Wire (2004)

Wire is the seventh studio album by the Christian rock band Third Day, released on May 4, 2004 by Essential Records/Provident Music. The album was produced by Paul Ebersold.

Wire returned Third Day to their rock and roll roots and was largely carried by the energetic guitar riffs that pervade its songs, although the forceful lyrics also contribute significantly. The album's songs deal with numerous themes. "Wire," the title track, is a song about the pressure to succeed in modern society. "I Believe," "I Got a Feeling," "Innocent," and other tracks deal with sin, faith, and renewal from a Christian perspective. "Billy Brown" is a song that explores the readiness of people to follow and even idolize entertainment figures.

Wire was preceded by two singles: "I Believe" was sent to Christian AC radio and "Come On Back to Me" to Christian CHR and Christian Rock formats. Both songs charted on Radio & Records in their respective Christian format charts and both songs went Top 5. It was a different story on the Billboard Christian music charts as "Come On Back to Me" peaked at number 21 on the Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay while "I Believe" topped at number 1 on the Christian AC Airplay chart and peaked at number 3 on the Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay. Their further single "You Are Mine," which explores themes of divine grace, human brokenness, and gratitude for Jesus Christ's sacrifice, was the band's first multi-format single on Radio & Records, charting on CHR, AC and Inspo, their first appearance on the latter chart.

Wire debuted and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 while it topped the Top Christian Albums chart. It is their first number one Top Christian Album title since Time. Third Day collected their fifth Gold certification for Wire by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) by the end of the year. In 2005, Third Day won their second Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album at the 47th Grammy Awards and later won a Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards.

Track listing

All songs written by Mac Powell, except where noted.

1. 'Til the Day I Die -3:25

2. Come On Back to Me -3:53

3. Wire (Mark Lee) -4:32

4. Rockstar -3:12

5. I Believe -3:02

6. It's a Shame -3:58

7. Blind -4:54

8. I Got a Feeling -3:37

9. You Are Mine -3:57

10. Innocent (Mark Lee) -4:24

11. Billy Brown -3:17

12. San Angelo -5:20

13. I Will Hold My Head High (Mark Lee) -4:03

Personnel

Third Day:

Mac Powell -lead vocals, acoustic guitar

Mark Lee -guitars

Brad Avery -guitars

Tai Anderson -bass guitar

David Carr -drums

additional musicians:

Paul Ebersold -acoustic guitar, acoustic piano, church organ, Hammond B-3

organ, mellotron, programming

Paul Buckmaster -string arrangements on tracks 3 and 6

Scott Hardin -backing vocals (tracks 1, 2 and 7)

Chrystina Lloree Fincher -backing vocals on track 8

Scotty Wilbanks -Hammond B-3 organ (tracks 6 and 11), piano (tracks 6, 11 and 12)

Richard Thomas -cello on track 5

Boyd Tinsley -violin and string arrangement on track 7

RIAA certifications

Gold certified in 2004.

Accolades

Grammy Award -Best Rock Gospel Album (Wire)

Dove Award -Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year (Wire)

Radio singles

2004 "Come On Back to Me" -#21 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#21 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#5 R&R Christian CHR

2004 "I Believe" -#3 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#3 Billboard Christian Airplay,

-#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for 2 weeks, -#2 R&R Christian AC

2004 -2005 "You Are Mine" -#14 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#14 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#13 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#15 R&R Christian CHR,

-#9 R&R Christian AC, -#6 R&R Christian Inspo

Previous release: Offerings II: All I Have to Give (2003) 

Next release: Live Wire (2004) (live CD/DVD)