Heaven & Earth (Phil Wickham album)
Encyclopedia
Heaven & Earth is the fourth studio album
by American Christian & gospel singer Phil Wickham
, released on November 10, 2009. The album debuted on #4 on Billboard's Hot Christian Albums chart after selling nearly 14k albums with more than 40 percent of album sales in digital, making his highest chart debut on Billboard 200 at #55.
The acoustic version of Heaven & Earth is an exclusive to the pre-order of the full length album, contains the unplugged acoustic version of his new record.
The expanded edition of Heaven & Earth is only available for digital download via iTunes on August 31, 2010, the exclusive edition includes four new songs, the new single "In My Love", "Great In My Live", a remix version of "Eden", and "One Who Overcomes" which was also included in the collection album "Catalyst Music Project". On the same day, Phil also released his second live recording "Singalong" album, which includes fourteen his previous hits (incl. "Cannons" and "Divine Romance"), the album is only available for 2 months on iTunes.
Christian Music Review named the album "One of the Top Albums of 2009"
The expanded edition of "Heaven & Earth" includes four new tracks, the new single "In My Love", "Great In My Life", a remix version of "Eden", and "One Who Overcomes" which was originally included in the 2009 collection album "Catalyst Music Project".
Heaven & Earth
Nathaniel Schexnayder from Jesus Freak Hideout: "Throw in Wickham's previous compelling lyrics along with a good sophomore release for INO records (Cannons) and the respected singer/song writer has some momentum built for possibly his best project yet, Heaven & Earth is easily one of the finest worship projects of the year."
Reverend Lee Power from Allmusic: "Heaven & Earth cements Wickham reputation as one of contemporary gospel most original voices, and the perfect tonic for those who feel that modern CCM lacks the artistry of its muse."
Kevin Davis from "New Release Tuesday": "Heaven & Earth is not only an encouraging album from a lyrical standpoint, but a delight to listen to with guitar parts that feel like they are literally plucking strings connected to your chest and lonesome yet lush string arrangements, recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios."
“Wickham is moving in a fascinating direction with his sound, and with this album he seems to be testing the waters a bit. It makes the prospect of future material that much more enticing. But until then, we have this fine album—one of 2009’s best—to keep us company.” -ChristianMusicToday.com
"This is definitely Phil Wickham’s best overall album and one of my top 10 albums of 2009. These melodies are off the charts and any test audience will have a hard time not giving these songs 5 star ratings. This is a 5 star album.” -Christian Music Review
Technical Credits
Additional Credits
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 American Christian & gospel singer Phil Wickham
Phil Wickham
Phil Wickham is a Contemporary Christian vocalist/songwriter and guitarist from San Diego, California. Wickham has released five CDs, Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, singalong in 2008, and Heaven & Earth in 2009. His upcoming album "Response" is slated to...
, released on November 10, 2009. The album debuted on #4 on Billboard's Hot Christian Albums chart after selling nearly 14k albums with more than 40 percent of album sales in digital, making his highest chart debut on Billboard 200 at #55.
The acoustic version of Heaven & Earth is an exclusive to the pre-order of the full length album, contains the unplugged acoustic version of his new record.
The expanded edition of Heaven & Earth is only available for digital download via iTunes on August 31, 2010, the exclusive edition includes four new songs, the new single "In My Love", "Great In My Live", a remix version of "Eden", and "One Who Overcomes" which was also included in the collection album "Catalyst Music Project". On the same day, Phil also released his second live recording "Singalong" album, which includes fourteen his previous hits (incl. "Cannons" and "Divine Romance"), the album is only available for 2 months on iTunes.
Christian Music Review named the album "One of the Top Albums of 2009"
Theme behind "Heaven & Earth"
Notable song information
Eden
Cielo
Safe
Heaven & Earth
Track listing
All songs were written and co-written by Phil Wickham, and produced by his long-time producer Peter Kipley.The expanded edition of "Heaven & Earth" includes four new tracks, the new single "In My Love", "Great In My Life", a remix version of "Eden", and "One Who Overcomes" which was originally included in the 2009 collection album "Catalyst Music Project".
Heaven & Earth
Reception
Critical response
Heaven & Earth has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from most music critics.Nathaniel Schexnayder from Jesus Freak Hideout: "Throw in Wickham's previous compelling lyrics along with a good sophomore release for INO records (Cannons) and the respected singer/song writer has some momentum built for possibly his best project yet, Heaven & Earth is easily one of the finest worship projects of the year."
Reverend Lee Power from Allmusic: "Heaven & Earth cements Wickham reputation as one of contemporary gospel most original voices, and the perfect tonic for those who feel that modern CCM lacks the artistry of its muse."
Kevin Davis from "New Release Tuesday": "Heaven & Earth is not only an encouraging album from a lyrical standpoint, but a delight to listen to with guitar parts that feel like they are literally plucking strings connected to your chest and lonesome yet lush string arrangements, recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios."
“Wickham is moving in a fascinating direction with his sound, and with this album he seems to be testing the waters a bit. It makes the prospect of future material that much more enticing. But until then, we have this fine album—one of 2009’s best—to keep us company.” -ChristianMusicToday.com
"This is definitely Phil Wickham’s best overall album and one of my top 10 albums of 2009. These melodies are off the charts and any test audience will have a hard time not giving these songs 5 star ratings. This is a 5 star album.” -Christian Music Review
Chart performance
Heaven & Earth debuted on #4 on Billboard's Hot Christian Albums chart and #55 on Billboard 200 after selling nearly 14k copies, with more than 40 percent of album sales in digital, the album also debuted on iTunes Christian chart hitting the #1 spot and #24 on Billboard Digital Albums and made it up to #43 and #45 on Top 300 iTunes Inspirational Album Downloads and Top 300 iTunes Christian & Gospel Album Downloads respectively.| Chart (2009–2010) | 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... |
55 |
| U.S. Digital Albums | 24 |
| U.S. Christian Albums | 4 |
Album Credits
Performance Credits- Phil WickhamPhil WickhamPhil Wickham is a Contemporary Christian vocalist/songwriter and guitarist from San Diego, California. Wickham has released five CDs, Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, singalong in 2008, and Heaven & Earth in 2009. His upcoming album "Response" is slated to...
– VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - London Symphony Orchestra – StringsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
, DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Peter Kipley – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Brandon Lozano – Drums
- Joel Plotnik – DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Danel Bailey – DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Taylor Johnson – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Evan Wickham – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Banjo
Technical Credits
- Steve Churchyard – Drum Engineering
- Chris Athens – Mastering
- Christian Rios – Art Direction
- Noah Gonzales – Layout
- Peter Kipley – ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, EngineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, Drum Engineering, Mixing - Peter Corbin – EngineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
- David Larring – Mixing
- Alex Curth – Audio Editor, Assistant Engineer
Additional Credits
- Christian Rios – Photography, Art Direction
- Noah Gonzales – Design, Layout