The Jesus Record

Last updated
The Jesus Record
TheJesusRecord.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 21, 1998
Recorded1997–1998
Studio
Length78:36
Label Myrrh
Producer Rick Elias
Rich Mullins chronology
Songs
(1996)
The Jesus Record
(1998)
Songs 2
(1999)

The Jesus Record is the ninth and final album by American singer and songwriter Rich Mullins, released posthumously on July 21, 1998, ten months after his death.

Contents

The first disc of the album, entitled "The Jesus Demos", consists of nine rough demos Mullins recorded for the album in an abandoned church on September 10, 1997, nine days before his death. The songs were meant for a concept album based on the life of Jesus Christ, to be called Ten Songs About Jesus. [1]

The second disc was recorded after Mullins' death by a Ragamuffin Band (Rick Elias, Mark Robertson, Jimmy Abegg and Aaron Smith), with guest vocals by Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Ashley Cleveland, and Phil Keaggy. Orchestration for the album, arranged and conducted by Tom Howard, were recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios. The album ends with the rough demo version of "That Where I Am, There You...", with added instruments and vocals by the Ragamuffin Band, Michael W. Smith and a large choir of family and friends. The last thing heard on the album are the faint sounds of "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus", played by Mullins on the Hammered Dulcimer. The recording, which was made during a 1997 concert performance in Green Bay, Wisconsin, barely made it onto the final album. Two men, who were helping Elias find potential recordings, searched countless church video libraries, bootleg tape traders lists, professional video tapers, music message boards, email discussion lists and other sources, before someone came forward with a tape that was made at the Green Bay church. This person was able to rush the tape to the two men doing the extensive search, who then rushed it to Elias who was mastering the album. The tape arrived on the final day of mastering, just barely in time to be included.

Much of the album was performed live at the 1998 Cornerstone Music Festival by a Ragamuffin Band, who then embarked on "The Homeless Man Tour" as a tribute to Mullins' memory.

Track listing

Disc One: The Jesus Demos

  1. "Hard to Get" (Rich Mullins) – 4:41
  2. "All The Way to Kingdom Come" (Rich Mullins) – 3:18
  3. "My Deliverer" (Rich Mullins, Mitch McVicker) – 3:18
  4. "Surely God Is With Us" (Mark Robertson, Beaker) – 3:48
  5. "Jesus..." (Rich Mullins, Mitch McVicker, Dana Waddel) – 4:34
  6. "You Did Not Have a Home" (Rich Mullins) – 2:27
  7. "Heaven in His Eyes" (Rich Mullins) – 4:00
  8. "Nothing Is Beyond You" (Rich Mullins, Mitch McVicker, Tom Booth) – 3:40
  9. "That Where I Am, There You..." (Rich Mullins) – 2:45

Disc Two: The Jesus Record

  1. "My Deliverer" – 5:59
  2. "Surely God Is With Us" – 4:29
  3. "Nothing Is Beyond You" – 4:19
  4. "You Did Not Have a Home" – 2:57
  5. "Jesus..." – 6:05
  6. "All The Way to Kingdom Come" – 3:51
  7. "Man of No Reputation" (Rick Elias) – 6:04
  8. "Heaven In His Eyes" – 4:05
  9. "Hard To Get" – 4:55
  10. "That Where I Am, There You..." – 3:21

Charts

Radio single

YearSingleChartPosition
1998"My Deliverer" (A Ragamuffin Band featuring Rick Elias version) U.S. Christian 1
1998"Nothing is Beyond You" (A Ragamuffin Band featuring Amy Grant version) U.S. Christian 1
1998"That Where I Am, There You Will Also Be" (Rich Mullins, Michael W. Smith, A Ragamuffin Band & Friends version) U.S. Christian 6

Personnel

Additional musicians

Production

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References

  1. Cunningham, Sean. "Rich Mullins, "The Jesus Record" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com.