WOW 1998Â is a double disc compilation album that was released on October 23, 1997 by EMI Christian Music Group, Provident Music Group and Word Entertainment with Sparrow/Chordant Distribution Group as its main distributor.
Starting with this collection onward, the two discs will be divided into two formats: the red disc features 15 songs that are Christian Rock and CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) and the black disc features 15 songs that are Christian AC (Adult Contemporary) and Inspirational (or Inspo for short).
On the black disc, there are two unreleased tracks: the first new track "My Utmost for His Highest" was written and recorded by Twila Paris and she enlisted the help of other CCM artists to sing with her like Steven Curtis Chapman, Sandi Patty, Bryan Duncan, Cindy Morgan and Avalon. The song was originally released as a radio-only single and is based on the My Utmost for His Highest albums.
The other new track is the original recording of "Carry You," written and recorded by Amy Grant. It was recorded during the Behind the Eyes sessions, but at the time, was not added to the album, so Grant donated the song as an exclusive track for this collection. The song would be added 25 years later on an Expanded Edition of Behind the Eyes in 2022.
WOW 1998 peaked at number 2 on the Top Christian Albums and number 52 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine. The collection went Gold in January 1998 and Platinum four months later in April 1998 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Track listing
Red Disc (Christian CHR/Rock)
1.Overjoyed (Jars of Clay) (Jars of Clay, Greg Wells, Mark Hudson) -2:57
2. Colored People (DC Talk) (Toby McKeehan, George Cocchini) -4:26
3. Hope to Carry On (Caedmon's Call) (Rich Mullins) -2:46
4. Abba (Father) (Rebecca St. James) (Rebecca St. James, Otto Price, Tedd T.)
-5:21
5. My Hope is You (Third Day) (Mac Powell and Third Day) -4:20
6. Missing Person (Michael W. Smith) (Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
-5:09
7. Walk on Water (Audio Adrenaline) (Audio Adrenaline) -4:18
8. Disappear (Out of the Grey) (Scott and Christine Denté) -5:34
9. Mission 3:16 (Carman) (Carman Licciardello) -4:14
10. Reality (Newsboys) (Peter Furler, Steve Taylor) -3:08
11. We Can Make A Difference (Jaci Velasquez) (Mark Heimermann, David Mullen)
-3:51
12. People Get Ready...Jesus in Comin'! (Crystal Lewis) (Brian Ray) -6:01
13. Saving the World (Clay Crosse) (Regie Hamm) -4:23
14. We Need Jesus (Petra featuring John Elefante and Lou Gramm) (John and Dino
Elefante, Scott Springer) -4:03
15. More Than You Know (Out of Eden) (Lisa Bragg, Michael Bragg, Todd Collins)
-4:09
Back Disc (Christian AC/Inspo)
1. Let Us Pray (Steven Curtis Chapman) (Steven Curtis Chapman) –3:59
2. Circle of Friends (Point of Grace) (Douglas McKelvey, Steve Siler) -4:15
3. On My Way to Paradise (Bob Carlisle) (Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas) -4:15
4. Carry You (Amy Grant) (Amy Grant) (previously unreleased until 2022's Behind
the Eyes: 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition) -4:49
5. Measure of a Man (4Him) (Mark Harris, Don Koch, Stephanie Lewis) -4:04
6. Give it Up (radio edit) (Avalon) (Avalon, Mark Heimermann, Rikki Kittleman)
-3:44
7. I Call Him Love (Kathy Troccoli) (Ty Lacy, Kevin Stokes, Joanna Carlson) -4:07
8. Adore You (Anointed) (Bob Farrell, Tina DeVaron, Larry Loftin, Mattias
Gustaffason) -4:00
9. Just One (Phillips, Craig & Dean) (Jim Cooper, Connie Harrington) -3:09
10. Up Where We Belong (BeBe & CeCe Winans) (Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jack Nitzsche,
Will Jennings) -5:02
11. You Move Me (Susan Ashton) (Gordon Kennedy, Pierce Pettis) -5:11
12. Breathe on Me (Sandi Patty) (Matt Huesmann, Grant Cunningham) -3:30
13. One of Two (Gary Chapman) (Gary Chapman) -4:56
14. A Whisper Heard Around the World (Bryan Duncan) (Bryan Duncan, Scott
Sheriff) -4:26
15. My Utmost for His Highest (Twila Paris with Steven Curtis Chapman, Sandi
Patty, Bryan Duncan, Cindy Morgan and Avalon) (Twila Paris) (previously
unreleased) -4:05
Gold and Platinum certified in 1998.
Listen and watch the playlist of WOW 1998Â here: