Amy Grant Albums (24)
'Time Again: Amy Grant Live All Access'
Release Date 9/26/2006
Tracks 22
Label Word
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Time Again: Amy Grant Live is more than a memory piece; it is a shared experience. Returning to Fort Worth's Bass Hall, where she played her first paid gig in 1978, Grant manages to make even her most popular hits accessible on an individual level. The track list reads like a Billboard collection of chart-toppers, to which even those who are the least familiar with CCM's breadth and depth could sing along. Hints abound as to why she has been met with so much crossover success -- admissions of personal love ("Every Heartbeat," "I Will Remember You") juxtaposed with mature reflection ("Oh How the Years Go By") and deeply felt praise & worship ("Thy Word"). It feels like more than a greatest-hits collection due to Grant's constant echoes of thanks to her fans. A supporting band of seasoned road musicians locks every note in the right place. The CD package includes a four-track DVD from the full-length video of the same name. ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide
'Rock of Ages...Hymns & Faith'
Release Date 5/3/2005
Tracks 13
Label Word
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Rock of Ages...Hymns & Faith is the rare sequel that rivals the original. 2002's Legacy, Amy Grant's first collection of old-time hymns and religious material, both familiar and obscure, was a full-fledged return to inspirational material after many years of secular material, and it was an understated delight, thanks to the smart song selection and classy, subtly shaded production from her husband Vince Gill and Brown Bannister. Rock of Ages doesn't change their approach at all, primarily because if it worked so well the first time, why change? Some of the songs here aren't as well-known as the tunes on the first record, but when Grant sings a song that is universally known, such as the title track or "Jesus Loves Me," it becomes easier to appreciate what she, Gill, and Bannister have achieved here. They have updated these old hymns -- most are from the 1800s, some date to the 1600s and 1700s -- so thoroughly that when they slip in a couple of new songs in among them, the fit is comfortable, not awkward. It works because the music is never flashy; it is relaxed and assured, giving Grant plenty of breathing room and giving Gill plenty of place to play some wonderful guitar. It's the rare contemporary Christian album that functions as terrific religious material and transcends its genre based on the richness of its music. It's truly a quiet, modest little gem. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After a painfully long six years since Amy Grant's last pop album (she released a collection of gospel hymns in 2002), the prolific singer/songwriter returns to the pop/rock fold with the candid and thoughtful Simple Things. Producers Keith Thomas, Brown Bannister, and Wayne Kirkpatrick give Grant a wonderful blueprint to build from, which she takes full advantage of, gifting the listener with beautifully poetic music to revel in. While never one to shy away from expressing the deepest recesses of her soul, it is somewhat surprising how open Grant is in relating very recent and highly publicized events (starting with her divorce from singer Gary Chapman), depicting both the work it takes to find peaceful ground amidst difficult situations (the poignant and telling "Eye to Eye") and the fulfillment and joy experienced in discovering true love (the delightfully upbeat "Looking for You"). Although one might argue that it is all a matter of the listener's interpretation, it's not hard to see the correlation between real life and the lyrics. Grant testifies what it means to find God's grace and forgiveness in the gorgeous "Out in the Open," while pondering life's defining moments with "I Don't Know Why." Examining the faults and failings of choices made in life with "Innocence Lost," Grant speaks honestly about the tribulations that were publicly displayed in the media and the personal redemption that followed. Expanding her vocal horizons, the singer harks back to the days of moody torch singers with the romantic "Touch," and joins husband Vince Gill for the emotional "Beautiful," which focuses on the positive aspects in a relationship that wasn't meant to be. Hardcore fans will remember the sentimental closer, "After the Fire," from Grant's 1997 appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The album's opener, "Happy," easily bests most of the tracks hitting Top 40 airplay, while the title cut (and first single) is a breezy, fun anthem about the importance of the "simple" everyday "things" of life that are too easily taken for granted. At only ten tracks, most fans may find their one complaint is that this collection is much too short. However, with Grant possessing a voice that continues to grow more rich with time, and a gift for writing heartfelt and soul-searching songs, a "too short" album is a small price to pay for such a solid work. With nary a throwaway track among them, all the songs combine to make Grant's Simple Things simply perfect. ~ Daniel Malich, All Music Guide
'Legacy...Hymns & Faith'
Release Date 5/21/2002
Tracks 14
Label Universal
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Within Amy Grant's rich catalog of sacred and secular recordings, Legacy...Hymns & Faith stands out for its thematic integrity and superb execution. Never a showy vocalist, she relies here on her familiarity with the material, most of which consists of old-time hymns, to convey the essence of each track. Her performances, bare of any extraneous effect and generally confined to a narrow segment of her range, blend into consistently excellent arrangements by Vince Gill (her husband) and Brown Bannister; these range from a catchy, soft pop treatment of "This Is My Father's World" through several dreamlike tracks, some buffeted by synths or strings (including "Softly and Tenderly," with its strong Daniel Lanois vibe), and one medley of particular beauty, "Fields of Plenty" and "Be Still My Soul," on which Grant sings a cappella and with Richard Bennett's acoustic guitar. Faith, in its gentlest manifestation, permeates the album up to the last track, "Marching to Zion," whose martial pipes and drums either disrupt the vibe or leave the listener exhilarated, depending on your disposition; a prayer, given in the studio by Amy's father, Burton Grant, and recorded by chance, provides an appropriate segue before the Crusaders storm off on their mission. ~ Robert L. Doerschuk, All Music Guide
'A Christmas to Remember'
Release Date 10/19/1999
Tracks 11
Label Interscope
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Amy Grant's previous two holiday releases (1983's Christmas Album and 1992's Home for Christmas) focused on traditional tunes, so there was little for Grant to do on her third holiday album but branch out. A Christmas to Remember concentrates on contemporary and original songs -- "Christmas Can't Be Very Far Away," "'Til the Season Comes 'Round Again," "Christmas Lullaby (I Will Lead You Home)," "Mister Santa" (a rehash of "Mr. Sandman"), and "Welcome to Our World" -- and flirts with jazz and big band sounds. The few classics ("Agnus Dei," "Highland Cathedral," "Silent Night") sound a little clumsy when coupled with "Jingle Bell Rock," but Grant's fans will be pleased with her conventional, amiable album. ~ Gina Boldman, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
When Behind the Eyes came out in 1997, Amy Grant had been recording for 20 years. And it was obvious that she still had a lot left to say. In contrast to the high-tech slickness that characterized some of her previous A&M efforts, the earthy Eyes finds Grant playing a lot of jangly acoustic guitar and bringing a folk appeal to her pop-rock. Most of the writing is excellent, and Grant offers some of the most meaningful, insightful songs of her career. "Nobody Home" describes the economic hardship that has ravaged a small town, while the country-influenced "Curious Thing" examines the ways in which a person's life can change radically. "Turn This World Around," "Takes a Little Time" and "Somewhere Down the Road" offer a message of hope and optimism without being Pollyanna-ish -- Grant acknowledges that life is hard and difficult, but insists that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Both musically and lyrically, Behind the Eyes is one of Grant's best albums ever. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After a duo of detours (a youth worship record and a second Christmas offering), Grant returns with an album that doesn't even pretend to be gospel, but still reflects her ideologies. Mellower than Heart in Motion, the album sounds more like Lead Me On, but doesn't plumb its depths. ~ Thom Granger, All Music Guide
'The Gingham Dog & the Calico Cat'
Release Date 8/24/1993
Tracks 1
Label Rabbit Ears
See Album Tracklist and Review
