The Call is the second studio album by the Christian R&B/gospel group Anointed, released in 1995 on Myrrh/Word Records. The album is produced by brothers Cedric and Victor Caldwell, Christopher Harris and Mark Heimermann.
The Call was considered a breakthrough and the most successful and best selling album from the group. The group's sound was scaled back from their debut album Spiritual Love Affair and is more adult contemporary with some upbeat songs and moving ballads. Anointed experienced some mainstream success with the track "It's in God's Hands Now." Its music video was added on rotation on BET (Black Entertainment Television) and made the Top 40 on Billboard's R&B chart. The song is about letting go of a spouse who doesn't want to stay in a relationship and in the music video, showed some statistics about how marriages end in divorce. It's a first in a gospel music album that divorce is rarely talked about. Michael W. Smith provides guest vocals on the track "If I Labor," co-written by Marvin Winans.
The Call peaked at number 5 on the Top Christian Albums and number 12 on the Top Gospel Albums charts in Billboard magazine. Anointed was named Contemporary Duo/Group of the Year at the 11th Annual Stellar Awards and won three Dove Awards for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year, Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for the title song (the group wrote the song themselves) and Urban Recorded Song of the Year for the track "It's in God's Hands Now." The group earned their first Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Mary Tiller left amid charges of sexual harassment on the part of their manger and suing the group for breach of contract. Anointed continued on as a trio with the siblings Steve and Da'dra Crawford and Denise "Nee-C" Walls.
Track listing
1. The Call (Anointed) -4:34
2. It's a Matter of Love (Steve Crawford, Greta Garner, Mark Heimermann, David Mullen) -4:38
3. Gotta Love It (Mark Heimermann) -4:27
4. God is All Around (Da'dra Crawford, Mary Tiller, Dennis Matkosky, Madeline Stone) -4:33
5. Send Out a Prayer (Mary Tiller, Ty Lacy) -4:37
6. It's in God's Hands Now (Allen Shamblin, Madeline Stone) -4:34
7. In the Need of Love (Dennis Matkosky, Madeline Stone) -4:22
8. Grace Enough (Steve Crawford, Ty Lacy) -4:33
9. Not the I But the You in Me (Anointed, David Mullen) -4:40
10. If I Labor (guest vocals by Michael W. Smith) (Marvin Winans, Estella Boyd) -4:14
11. Life is a Dream (Da'dra Crawford, David Mullen) -5:47
Personnel
Anointed:
Steve Crawford -vocals
Da'dra Crawford Greathouse -vocals
Denise "Nee-C" Walls -vocals
Mary Tiller -vocals
Production credits
Cedric and Victor Caldwell -producers (tracks 7 -9 and 11)
Christopher Harris -producer (tracks 4 -6 and 10)
Mark Heimermann -producer (tracks 1 -3)
Accolades
Dove Award -Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year (The Call)
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("The Call")
Urban Recorded Song of the Year ("It's in God's Hands Now")
Stellar Award -Contemporary Duo/Group of the Year (The Call)
Radio singles
1995 "It's in God's Hands Now" -#40 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs
1995 "Send Out a Prayer" -#2 Christian CHR, #4 Christian AC
1995 "The Call" -#8 Christian CHR, #2 Christian AC
1995 "Not the I But the You in Me" -#11 Christian AC
Previous release: Spiritual Love Affair (1993)
Next release: Under the Influence (1996)
Watch the music video of "The Call" here:
Watch the music video of "It's in God's Hands Now" here:
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