Heavenly Place

Heavenly Place
Studio album by Jaci Velasquez
Released	May 13, 1996
Recorded	1995–1996
Genre	Contemporary Christian music
Length	40:04
Label	Myrrh
Producer	Mark Heimermann Phil Naish
Jaci Velasquez chronology
Keep the Fire Burning (1994) Heavenly Place (1996) Jaci Velasquez (1998)
Singles from Heavenly Place
"If This World" Released: April 15, 1996 "Flower In The Rain" Released: July 22, 1996 "Un Lugar Celestial" Released: October 21, 1996 "On My Knees" Released: March 3, 1997 "We Can Make A Difference" Released: June 16, 1997

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[2]

Heavenly Place is the fourth studio album and major label debut album by Jaci Velasquez. It released on May 13, 1996, on Myrrh Records. Prior to this album, Velasquez had released three independent albums between the ages of 9 and 14: My Favorite Songs (1988), ^[3] Help Me (1992), ^[4] and Keep the Fire Burning (1994). ^[5]

Critical reception

Rodney Batdorf wrote in his AllMusic review that "Heavenly Place is an impressive debut album from the 16-year old singer." This album includes five radio singles, including "On My Knees," which won a GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year in 1998. ^{[6] [7]}

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"If This World"	Michelle Tumes Tyler Hayes Eric Sundin Mark Heimermann	4:04
2.	"Un Lugar Celestial (A Heavenly Place)"	Bob Farrell Regie Hamm Mark Heimermann David Velasquez	4:07
3.	"Flower In The Rain"	Chris Eaton	3:38
4.	"On My Knees"	Nicole Coleman-Mullen David Mullen Michael Ochs	3:49
5.	"Shelter"	Mark Heimermann Dann Huff Wayne Kirkpatrick	4:19
6.	"Baptize Me"	Mark Heimermann Erik Sundin	4:17
7.	"We Can Make a Difference"	Mark Heimermann David Mullen	3:50
8.	"I Promise"	Jaci Velasquez Johnny Ramirez	3:39
9.	"We Will Overcome"	Bob Farrell Regie Hamm Mark Heimermann	3:52
10.	"Thief of Always"	Chris Eaton	4:29
Total length:			40:04

• Track information and credits taken from the album's liner notes. ^[8]

Personnel

• Jaci Velasquez – lead vocals, backing vocals (1–4, 6, 10)
• Mark Heimmerman – keyboards (1–3, 5–10), drum programming (1, 2, 5–8), backing vocals (3, 4, 10), additional arrangements (4), keyboard programming (7), acoustic piano (9)
• Phil Naish – acoustic piano (4)
• George CocchinI – guitars (1, 2, 7)
• Dann Huff – guitars (2–6, 9, 10)
• Jackie Street – bass (1–7, 9, 10)
• Scott Williamson – drums (2–4, 6, 9, 10)
• Terry McMillan – percussion (1–5, 7, 9)
• Bobby Taylor – oboe (4)
• David Hamilton – string arrangements and conductor (4)
• Carl Gorodetzky – concertmaster (4)
• The Nashville String Machine – strings (4)
• Sally Jumper – backing vocals (3, 4, 9)
• Chris Rodriguez – lead vocals (5), backing vocals (5, 7), guitars (8)
• Nicole C. Mullen – backing vocals (7)
• D.L. Turnedge – backing vocals (7)

Production

• Judith Cotton Volz – executive producer, A&R direction
• Mark Heimmerman – producer (1–3, 5–10), additional production (4)
• Phil Naish – producer (4)
• Joe Baldridge – engineer (1–3, 5–10), mixing
• Eric Elwell – engineer (1–3, 5–10)
• Todd Robbins – engineer (1–3, 5–10)
• Ronnie Brookshire – engineer (4)
• Dave Dillbeck – assistant engineer (4)
• Dean Jamison – assistant engineer (4)
• Joe Costa – mix assistant
• Mike Wrucke – mix assistant
• Fun Attic Studio, Franklin, Tennessee – recording location (1–3, 5–10)
• Dark Horse Recording Studio, Franklin, Tennessee – recording location (1–3, 5–10)
• Studio at Mole End, Franklin, Tennessee – recording location (4)
• Great Circle Sound, Nashville, Tennessee – strings recording location (4)
• House of David and Battery Studios, Nashville, Tennessee – mixing locations
• Hank Williams – mastering at Master Mix, Nashville, Tennessee
• Kathi Dement – A&R coordination
• PJ Heimmerman – production manager (1–3, 5–10)
• Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty – production coordinator (4)
• Christy Coxe – art direction
• Firehouse 101 Art + Design – design
• Matthew Barnes – photography

Charts

Chart performance for Heavenly Place

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Billboard 200 [9]	142
US Christian Albums (Billboard) [10]	2
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [11]	4

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [12]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Batdorf, Rodney. Heavenly Place at AllMusic
2. Ilex, J.B. (October 13, 2007). "Jaci Velasquez, "Heavenly Place" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
3. "Jaci - My Favorite Songs". December 3, 1988 – via www.discogs.com.
4. "JACI - Help Me". December 3, 1992 – via www.discogs.com.
5. "JACI - Keep The Fire Burning". December 3, 1994 – via www.discogs.com.
6. "Jaci Velasquez On My Knees". georgia.thejoyfm.com. thejoyfm.com. April 19, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
7. "On My Knees". doveawards.com. Dove Awards. April 23, 1998. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
8. Heavenly Place (liner notes). Jaci Velasquez. Rhino. 1996.
9. "Jaci Velasquez Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
10. "Jaci Velasquez Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
11. "Jaci Velasquez Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
12. "American album certifications – Jaci Velasquez – Heavenly Places". Recording Industry Association of America.