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"CITY ON A HILL:
SING ALLELUIA" -- TAKE 2!
What do you know? "City On A Hill: Sing Alleluia" is hitting
stores in February 2002! Here's what CMCentral.com says:
"At last, the second City On A Hill project is about to arrive. The
real question on everyone's minds: Can the producers of the original
album catch lightning in a bottle twice? Can Sing Alleluia possibly be
as good as the first album? I will attempt to reserve judgment on that
until I publish my full review when the album comes out in February, but
here's your first glimpse of what to expect.
All Creatures of Our God and King
Sounds like a female choir that came right out of a church service; a
simple, brief choral prelude.
Sing Alleluia
Whoever decided to pair up Jennifer Knapp and Mac Powell (Third Day) for
a duet, should be declared a genius. Not only is it one of the coolest
pairings on the album, but they get to do some awesome vocal sparring on
the album's lovely title track. It moves at about the same tempo as
"God of Wonders" on the first album, but the song is a good
bit simpler than "God of Wonders," consisting mainly of Knapp
and Powell reciting "Sing Alleluia" over and over.
Holy Is Your Name
This one starts out with a nifty drum loop, then with some orchestral
and acoustic elements blending in. Bebo Norman takes the microphone
first (and can I just say how cool it sounds hearing him sing this kind
of song), then with Caedmon's Call's Cliff & Danielle Young
eventually adding to the mix. I can tell right away this is going to be
one of my favorite tracks. It's a little more upbeat than what you
typically expect to hear from an album like this.
You Are Holy
Nichole Nordeman goes positively ethereal with her vocals on this track.
It's one of those that builds slowly, but eventually a wicked bassline
kicks in and things get interesting. But Nordeman's beautiful vocals
keep it from going over the top.
Our Great God
Now this is the one I would consider to be the "God of
Wonders" of this disc. Mac Powell and Fernando Ortega really tear
it up on this stunningly beautiful track. It's another one featuring a
drum loop, but it's used to great effect, balanced wonderfully over the
more traditional acoustic elements.
Marvelous Light
This is a whole new arrangement of the song that Gene Eugene performed
on the first album, this time with Derek Webb at the microphone. No
offense to the late Eugene, but I think I like this version better. It's
a much richer, fuller sound. Although I'm not sure why we needed to have
it on both albums.
The Comforter Has Come
Jars of Clay is up next, with this track that emphasizes lots of quiet
percussion and nice harmonies. The message on this one is terrific.
Shine Your Light
Nichole Nordeman joins forces with FFH for this track that's heavy on
the acoustic sounds. It's a great sound for both artists.
Hide Me In Your Heart
Sounds like your typical FFH song, much like the songs they contributed
to the first album. It's still quite lovely, though, with another
"calm the storm"-type message.
Hallowed
Jennifer Knapp offers her vocals to this one, that features Phil
Keaggy's acoustic guitar as accompaniment. Very folksy sounding.
Lift Up Your Hearts
The Choir's Derri Daugherty takes lead vocals for this reverent chorus,
and he's joined by all of the other artists, who offer some beautiful
group harmonies. Fairly short.
Communion
Cliff Young handles the primary singing duties for this one, once again
joined by wife Danielle Young. Phil Keaggy sings over the bridge. A very
Caedmon's-like acoustic praise chorus.
All Creatures of Our God and King
This time all the artists join in, with a majestic organ playing in the
background. A church bell chimes repeatedly at the very end, signaling
the conclusion of this worship "service."
City On A Hill: Sing Alleluia releases February 19, 2002."
---- Posted on November 29th, 2001
JENNIFER TO SING ON "GIRLS OF GRACE" CD
Some of you may know of Point Of Grace's "Heart To Heart Online
Newsletter". Well, Shelley just sent one out today and this is what
she just happened to mention:
"We're busy working on Girls of Grace. We had a big song meeting
last Monday to pick songs for the Girls of Grace worship/sing-a-long
record. We've got some great ones and are excited about the artists who
will be singing on it with us. Jaci Velasquez, Jennifer from FFH,
Christy Nockles from Watermark, just to name a few..."
Awesome, can't wait for that!
---- Posted on November 29th, 2001
THREE NEW SOUNDTRACKS
FFH has new CD soundtracks for three songs from their Have I Ever Told
You CD. The soundtracks for Millionaire, On My Cross and Open Up
The Sky offer three performance options: you can sing with the artist's
original background vocal track, or perform with the original (no
background vocal) track in high, medium or low. You can use these songs
at home, church or in your own concerts. For more information about the
new CD soundtracks, visit FFH's official
site.
---- November 28th, 2001
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
It's November 24th... Jennifer and Jeromy's anniversary! If you see them
any time soon, be sure to offer your congrats! (It's been six years,
wow!)
---- Posted on November 24th, 2001
"HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU" FOLIO
The "Have I Ever Told You" folio just came out, so make sure
to go pick up the songbook (which features music for piano, guitar, and
vocals) so you can test your FFH music skills! You can find all of the
songs on the "Have I Ever Told You" album in there. You can
pick up a copy for yourself at your local Christian bookstore!
---- Posted on November 13th, 2001
IT'S SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY!
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear
Michael, happy birthday to you! Yup, it's Michael's 23rd birthday! Make
sure to send him a birthday card or something... I'm sure he'd like
that. :)
---- Posted on November 8th, 2001
NEW RADIO SINGLE
One of my top favorite songs on "Have I Ever Told You" has
just been released as an INSP single! The song is called 'Before It Was
Said' and is track number 10. Make sure to request this song as much as
possible at your local radio station, even around the internet!
---- Posted on October 27th, 2001
"WATCHING OVER ME" ON WOW 2002
We have just been informed that FFH's song entitled "Watching Over
Me" (their first single from "Have I Ever Told You") will
be featured on WOW 2002!
---- Posted on October 25th, 2001
FFH IS HONORED AT THE INSP. LIFETIME AWARDS
FFH won awards in the following categories at the Inspirational Lifetime
Awards:
-Inspirational Performer of the Year
-Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Found A Place)
-Inspirational Album of the Year (City On A Hill)
---- Posted on October 24th, 2001
"OPEN UP THE SKY" RELEASED AS A SINGLE
Jeromy informed me that FFH just released "Open Up The Sky" as
the new single. Make sure to request it at your local radio station!
(And do me a favor while you're at it... call my radio station and
request it. They're not playing it yet!)
---- Posted on October 22nd, 2001
FAR FROM HOME: STORIES FROM THE ROAD
Simultaneously with the band’s album debut, FFH released a book
entitled 'Far From Home: Stories From the Road', from Howard Publishing.
Chronicling tales from the hundreds of days each year they spend touring
and performing before fans across the country, the book reveals how the
band’s fans inspire them as much as their music inspires listeners.
---- Posted on October 19th, 2001
"HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU" RELEASES!
Essential Records’ band FFH released their third nationally
distributed project, "Have I Ever Told You", on August 21, as
fans rushed to retail stores to buy over 11,500 copies of the CD,
landing it at the number one position on Soundscan’s Christian retail
chart in its debut week (CCM Update, September 3, 2001). The album
was also number one on the Adult Contemporary sales chart and the
top-selling CD for several national retail chains, including Family
Christian Stores and Lifeway Christian Stores.
With two singles reigning at the number one positions on the
Inspirational and Christian Adult Contemporary radio charts
respectively, "Have I Ever Told You" came in at the number two
position on the Christian albums overall Christian albums chart, which
tracks combined sales of Christian bookstores and mainstream retailers
nationwide.
“We are honored and surprised at the same time. The support for
our new album has been overwhelming,” notes FFH member Jeromy Deibler.
“We can’t wait to see what God is going to do this upcoming year.”
Driving the successful first-week sales of "Have I Ever Told
You" was an integrated marketing plan that took the band to visit
key retail stores and radio stations in the weeks preceding the
album’s release. FFH greeted fans at numerous in-store
appearances, where they performed songs from the new project alongside
hits from previous albums.
“FFH is a band that has steadily built a loyal fan base over the
course of nearly ten years, even before they signed with Essential
several years ago. At the time they joined the label, they already
were charting as independent artists at radio and touring all over the
country,” says Essential Records’ senior director of marketing, Nina
Williams. “With the release of "Have I Ever Told You",
the Essential marketing team has once again come together alongside the
amazing ministry of FFH to continue broadening the band’s reach,
maintaining the level of success that we’ve already established at
radio and retail, and bringing their music to fans old and new alike.”
On the album’s street date, the group also debuted the number one
inspirational single, “On My Cross,” on “At Home Live With Chuck
and Jenni,” a national live daily television show reaching
approximately 35 million households on FamilyNet affiliates. In
addition, FFH’s street date concert in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area
sponsored by top-market Christian station KLTY-FM drew an estimated
crowd of over 3,000, and generated high sales numbers for the local
Family Christian Store as the band signed autographs for over an hour
after the event.
Essential Records band FFH is comprised of Jeromy Deibler, Jennifer
Deibler, Brian Smith and Michael Boggs. "Have I Ever Told
You" is the band’s third Essential release, following the success
of their national debut, "I Want To Be Like You", which earned
them the title of Best New Artist of 1999 from industry publication
Christian Research Report, and their critically acclaimed follow up,
"Found A Place". Sales of the band’s two previous
recordings have hit collective sales of over half-a-million copies, and
generated numerous radio hits, including “One of These Days,” “Big
Fish” and “I Want to Be Like You.”
"Have I Ever Told You" released from Essential Records on
August 21 nationwide, simultaneously with the band’s literary debut,
entitled 'Far From Home: Stories From the Road', from Howard Publishing.
Chronicling tales from the hundreds of days each year they spend touring
and performing before fans across the country, the book reveals how the
band’s fans inspire them as much as their music inspires listeners.
---- Posted on August 21st, 2001
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