Joy (Steven Curtis Chapman album)

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Joy
Studio album by
Steven Curtis Chapman
ReleasedOctober 16, 2012 (2012-10-16)
GenreContemporary Christian music, Christmas music
Length44:57
LabelReunion
ProducerSteven Curtis Chapman, Brent Milligan
Steven Curtis Chapman chronology
Re:creation

(2011) 		Joy
(2012) 		Deep Roots
(2013)

Joy (stylized JOY) is a holiday studio album by

Christmas album and seventeenth studio album, it has seen commercial charting success, and garnered generally positive reviews from music critics
.

History

Released on October 16, 2012,[1] Joy is Chapman's first release with Reunion Records.[2] It is one of several Christmas albums that Chapman has done over the past few years.[3] The album was produced by Chapman and Brent Milligan.[2] The African Children's Choir performs on several tracks.[4][5]

The cover album cover is intended to convey a 1950s styling that characterizes a number of the songs.[5]

Music and lyrics

Seven of the album's 13 tracks are renderings of traditional

Christmas songs such as "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"[7] and "Do You Hear What I Hear?". Chapman employs a full range of orchestration and his "trademark acoustic/pop sound" on these songs,[6] and shows his versatility for a variety of musical arrangements on his own original compositions, including a piano ballad, slow jazz tune,[6] and 1950s-style rockabilly.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Christian Music Zine4.25/5[6]
CM Addict[8]
Cross Rhythms[9]
Indie Vision Music[4]
Jesus Freak Hideout[10]
The Phantom Tollbooth[5]
Worship Leader[11]

Joy received generally positive reviews from music critics. Worship Leader rated the album four-and-a-half stars and called it another classic.[11] Brendan O'Regan of Cross Rhythms rated it eight out of ten, and stated that the songs had been given a "fresh and contemporary makeover".[9] At Jesus Freak Hideout, Jen Rose rated it three-and-a-half stars, and wrote that it was "bright and fun and certainly lives up to its name".[10] Jonathan Andre of Indie Vision Music, who rated the album three stars, said it was "one of [Chapman's] best",[4] and at The Phantom Tollbooth, Michael Dalton rated it four stars, and called it "one of the best releases of the season".[5] Joshua Andre of Christian Music Zine rated it 4.25 out of five, and wrote that it has "vulnerable, moving and pertinent songs".[6] At CM Addict, Grace Thorson rated it four stars, and said it was "full of joy" for the holiday season.[8]

Commercial performance

Joy was No. 185 on the U.S.

Christian Albums chart.[13]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."
John Henry Hopkins, Jr.
4:27
12."I Am Joseph (God Is with Us)"S.C. Chapman3:59
13."Happy New Year"S.C. Chapman2:20
Total length:44:57

Personnel

Gang vocals on "Christmas Time Again"

  • Steven Curtis Chapman, Adam Lester, Blair Masters, Brent Milligan and Dan Needham

Production

  • Producers – Steven Curtis Chapman and Brent Milligan.
  • A&R – Terry Hemmings and Blaine Barcus.
  • Recorded by Andy Hunt at Sainte Claire (Lexington, Kentucky).
  • Second engineers – Tim Price and Cailon Williams.
  • Tracks 6 and 13 recorded by Brent Milligan at Beech Creek Studio, assisted by Robert Gay and Marty Gay; track 7 recorded at Soundwerks (Nashville, Tennessee).
  • Drums on track 3 recorded by Brent Milligan and Dan Needham at Dan's Place.
  • Strings recorded by Bobby Shin at Little Big Sound (Nashville, Tennessee).
  • African Children's Choir recorded by Bobby Shin and Brent Milligan.
  • Mixed by F. Reid Shippen at Robot Lemon (Nashville, Tennessee), assisted by Erik Jahner (1, 3, 4, 8); Shane D. Wilson at Pentavarit (Nashville, TN), assisted by Evan Redwine (2, 5, 6, 10, 11); Sean Moffitt, assisted by Warren David (7, 9, 12, 13).
  • Editing and tuning – Joe Causey.
  • Mastered by Dave McNair at Dave McNair Mastering.
  • Photography – Russ Harrington and Camille Blinn
  • Wardrobe – Jonathan Powell
  • Grooming – Robin Geary
  • Art direction – Tim Parker and Beth Lee
  • Design – Tim Parker
  • A&R administration – Jenny Stika
  • A&R production – Michelle Box

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[14] 185
US
Christian Albums (Billboard)[15]
 7

References

  1. ^ "Joy". Amazon. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Steve Leggett. "Review by Steve Leggett". Allmusic. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  3. ^ "Steven Curtis Chapman Finds Joy in Christmas". CBN. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Andre, Jonathan (October 13, 2012). "Steven Curtis Chapman – Joy | Reviews". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d Dalton, Michael (November 30, 2012). "Chapman, Steven Curtis - Joy". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e Andre, Joshua (October 15, 2013). "Steven Curtis Chapman – Joy (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  7. ^ "Joy – the new album from Steven Curtis Chapman". Christian Today. October 8, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Thorson, Grace (October 16, 2012). "Review of Joy by Steven Curtis Chapman". CM Addict. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  9. ^ a b O'Regan, Brendan (December 5, 2012). "Review: Joy - Steven Curtis Chapman". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Rose, Jen (December 21, 2012). "Steven Curtis Chapman, "Joy" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Staff (December 4, 2012). "Joy". Worship Leader. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  12. ^ "Stephen Curtis Chapman – Billboard 200 Chart History". Billboard. 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  13. ^ "Stephen Curtis Chapman – Chart History Christian Albums". Billboard. 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  14. ^ "Steven Curtis Chapman Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  15. ^ "Steven Curtis Chapman Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
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