Audience of One (Heather Headley album)
Encyclopedia
Audience of One is the third studio album
by Trinidadian-American singer-songwriter Heather Headley
, released on January 13, 2009 by EMI Gospel
. It is a collection of cover version
s of popular gospel
hymn
s as well as original songs.
chart in January 2009. It also reached number one on Billboard
s Top Gospel Albums and at number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. Upon its release, Audience of One received generally positive reviews from most music critics. The Boston Globe
writer Ken Capobianco perceived it as an improvement from Headley's previous work and praised her singing, calling her vocal performances "commanding" and her voice "the purest and boldest voice in pop". The Washington Post
s Sarah Godfrey wrote favorably of Headley's performance on the album and stated "Audience of One lifts its voice to the heavens". However, Metro Spirit
writer Frazia Lee viewed it as "redundant with slow-paced songs", but commended Headley for her intent with gospel themes. Giving it 3 out of 4 stars, Elysa Gardner of USA Today
commended Headley for her vocals and wrote that the album's pop-oriented songs are "saved by Headley's discipline and grace, which not only pleases the ear but also reinforces the sense of humility so central to these songs".
In 2010, the album was nominated for a Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Trinidadian-American singer-songwriter Heather Headley
Heather Headley
Heather Headley is a Trinidadian-American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She has won one Tony Award and one Grammy Award.-Personal life:...
, released on January 13, 2009 by EMI Gospel
EMI Christian Music Group
EMI Christian Music Group is a subsidiary of EMI which contains its Christian music record labels, and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
. It is a collection of cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of popular gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s as well as original songs.
Reception
The album debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart in January 2009. It also reached number one on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Top Gospel Albums and at number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. Upon its release, Audience of One received generally positive reviews from most music critics. The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
writer Ken Capobianco perceived it as an improvement from Headley's previous work and praised her singing, calling her vocal performances "commanding" and her voice "the purest and boldest voice in pop". The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
s Sarah Godfrey wrote favorably of Headley's performance on the album and stated "Audience of One lifts its voice to the heavens". However, Metro Spirit
Metro Spirit
The Metro Spirit is a free alternative news weekly in Augusta, Georgia . The paper is widely available at news stands across the Augusta area....
writer Frazia Lee viewed it as "redundant with slow-paced songs", but commended Headley for her intent with gospel themes. Giving it 3 out of 4 stars, Elysa Gardner of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
commended Headley for her vocals and wrote that the album's pop-oriented songs are "saved by Headley's discipline and grace, which not only pleases the ear but also reinforces the sense of humility so central to these songs".
In 2010, the album was nominated for a Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards
41st GMA Dove Awards
The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 21, 2010 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2009. The show was held at the The Opry Entertainment Complex in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Bart Millard....
.
Track listing
- "Simply Redeemed" (Tommy SimsTommy SimsTommy Sims is a renowned bassist, songwriter, record producer and bandleader.-Music career:From 1987 to 1989 he was the bassist of the popular Christian rock band White Heart which he left to become a studio musician and producer. During 1992-1993, he played bass on the Bruce Springsteen and the...
, Marc Harris) – 5:07 - "Ordinary Me" (Heather Headley, Will Champlin, Jonathan Crone, Liz Rose) – 4:29
- "I Wish" (Heather Headley, Iric Headley, Jr., Keith ThomasKeith Thomas (producer)Keith Thomas, born and raised in the Atlanta suburb of Conyers, Georgia, is a Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter with 40 #1 Billboard hits...
) – 4:00 - "Jesus Is Love" (featuring Smokie NorfulSmokie NorfulRev. W.R. "Smokie" Norful, Jr. is an American gospel singer and pianist, best known for his 2002 album, I Need You Now and his 2004 release, Nothing Without You, which won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004.-Early life:Norful, a minister who...
) (Lionel RichieLionel RichieLionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
) – 5:41 - "I Need Thee Every Hour/Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus'Tis So Sweet to Trust in JesusJust to take Him at His Word;Just to rest upon His promise,And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”RefrainJesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’erJesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!O for grace to trust Him more!O how sweet to trust in Jesus,...
/I'd Rather Have Jesus" (Annie S. Hawks, Robert Lowry, Louisa M. R. Stead, William J. KirkpatrickWilliam J. KirkpatrickWilliam J. Kirkpatrick was born in Duncannon, Pennsylvania to a schoolteacher and musician, Thomas Kirkpatrick. He was exposed to and given formal training in music at a very young age. In 1854, he moved to Philadelphia to study music and carpentry. It was here that he studied vocal music under...
, Rhea F. Miller, George Beverly SheaGeorge Beverly SheaGeorge Beverly "Bev" Shea is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea has often been described as "America's beloved Gospel singer" and is considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy...
) – 4:51 - "Running Back to You" (Fred HammondFred HammondFred Hammond is a gospel music singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.-Musical career:Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist...
) – 5:31 - "I Know the Lord Will Make a Way" (public domain) – 4:46
- "Here I Am to WorshipHere I am to Worship (song)"Here I Am to Worship" is a song written by Tim Hughes and was released as the title song of his debut album Here I Am to Worship. The song is a popular worship ballad. It is commonly sung at Christian churches, festivals and youth gatherings...
" (Tim HughesTim HughesTim Hughes is a British worship leader and singer-songwriter. He is currently Director of Worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, an Anglican church in central London, and heads up Worship Central, an international worship training and resource centre.- Personal life :Hughes is the son of an Anglican...
) – 4:43 - "The Power of the Cross" (Keith GettyKeith GettyJulian Keith Getty is a Northern Ireland composer, best known for pioneering "modern hymns." Many of his songs are co-written with his wife, Kristyn Getty, and veteran British songwriter and worship leader Stuart Townend...
, Stuart TownendStuart TownendStuart Townend is a British Christian worship leader and writer of hymns and contemporary worship music. His songs include "In Christ Alone" , "How Deep The Father's Love For Us", "Beautiful Saviour" and "The King Of Love".As of 2008, CCLI lists the "In Christ Alone" in its Top 25 CCLI Songs...
) – 6:30 - "Zion" (Heather Headley, Thomas) – 3:38
Musicians
- Darryl "DJ" Abernathy – drums
- Nico Abondolo – bass
- Steve Becknell – French horn
- Garrett Body – bass
- Becky Bunnell – violin
- Jorge Calandrelli – conductor, orchestration
- Darius Campo – violin
- Roberto Cani – violin
- Marion Caselberry – chorus
- Larry Corbett – cello
- David Davidson – violin
- Anthony Davis – chorus
- Brian Dembow – viola
- Drew Dembowski – bass
- Marcia Dickstein – harp
- Johnny Dillard – bass
- Bruce Dukov – violin, concert master
- Annette Dunlap – chorus
- Stephen Erdody – cello
- Alma Fernandez – viola
- Shannon Forrest – drums
- Tiffany Gatlin – chorus
- Sheldon Goodson – chorus
- Tim Gordon – saxophone
- Dan Greco – percussion
- Justin Hageman – French horn
- David Hamilton – piano, orchestration
- Heather Headley – arranger, composer, vocals
- Terry Holmes – chorus
- Lenair Hunt – chorus
- Tyrone Jefferson – trombone, horn arrangements
- Lawrence Jones – electric guitar
- Roland Kato – viola
- Sherrie Kibble – chorus
- Paul Klintworth – French horn
- Miran Kojian – violin
- Johana Krejci – violin
- Armen Ksadjikian – cello
- Cindy Larson – chorus
- Tanika Leigh – chorus
- Phillipe Levy – violin
- Olivia Mack – chorus
- Liane Mautner – violin
- Tracey McGhee – chorus
- Jerry McPherson – electric guitar
- Tamika Newsome – chorus
- Adam Nitti – bass
- Ira Noise – organ
- Carmel Nunnally – chorus
- Risha Nunnally – chorus
- Robin Olson – violin
- Jadon Poindexter – chorus
- Katia Popov – violin
- Michael Ripoll – acoustic guitar
- Anatoly Rosinsky – violin
- Denise Rutledge – chorus
- Harry Shirinian – viola
- Carol Smith – chorus
- Gene Smith – chorus
- Audrey Solomon – violin
- Tina Soule – cello
- Tracey Taylor – chorus
- Rick Todd – French horn
- Irina Voloshina – violin
- Dave Walther – viola
- Rick Watford – guitar
- Margaret Wooten – violin
- Kimmie Young – chorus
- Nathan Young – arranger, chorus master
- Suzanne Young – chorus
Production
- James Auwarter – engineer
- Brian Bennison – music preparation
- Darryl Bush – production coordination
- Rob Clark – assistant engineer
- Jonathan Crone – composer, electric guitar, engineer, production coordination
- Chris Deschene – music preparation
- Tim Frank – art direction
- Russ Harrington – photography
- Karen Scott Jackson – creative director
- Sherita Leslie – wardrobe
- Ken Love – mastering
- Josh Miller – engineer
- Smokie Norful – arranger
- Ken Pennell – executive producer
- Karen Philpott – cover design
- Bill Airey Smith – engineer
- Paul "Scooby" Smith – digital editing
- Glenn A. Tabor III – mixing
- Keith Thomas – piano, arranger, programming, producer, Fender rhodes, string arrangements
- Cedric Thompson – drums, keyboards, engineer
- Peter Tomashek – music preparation
- Scott Velazco – assistant engineer
- Matthew Westerholm – arranger
- Bill Whittington – engineer, mixing
- Thomas Wright – engineer, assistant engineer
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
27 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
6 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Gospel Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Comprehensive Albums Billboard Comprehensive Albums Billboard Comprehensive Albums was established in 2003 and was a weekly albums chart produced by Billboard magazine that ranked the biggest selling albums in the United States regardless of the product's age or method of sales.... |
27 |
External links
- Audience of One at EMI GospelEMI Christian Music GroupEMI Christian Music Group is a subsidiary of EMI which contains its Christian music record labels, and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...