| Love Songs and Prayers: A Retrospective | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | November 13, 1995 | |||
| Recorded | 1985–1994 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 78:32 | |||
| Label | Myrrh/Epic | |||
| Producer | ||||
| The Choir chronology | ||||
| ||||
Love Songs and Prayers: A Retrospective is the first compilation album from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1995.
When the Choir was contacted by Myrrh Records about releasing a "best of" collection, the band requested to choose the songs themselves, and the label agreed. [1] The organization of the songs into "love songs and prayers" was suggested by saxophone and Lyricon player Dan Michaels when he heard drummer and lyricist Steve Hindalong use that term in an interview to describe the Choir’s body of work. [1] [2]
Although released by Myrrh, the compilation chronologically presents songs from all their releases, regardless of record label, up to that point. [1] The unreleased alternate versions of "A Million Years" and "All Night Long" were originally recorded in 1985 with producer Mark Heard after Michaels had joined the band, [3] and appear for the first time on this collection. [4]
The digipack CD case was designed by singer Christine Glass (using the name "Christy Coxe" in her role as art director). [1] She would eventually record backup vocals for the Choir on a consistent basis beginning with 2000's Flap Your Wings . Her husband, Marc Byrd, would subsequently join the band in 2005.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Cross Rhythms |   [5] |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
At the time of its release, Love Songs and Prayers was well-received. Sam Hargreaves, writing for Cross Rhythms said “the quality of the songwriting progresses through the album, and the lyrics are consistently good.” [5]
Retrospectively, Darryl Cater at AllMusic praised the “great deal of variety” on the compilation, and added that “the result of this interesting mix is (and has always been) a sense of persistent hopefulness in the face of darkness.” [6]
All songs written by Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty, unless otherwise specified.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Originally released on | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Million Years (alternate version)" | Previously unreleased | 3:31 | |
| 2. | "All Night Long (alternate version)" | Previously unreleased | 5:19 | |
| 3. | "Render Love" | Hindalong, Charlie Peacock | Diamonds and Rain | 5:12 |
| 4. | "Black Cloud" | Hindalong, Peacock | Diamonds and Rain | 3:40 |
| 5. | "Consider" | Hindalong, Daugherty, Tim Chandler | Chase the Kangaroo | 4:06 |
| 6. | "Sad Face (edit version)" | Hindalong, Daugherty, Chandler | Previously unreleased | 4:52 |
| 7. | "So Far Away" | Chase the Kangaroo | 4:51 | |
| 8. | "Clouds" | Hindalong, Daugherty, Steve Griffith | Chase the Kangaroo | 6:05 |
| 9. | "To Bid Farewell" | Wide-Eyed Wonder | 4:37 | |
| 10. | "Car, Etc. (special radio mix)" | Previously unreleased | 4:33 | |
| 11. | "Merciful Eyes" | Circle Slide | 4:55 | |
| 12. | "Restore My Soul" | Circle Slide | 6:34 | |
| 13. | "A Sentimental Song" | Circle Slide | 5:01 | |
| 14. | "Like a Cloud" | Speckled Bird | 2:06 | |
| 15. | "Gripped" | Speckled Bird | 4:21 | |
| 16. | "Grace" | Speckled Bird | 3:08 | |
| 17. | "Live Postlude" | Previously unreleased | 1:08 | |
| Total length: | 78:32 | |||
The Choir
Additional musicians
Production
The Choir is an atmospheric alternative rock band currently comprising Derri Daugherty on guitar and lead vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums and percussion, and Dan Michaels on saxophone and Lyricon. Long-time bass guitarist Tim Chandler died in 2018, and guitarist Marc Byrd was the fifth member of the band between 2005–2014. As of 2024, the band has released 19 full-length studio albums, three EPs, five live albums, one single-disc compilation album, one retrospective box set, and is still actively recording new material.
Voices in Shadows is the first studio album by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1985.
Shades of Gray is the second studio release, and first EP, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1986. All five songs were later included as bonus tracks on the CD release for Chase the Kangaroo.
Diamonds and Rain is the third studio release, and second full-length studio album, from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1986. It is the first release under the band's new moniker after dropping "Youth" from their name.
Chase the Kangaroo is the fourth studio release, and third full-length studio album, from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1988. Considered by critics to be one of their finest albums, Chase the Kangaroo is listed at No. 50 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, published in 2002, and No. 4 on the list of the "Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time" by HM Magazine in 2010.
Circle Slide is the sixth studio release, and fifth full-length studio album, from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1990. Considered by some critics to be the band's best album, and even called "one of the best Christian albums ever made," Circle Slide was listed at No. 53 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. This would be the final album the Choir would record for Myrrh Records.
Kissers and Killers is the seventh studio release, and the sixth full-length studio album, from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1993. It was their first release after leaving Myrrh Records, and according to drummer and lyricist Steve Hindalong, represented a major turning point for the band: "We went independent after this, and never were on a label where there were expectations of any kind of a 'ministry' or anything like that."
Speckled Bird is the eighth studio release, and seventh full-length studio album, from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1994. The album is largely a remixed and reworked version of the independent Kissers and Killers project with an additional five tracks.
Free Flying Soul is the ninth studio release, and eighth full-length album, from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1996. It earned the band its first industry recognition with a Dove Award win.
O How The Mighty Have Fallen is the 11th studio release, and tenth full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2005. Guitarist Marc Byrd officially became the fifth member of the band with this album.
Mutt is an album by the band Lost Dogs, released on Fools of the World and Lo-Fidelity Records in 2004.
Wide-Eyed Wonder is the fifth studio release, and fourth full-length studio album, from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1989. This would be the first studio album with new bass guitarist Robin Spurs, and would mark the band's first attempt to target the mainstream market.
Flap Your Wings is the tenth studio release, and ninth full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2000. It earned the band its first Grammy Award nomination.
Burning Like the Midnight Sun is the 12th studio release, and 11th full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2010.
de-plumed is the 13th studio release, and 12th full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2010. It was the band's first "unplugged" recording, featuring reinterpretations of songs from prior albums.
The Loudest Sound Ever Heard is the 14th studio release, and 13th full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2012.
Peace, Love & Light is the 15th studio release, second EP, and first digital-only album by alternative rock band the Choir, released on November 27, 2013. This is also the band's first Christmas-themed release. As a "stretch goal" in the Choir's Kickstarter campaign for their 2014 album Shadow Weaver, this EP was provided exclusively to funders who pledged $60 or more.
Shadow Weaver is the 16th studio release, and 14th full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2014. This was the last album to feature Marc Byrd as a member of the band, and the first time the Choir used crowdfunding to finance a new studio project. In 2019, UTR Media named Shadow Weaver as one of the "30 Best Gourmet Albums of the Decade (2010-2019)."
Bloodshot is the 17th studio release, and 15th full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2018. This was the final studio album to feature bass guitarist Tim Chandler, who died in October that same year.
Deep Cuts is the 18th studio release, and 16th full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2021. This is the band’s first studio album to be recorded after the death of long-time bass guitarist Tim Chandler, who died in 2018.
