Peace on Earth (Casting Crowns album)
Peace on Earth | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 7, 2008 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | Christmas | |||
Length | 39:53 | |||
Label | Reunion | |||
Producer | Mark Hall, Mark A. Miller | |||
Casting Crowns chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Peace on Earth | ||||
|
Peace on Earth is the first
Upon its release, Peace on Earth met with mixed reviews. Some critics praised the album's emphasis on traditional Christmas songs and the worship aspect of Christmas, while others criticized the album's original songs and felt it was a disappointment in comparison to the band's previous albums. The album peaked at number one on the
Background and recording
According to Casting Crowns' lead vocalist Mark Hall, Peace on Earth was written based on the question "How do you know there's peace on earth in a world that isn't very peaceful?" Hall opined that when people hear
Composition
Peace on Earth does not contain material relating to secular Christmas traditions like Santa Claus or Jack Frost,[1] instead featuring a mix of traditional Christmas carols and original songs.[2] "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", instead of using a carol of bells, has a choir of children personifying the bells by singing the refrain of 'peace on earth'. "While You Were Sleeping", originally included on the band's 2005 album Lifesong, is included in its original form. On the Lifesong version, the band had altered the song (originally written as a Christmas song) to remove the most "seasonal" elements; the version included on Peace on Earth features the lyrics in their original form. On "God Is With Us", originally recorded by Amy Grant, Hall shares lead vocal duties with the band's female members.[1] "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is an instrumental piece, which makes extensive use of DeVevo's violin playing.[1][3] "Away in a Manger" was originally included on WOW Christmas (2005), and is included on Peace on Earth in that form.[1]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [3] |
CCM Magazine | [4] |
Christianity Today | [5] |
Cross Rhythms | [6] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | [2] |
Upon its release, Peace on Earth met with a mixed reception from music critics. Jared Johnson of
Accolades
At the 40th GMA Dove Awards, Peace on Earth was nominated for and received the award for Christmas Album of the Year.[7]
Commercial performance
Peace on Earth was released on October 7, 2008.
The album's lead single, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day",
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " O Come All Ye Faithful" | John F. Wade, Hall, Adam Lester | 3:47 |
3. | "Joy to the World" | Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason, Hall | 2:37 |
4. | "While You Were Sleeping" (original Christmas version) | Hall | 4:55 |
5. | "Silent Night" | Josef Mohr, Franz X. Gruber, Hall, Lester | 3:33 |
6. | "God Is With Us" | Wayne Kirkpatrick | 4:31 |
7. | "Away in a Manger" | unknown lyricist, James R. Murray, William J. Kirkpatrick, Oliver | 3:35 |
8. | "Christmas Offering" | Paul Baloche | 5:14 |
9. | "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" (arranged by Hall, Bernie Herms, and Jim Gray) | Robert MacGimsey | 3:08 |
10. | "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (arranged by Melodee DeVevo and Herms) | unknown author | 6:38 |
Total length: | 39:53 |
Personnel
Credits taken from the album liner notes[18] Casting Crowns
- Mark Hall – vocals, arrangements (9), co-author of additional choir vocal arrangements
- Megan Garrett – acoustic piano, keyboards, vocals
- Hector Cervantes – guitars
- Juan DeVevo – guitars
- Melodee DeVevo – violin, vocals, arrangements (10)
- Chris Huffman – bass
- Andy Williams – drums
Additional musicians
- Bernie Herms – keyboards, orchestral arrangements, arrangements (9, 10), co-author of additional choir vocal arrangements
- Blair Masters – keyboards
- Dale Oliver – guitars
- John Mark Painter
- Adam Nitti – bass
- Will Denton – drums, percussion
- Bobby Huff – drums, percussion
- Pamela Sixfin – concertmaster, contractor
- Stephen Lamb – copyist (1, 10)
- Kirsten Cassel – cello (1, 10)
- Anthony LaMarchina – cello (1, 10)
- Julia Tanner – cello (1, 10)
- Joel Reist – double bass (1, 10)
- Monisa Angell – viola (1, 10)
- Bruce Christensen – viola (1, 10)
- Chris Farrell – viola (1, 10)
- James Grosjean – viola (1, 10)
- David Angell – violin (1, 10)
- Conni Ellisor – violin (1, 10)
- Cate Myer – violin (1, 10)
- Alan Umstead – violin (1, 10)
- Catherine Umstead – violin (1, 10)
- Karen Winkelmann – violin (1, 10)
- Chattanooga Boys Choir – backing vocals on "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
- Christopher Hearn – additional choir vocals
- Elizabeth Hearn – additional choir vocals
- Alex Taylor – additional choir vocals
- Matthew Taylor – additional choir vocals
- Vincent Oakes – choir conductor
- Steven V. Taylor – vocal arrangements of additional choir parts
Production
- Mark Hall – producer
- Mark A. Miller – producer, executive producer
- Dale Oliver – producer (7), additional recording
- Terry Hemmings – executive producer
- Michael Hewitt – recording, mixing
- Sam Hewitt – recording, mixing
- Bill Deaton – string recording
- Rob Clark – string recording assistant
- Jason McArthur – A&R
- Jenna Roher – A&R administration
- Hather Hetzler – A&R production
- Becka Blackburn – art direction
- Tim Parker – art direction, design
- Allen Clark – photography
- Stephanie McBrayer – styling
- Tina Davis – hair, make-up
- Renee Morton – hair, make-up
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
|
Singles
|
Certifications
Country | Certification | Units shipped |
---|---|---|
United States | Platinum[13] | 1,000,000[14] |
References
Notes
- ^ Released as a non-album single from the 2005 album WOW Christmas: Green.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g "Peace on Earth". Casting Crowns.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- ^ a b c Mabee, Justin (October 4, 2008). "Casting Crowns, "Peace On Earth" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ Greer, Andrew (October 7, 2008). "Casting Christmas Fails to Meet Expectations". CCM Magazine. New Release Tuesday. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- ^ a b c Breimeier, Russ (December 1, 2008). "Yule Tidings". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on September 7, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- ^ a b Cummings, Tony (September 22, 2008). "Casting Crowns – Peace On Earth". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- ^ "2009 Nominees". Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ^ "Christian Albums (October 25, 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ "Peace on Earth – Casting Crowns". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "Christian Albums – 2008 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2008. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "Christian Albums – 2009 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Billboard 200 – 2009 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Gold and Platinum Database". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Note: User must input the artist name to attain the cited data.
- ^ a b c "RIAA – Certification Criteria". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "Casting Crowns Albums & Song Chart History – Christian Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c d The following are the peak position dates:
- "Hot Christian Adult Contemporary (January 7, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- "Hot Christian Adult Contemporary (January 3, 2009)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Casting Crowns Albums & Song Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Peace on Earth (Media notes). Casting Crowns. Beach Street/Reunion. 2008. pp. 1–5.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Casting Crowns Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Casting Crowns Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Casting Crowns Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Casting Crowns Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Archive (27 December 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ "Casting Crowns (Christian AC)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 28, 2013.