance on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart as the album peaked at No. 22 in February 1994. CCM Magazine ranked the album at No. 97 in their 2006 book The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.

Track listing in English

1. Don't Worry (Crystal Lewis) -4:01

2. Little Jackie (Crystal Lewis, Brian Ray) -4:09

3. The Mother of the Bride (Crystal Lewis) -5:49

4. Angels (Crystal Lewis) -4:37

5. My Redeemer Lives (John Willison) -5:21

6. You'll Be Back For Me (Brian Ray) -4:35

7. Holy Place (Crystal Lewis, Brian Ray) -5:13

8. Amazing Grace (John Newton) -4:41

9. Jesus Belongs in Your Heart (John Wimber) -5:33

10. Amazing Grace (live) -3:40

Track listings in Spanish

1. La Madre y La Esposa (The Mother and the Bride) -5:50

2. Necesitas A Cristo (Jesus Belongs in Your Heart) -5:33

3. Angeles (Angels) -4:37

4. No Te Afanes (Don't Worry) -4:02

5. Mi Redentor Vive (My Redeemer Lives) -5:22

6. Regresaras Por Mi (You'll Be Back For Me) -4:31

7. Sublime Gracias (Amazing Grace) -4:41

8. Little Jackie (sung in English) -4:09

9. Amazing Grace (live) (sung in English) -3:40

Radio singles

1994 "You'll Be Back For Me" -#2 Christian CHR

1994 "The Mother and the Bride" -#22 Christian AC

1994 "Little Jackie" -#12 Christian CHR

Previous release: Remember/Recuerda (1992)  

Next release: The Remix Collection (1994) (remix album)