Thrive is the ninth studio by the Australian Christian rock band Newsboys, released on March 26, 2002 by Sparrow Records.
Thrive saw the return of Steve Taylor, who hasn't co-produced a full-length Newsboys album since Take Me to Your Leader (1996), although he was involved in songwriting on two tracks on their next album Step Up to the Microphone (1998) and the new tracks on their "greatest hits" album Shine: The Hits (2000). Taylor was not involved in the making of their 1999 release Love Liberty Disco.
The album saw the band return to their pop rock sound and was preceded by the first single, the praise and worship anthem, "It Is You." The song topped both the Christian CHR and Christian AC charts on the Radio & Records' CCM Update section. It is the only track Joe Baldridge co-produced with Peter Furler, while Furler and Taylor produced the rest of the album. Their next single "Million Pieces (Kissing Your Cares Goodbye)" (aided by a music video) also topped both R&R's Christian CHR and Christian AC charts. Their Christian Rock singles "John Woo" (a somewhat tongue-and-cheek tribute to the action film director of the same name) and "The Fad of the Land" both made the Top 10 on that chart.
Thrive debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Top Christian Albums and number 38 on the Billboard 200 Albums charts. Newsboys also released a live concert video on DVD, Thrive: From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It was available in the Limited Edition of Thrive in 2005 as a combo. The live concert was nominated for a Dove Award for Long Form Music Video of the Year in 2003.
Track listing
All songs were written by Peter Furler and Steve Taylor, except where noted.
1. Giving It Over -3:48
2. Live in Stereo -3:07
3. Million Pieces (Kissing Your Cares Goodbye) -4:15
4. Thrive -3:54
5. Rescue (Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Steve Taylor) -4:23
6. It Is You (Peter Furler) -4:22
7. Cornelius -3:31
8. The Fad of the Land -3:19
9. John Woo -3:10
10. Lord (I Don't Know) -3:47
Personnel
Newsboys:
Peter Furler - lead vocals, drums, guitars
Phil Joel -bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals
Jody Davis -guitars, backing vocals
Duncan Phillips -drums, percussion
Jeff Frankenstein -keyboards, programming
Production credits
Peter Furler -producer (all tracks)
Steve Taylor -producer (tracks 1 -5, 7 -10)
Joe Baldridge -producer (track 6)
Radio singles
2002 "It Is You" -#1 R&R Christian CHR, #1 R&R Christian AC
2002 "Million Pieces (Kissing Your Cares Goodbye) -#1 R&R Christian CHR, #1 R&R
Christian AC
Previous release: Shine: The Hits (2000) (compilation album)
Next release: Newsboys Remixed (2002) (remix album)
Watch the live concert Thrive: From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum here:
Watch the music video of "Million Pieces (Kissing Your Cares Goodbye)" here:
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