Much Afraid is the second
albumAn album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. The most common way is through commercial distribution, although smaller artists will often distribute directly to the public by selling their albums at live concerts or on their websites.-...
of
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
band
Jars of ClayJars of Clay is a Grammy Award winning Christian rock band from Franklin, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois....
. It was released in 1997 by
Essential RecordsEssential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It was established in 1992 and acquired by Brentwood Music in 1993...
.
Much Afraid was highly anticipated after the success of the band's first album, but due to a noticeable stylistic shift, the album was not as well received. The lead single, "
Crazy Times"Crazy Times" is a song recorded and performed by Jars of Clay. The song was a writing collaboration between band members Dan Haseltine and Stephen Mason with songwriters Mark Hudson and Greg Wells. It was the first single from their second studio album, Much Afraid. The single fared well in the...
" did not do well on mainstream radio, though it was accepted at
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
radio. Since the sound had more of an electric-guitar driven sound, many fans expected
Much Afraid to be more of a rock album than its predecessor.
Much Afraid is the second
albumAn album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. The most common way is through commercial distribution, although smaller artists will often distribute directly to the public by selling their albums at live concerts or on their websites.-...
of
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
band
Jars of ClayJars of Clay is a Grammy Award winning Christian rock band from Franklin, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois....
. It was released in 1997 by
Essential RecordsEssential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It was established in 1992 and acquired by Brentwood Music in 1993...
.
Much Afraid was highly anticipated after the success of the band's first album, but due to a noticeable stylistic shift, the album was not as well received. The lead single, "
Crazy Times"Crazy Times" is a song recorded and performed by Jars of Clay. The song was a writing collaboration between band members Dan Haseltine and Stephen Mason with songwriters Mark Hudson and Greg Wells. It was the first single from their second studio album, Much Afraid. The single fared well in the...
" did not do well on mainstream radio, though it was accepted at
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
radio. Since the sound had more of an electric-guitar driven sound, many fans expected
Much Afraid to be more of a rock album than its predecessor. Instead, the album seemed to go the other way, taking a more lush and melancholy approach, scaling down the strings and drum loops that the band was known for. The lyrics were also more interpretive and less explicitly Christian than before, focusing more on relationships and emotional issues, though the album's title track and "Hymn" both mentioned "Sweet Jesus" in their lyrics. Some have compared the sound of this album to that of
Toad the Wet SprocketToad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consists of singer/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss...
, a band noted for being an influence for Mason and Haseltine of Jars of Clay.
"Fade to Grey" and "
Frail"Frail" is a song written and performed by Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay which has appeared on many recordings by the group and lends its name to the group's debut demo release Frail from 1994...
" were both previously from the group's debut demo recording
Frail in 1994. All other tracks from that demo were recorded for the debut album
Jars of ClayJars of Clay is the eponymous first full-length album by Christian rock group Jars of Clay. It was released on October 24, 1995 by Essential Records. The album has been highly acclaimed, being one of few Christian albums of the mid-nineties to achieve platinum status...
in 1995. Both songs were changed significantly, especially "Frail" which was previously an instrumental piece which now contained lyrics. Notably, these songs were two of the first songs written by Jars of Clay.
The album features the multi-instrumental
Greg WellsGreg Wells is a musician and Grammy nominated record producer and mixer based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced, mixed and written hits with Katy Perry, OneRepublic, Mika, Pink, Colbie Caillat, Jamie Cullum, Deftones, Otep, The Veronicas, Jessie Baylin, Rufus Wainwright, Kyosuke Himuro and...
, who went on to produce
OneRepublicOneRepublic is an American pop rock band formed in Colorado. After a few years of moderate success, they have drawn mainstream attention with the release of their singles "Apologize", and "Stop and Stare"...
,
Katy PerryKatheryn Elizabeth Hudson , better known by her stage name Katy Perry, is an American singer-songwriter and musician...
,
PinkPink is a pale red color; the use of the word for the color was first recorded in the late 17th century, describing the flowers of pinks, flowering plants in the genus Dianthus. Pink itself is a combination of red and white...
, and
Rufus WainwrightRufus McGarrigle Wainwright is a Grammy-nominated, Canadian-American singer-songwriter. He has recorded five albums of original music, several EPs, and numerous tracks included on compilations and film soundtracks...
, who plays drums and bass guitar on almost every song and co-wrote "Tea And Sympathy" and the single "Crazy Times".
The song "
Five Candles (You Were There)"Five Candles " is a song written and performed by Jars Of Clay. It is the second radio single off of their 1997 studio album Much Afraid. The song was initially written for the soundtrack to the motion picture Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey...
" was originally written for the soundtrack to the
Jim CarreyJames Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and stand-up comedian. Carrey is best known for his performances as multiple characters in the sketch comedy show In Living Color, as the title character in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, as the unlucky TV...
film
Liar LiarLiar Liar is a 1997 American comedy film written by Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Jim Carrey. Carrey was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical...
, as the film is centred around a five year old's birthday wish, but the song was cut from the credits in favor of a
blooperA blooper is a short sequence of a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. These bloopers, or outtakes as they are also called, are often the subject of television shows or are occasionally revealed during the credit sequence at...
reelA reel is an object around which lengths of another material are wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core...
. The song was subsequently featured on a few other movie soundtracks. The album's title is a reference to the main character in
Hannah HurnardHannah Hurnard is a twentieth century Christian author, best known for her allegory Hinds' Feet on High Places.Hurnard was born in 1905 in Colchester, England to Quaker parents. She graduated from Ridgelands Bible College of Great Britain in 1926. In 1932 she became an independent missionary,...
's allegorical novel
Hinds' Feet on High PlacesHinds' Feet on High Places is an allegorical novel by English author Hannah Hurnard. Hinds' Feet was written in 1955 and has become a very successful work of Christian fiction, seeing new editions published as recently as July, 2005....
.
One track that was recorded during the
Much Afraid sessions that did not make the final track listing is "Fly Farther". The song, featuring vocals from
Alison KraussAlison Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in 1987...
, was finally released in 1999 on
The White Elephant SessionsThe White Elephant Sessions is a rarities and demo version album by American Christian band Jars of Clay, released in conjunction with the band's third studio album If I Left the Zoo...
.
This album earned the band a
Grammy AwardThe Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
for
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
Standard release
- "Overjoyed
"Overjoyed" is a song by American Christian rock group Jars of Clay. It was the fourth single from the band's second album, Much Afraid, and the fourth consecutive #1 radio single from the album...
" - 2:58
- "Fade to Grey
"Fade to Grey" is the first song ever written by Jars of Clay. It originally was recorded for the group's debut demo album, Frail, which was released in 1994...
" - 3:34
- "Tea and Sympathy" - 4:51
- "Crazy Times
"Crazy Times" is a song recorded and performed by Jars of Clay. The song was a writing collaboration between band members Dan Haseltine and Stephen Mason with songwriters Mark Hudson and Greg Wells. It was the first single from their second studio album, Much Afraid. The single fared well in the...
" - 3:34
- "Frail
"Frail" is a song written and performed by Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay which has appeared on many recordings by the group and lends its name to the group's debut demo release Frail from 1994...
" - 6:57
- "Five Candles (You Were There)
"Five Candles " is a song written and performed by Jars Of Clay. It is the second radio single off of their 1997 studio album Much Afraid. The song was initially written for the soundtrack to the motion picture Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey...
" - 3:48
- "Weighed Down" - 3:39
- "Portrait of an Apology" - 5:43
- "Truce
"Truce" is a song written and performed by Jars Of Clay. It is the fifth and final radio single from the band's second studio album, Much Afraid. In addition, it was the fifth straight single from Much Afraid to reach number one on the Christian radio airplay charts. No promotional single was...
" - 3:11
- "Much Afraid" - 3:53
- "Hymn" - 3:53
Japanese track listing
- "Overjoyed" - 2:58
- "Fade to Grey" - 3:34
- "Tea and Sympathy" - 4:51
- "Crazy Times" - 3:34
- "Frail" - 6:57
- "Five Candles (You Were There)" - 3:48
- "Weighed Down" - 3:39
- "Portrait of an Apology" - 5:43
- "Truce" - 3:11
- "Much Afraid" - 3:53
- "Hymn" - 3:53
- "The Chair" - 5:22 (from the The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Long Kiss Goodnight is a 1996 action thriller film starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, written by Shane Black and directed by Renny Harlin.- Plot :...
soundtrack)
- "Sleepers" - 1:54
Seatbelt Tuba track listing
A bonus 3-track disc was bundled with early copies of Jars Of Clay's second album that was available exclusively through Family Christian Bookstores. All three tracks were recorded live acoustically on July 3, 1997 at the Quad, with no remastering or editing of the songs.
- "Crazy Times"
- "Liquid"
- "The Coffee Song"
Jars of Clay
- Dan Haseltine
Daniel Paul "Dan" Haseltine, born on January 12, 1973 is an American singer best known for being the lead vocalist for Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay. Despite being a multi-instrumentalist, Haseltine has only ever performed vocals, accordion, percussion and most recently,...
- vocalsSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. A person who sings is called a singer or vocalist...
and percussion
- Stephen Mason - Guitar
The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...
s and backing vocals
- Matt Odmark
Matt Odmark is an American musician most known for being a guitarist for Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay.-Biography:...
- Guitars and backing vocals
- Charlie Lowell
Charlie Lowell is an American pianist most known for being the pianist and keyboardist for Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay.-Biography:...
- KeyboardsA keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organs as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a musician and Grammy nominated record producer and mixer based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced, mixed and written hits with Katy Perry, OneRepublic, Mika, Pink, Colbie Caillat, Jamie Cullum, Deftones, Otep, The Veronicas, Jessie Baylin, Rufus Wainwright, Kyosuke Himuro and...
- drumsA drum set is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person . The term "drum kit" first became used in the 1700s in Britain...
, bass guitarThe electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum....
- Kate St. John - English Horn in Track 5
Production personnel
- Stephen Lipson
Stephen J. Lipson is a musician and producer who has worked with numerous artists, including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Animals, Whitney Houston, Grace Jones, Jars of Clay, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, and Simple Minds...
- producer
- Robert Beeson - executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the filmmaking or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production. Typically an executive producer handles business and legal issues. See also associate producer, co-producer, line producer...
- Heff Moraes - engineer and mixer
- Chuck Linder - assistant engineer
- Stephen Marcussen
Stephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer of Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California. Marcussen is one of the most sought-after mastering engineers in the music industry and his expertise has been coveted by a wide range of artists over the years...
- mastering
- Don C. Tyler - editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing language, images, sound, video, or film through processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications in various media...
Strings
Nashville Strings
- Ron Huff - String arrangement
- Mike Griffith
Mike Grenville Griffith, born at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire on 25 November, 1943, was a cricketer who played for and captained Sussex. A middle-order right-handed batsman, he also kept wicket occasionally....
- engineer (Strings)
- Adam Hatley - assistant engineer (Strings)
London Strings
- Richard Niles
Richard Niles is an American composer, arranger, producer, guitarist, broadcaster and journalist. He is living in London since 1975. Because of his extensive work across many genres Sound on Sound magazine referred to him as "one of the most versatile men in modern music".-Yearly years:Niles was...
- String arrangement in Track 3
- Gavyn Wright
Gavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London Session Orchestra and Penguin Cafe Orchestra, best known for his orchestral arrangements on pop productions as well as numerous TV and movie soundtracks...
- conductor
Charts & certifications
Album
| Year |
Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new 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...
|
RIAA Certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
|
| 1997 |
8 |
Platinum Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped a certain number of copies.Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories, which are named after the precious materials gold, platinum and diamond...
|
Singles
| Year |
Song |
Chart |
Position |
| 1997 |
"Crazy Times" |
Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
|
38 |