House of Love (CD - 1994)

Personnel includes: Amy Grant (vocals), Brent Rowan (guitar, mandolin), Tom Hemby (guitar, keyboards, programming), Kenny Greenberg (acoustic & electric guitars), Judson Spence (acoustic guitar, background vocals), Scott Dente, Bill Owsley, Jerry McPherson (guitar), Mark Douthit (saxophone), Phil Madeira (B-3 organ), Tommy Sims (synthesizer, bass, programming, background vocals), Danny O'Lannerghty (bass), Chris McHugh, Chad Cromwell (drums), Athena Cage, Chris Rodriguez, Michael Mellett, Audrey Wheeler (background vocals).

Additional guest artists: Keith Thomas, Lisa Keith, Michael Omartian, Eric Darken, Donna McElroy.

Engineers: Bill Whittington (tracks 1-5, 9, 11); Terry Christian (6-8, 10).

Recorded at The Soundshop, Nashville, Tennessee; The Bennett House and Tejas Recorders, Franklin, Tennessee.

All songs co-written by Amy Grant except "House Of Love" (Wally Wilson/Kenny Greenberg/Greg Barnhill), "The Power" (Judson Spence/Tommy Sims), "Oh How The Years Go By" (Simon Climie/Will Jennings) and "Big Yellow Taxi" (Joni Mitchell).

For Amy Grant, the transition from gospel diva to pop songstress has been a smooth one, every bit as smooth and mellifluous as her own distinctive vocals. Because in truth, Amy Grant transcends the distance between I love you Lord and I love you baby so fluently, and with such sincerity and simple grace, that in the end one is left with a sense of unity--a veritable HOUSE OF LOVE.

Grant's instrument has a soft reedy quality, perfect for the girlish blush of love on the opening "Lucky One," "Say You'll Be Mine," a paean to monogamous devotion, the gospelish "Whatever It Takes" (which speaks of the endurance needed to sustain a relationship), and the power ballad "Love Has A Hold On Me" (which reflects on the doubt).

HOUSE OF LOVE projects a sensual propriety that is no less sexy for being so clean scrubbed and virtuous. And, as the riveting title tune suggests, there's a critical element of patience and forgiveness implicit in all these themes--which enlivens her harmonies with Vince Gill (echoes of "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing Baby" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell). Falling and being saved are, after all, central themes both to country music and traditional gospel. Which is why Amy Grant's seamless pop stylings share the Top 20 with the likes of Warren G., the Rolling Stones and the Three Tenors.

Personnel: Amy Grant (vocals, background vocals); Vince Gill (vocals); Dann Huff, Kenny Greenberg (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Jerry McPherson (guitar, electric guitar); Brent Rowan (guitar, mandolin); Tom Hemby (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Judson Spence (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Scott Dente, Bill Owsley (acoustic guitar); Gary Chapman (lap steel guitar, background vocals); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Mark O'Connor (violin); Mark Douthit (soprano saxophone, horns); Steve Jankowski (trumpet, flugelhorn); Doug Moffet, George Tidwell, Michael Haynes (horns); Keith Thomas (piano, electric piano, synthesizer, programming, drum programming, percussion programming); Phil Madeira (organ); Michael Omartian (keyboards); Tommy Sims (synthesizer, bass guitar, programming, drum programming, background vocals); Danny Duncan (midi); Mark Hammond (drums, drum programming); Chris McHugh, Chad Cromwell (drums); Eric Darken, Terry McMillan (percussion); Chris Rodriguez, Donna McElroy, Ada Dyer, Lisa Bevill, Lisa Keith, Ashley Cleveland, Athena Cage, Audrey Wheeler, Michael Mellett (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Mick Guzauski; Terry Christian; Bill Whittington.

Recording information: Bennet House, Franklin, TN; Bennett House, Franklin, TN; Sound Shop Studios, Nashville, TN; SoundShop, Nashville, TN; Tejas Recorders, Franklin, TN; The Bennett House, Franklin, TN.

Photographer: Albert Sanchez.

Arrangers: Keith Thomas ; Michael Omartian; Tom Hemby.

Amy Grant's follow-up to her best-selling HEART IN MOTION album was not quite as commercially successful as its predecessor, but it continued the artistic exploration begun in earnest a few years before. Along with spiritually driven songs like "Helping Hand" and "The Power" are gorgeous secular numbers like the soulful title track--a duet with new boyfriend Vince Gill--and a surprisingly deft take on Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi." minimize