Welcome Home (Brian Littrell album)

Last updated
Welcome Home
BrianLittrellAlbum.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 2, 2006 (2006-05-02)
Recorded2005–2006
Genre Pop, pop rock, christian pop
Length49:39
Label
Producer
Singles from Welcome Home
  1. "In Christ Alone"
    Released: February 15, 2005 [1]
  2. "Welcome Home (You)"
    Released: March 11, 2006

Welcome Home is the debut solo album by Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell. The album was released on May 2, 2006 on Sony BMG and Christian music label Reunion Records. The album peaked on the Billboard 200 at number 74, and at number 3 on the Christian Albums chart. Four singles have been released from the album: "Welcome Home (You)", which charted at number one on the Christian Songs chart. The album had sold over 100,000 copies in US as of April 2007.

Contents

Recording

For a long time, Littrell had wanted to record Christian music—what he calls "pop positive" music. [2] His first solo album, Welcome Home, was released on May 2, 2006, which, like the Backstreet Boys projects, is a Sony BMG release. The album peaked at number 74 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Christian charts, and has sold over 100,000 copies. [3] Three singles were released from the album. The first, "Welcome Home (You)", reached number 2 on the US Christian charts and number one on Reach FM's Top 40 chart and the R&R Christian Inspirational Chart, staying there for three weeks. The second single was "Wish" and, in 2007, the third single, "Over My Head", was released. During this time, he maintained his duties as a member of the Backstreet Boys. In the summer of 2005, his solo single, "In Christ Alone", went to number one on the Christian charts on July 4.

Littrell was a winner of the 2006 GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "In Christ Alone" (along with songwriters Don Koch and Shawn Craig). In the next few years he would win three more Doves for collaboration projects; in 2008, Special Event Album of the Year for Glory Revealed (various artists) and the Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "By His Wounds", from that album; and in 2010, Special Event Album of the Year for Glory Revealed II. [4]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said of the album; "If Welcome Home is just judged on its sonic merits, it would be hard to distinguish this album from many other slick, sweet contemporary Christian releases, but it stands out from the pack for one simple reason: it's the solo debut album from Brian Littrell, one of the five members of the Backstreet Boys. Breaking away from that mega-successful boy band, Littrell has decided to revamp his image, if not entirely his sound, by dedicating himself to Christian music. Since many modern CCM albums aren't that far removed, at least in production terms, from mainstream pop, it's an easy transition for Littrell, and Welcome Home would be equally at home on either CCM or adult contemporary radio, since its smooth, polished surfaces go down easily. There's a preponderance of ballads here, balanced by the occasional surging anthem like "I'm Alive" and insistent pop tunes like "My Answer Is You", but there's not a great distance between these extremes. All the songs blend together pleasantly, and if no individual song particularly distinguishes itself—the smooth jazz vibe of "We Lift You Up" comes the closest—they do all fit together to make a comforting, relaxing listen that establishes Littrell as a credible CCM vocalist, even if it doesn't necessarily go a long way to establish a distinctive musical personality of his own." Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."My Answer Is You"
  • Brian Littrell
  • Guy Zabka
  • Sue Smith
  • Tony Wood
Dan Muckala 3:32
2."Wish"
Billy Mann 3:56
3."Welcome Home (You)"
  • Littrell
  • Muckala
Muckala3:05
4."You Keep Givin' Me"Brett Laurence5:36
5."Gone Without Goodbye"MannMann4:07
6."I'm Alive"
Muckala3:19
7."Over My Head"
  • Littrell
  • Brian White
  • Don Poythress
  • Michael Puryear
Muckala4:03
8."We Lift You Up"Littrell
  • Thomas
  • Kibble
3:24
9."Grace of My Life"
Muckala3:34
10."Angels and Heroes"
  • Rasmus Bähncke
  • Mann
  • Michael Severson
  • René Tromberg
Mann3:44
11."Jesus Loves You"
  • Littrell
  • Thomas
  • Kibble
  • Thomas
  • Kibble
2:31
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."In Christ Alone"
Muckala3:41

Personnel

Adapted credits from the liner notes of Welcome Home. [6]

Vocals
Instruments
Production

Charts

Chart (2006)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [7] 74
US Christian Albums (Billboard) [8] 3
Japanese Albums (Oricon)19

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Littrell</span> American singer, member of the Backstreet Boys (born 1975)

Brian Thomas Littrell is an American singer and a member of the Backstreet Boys. He is also a contemporary Christian music artist, and released the solo album Welcome Home in 2006. He is the father of country singer Baylee Littrell.

<i>Never Gone</i> 2005 studio album by Backstreet Boys

Never Gone is the fifth studio album released by American vocal group Backstreet Boys as the follow-up to their fourth studio album Black & Blue (2000), after a short hiatus. Never Gone was originally due for release in 2004, but the release date for the album was pushed to June 14, 2005, for unknown reasons.

<i>Backstreet Boys</i> (1997 album) 1997 Backstreet Boys album

Backstreet Boys is the reissue of the 1996 album of the same name, released by the vocal-pop group Backstreet Boys in the United States on August 12, 1997. Its initial release contains six tracks from their first studio album, Backstreet Boys (1996) and five tracks from their second studio album Backstreet's Back (1997). Released a day after Backstreet's Back, both albums share nearly the same cover but with different titles. The album served as their debut in the United States, where their previous records were not released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incomplete (Backstreet Boys song)</span> 2005 single by Backstreet Boys

"Incomplete" is a song by American vocal group Backstreet Boys from their fifth studio album, Never Gone (2005). The power ballad was released on April 11, 2005, as the group's first single since they decided to reunite after a two-year hiatus. It was written by Dan Muckala, Lindy Robbins, and Jess Cates, and it was produced by Muckala with Kevin Richardson on piano. According to Billboard magazine's Chuck Taylor, the song is an "emotion-packed, grown-up tome about relationship struggle and strife."

<i>Millennium</i> (Backstreet Boys album) 1999 studio album by Backstreet Boys

Millennium is the third studio album by American boy band Backstreet Boys, released by Jive Records on May 18, 1999. It was a highly anticipated follow-up to both their U.S. self-titled debut album and their second internationally-released album, Backstreet's Back (1997). It was their first album to be released in both the United States and internationally in the same form, at the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Mann</span> American music producer, songwriter, and executive

William H. Mann is a Grammy-nominated American songwriter, record producer and founder of independent music publishing company Green & Bloom/Topline, as well as chairman of management firm Manncom. In 2021, alongside partner Benton James, he launched Proof Of Concept, a talent development and creative media services firm. Later that same year, in partnership with Warner Music Group’s ADA Worldwide, Mann and James announced the launch of joint venture label, icons+giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody (Backstreet's Back)</span> 1997 single by Backstreet Boys

"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys, written and produced by Denniz Pop and Max Martin. It was released as the first single from the band's second international studio album Backstreet's Back in June 1997, and the third single from their self-titled debut US studio album on March 9, 1998, although the song was already being played by many American radio stations unofficially by importing the Canadian single. The accompanying music video was directed by American director Joseph Kahn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Never Break Your Heart</span> 1995 single by Backstreet Boys

"I'll Never Break Your Heart" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. The song was written by singer-songwriters Eugene Wilde and Albert Manno and produced by Veit Renn and Timmy Allen. It was released in the United Kingdom on December 4, 1995, as the second single from their self-titled debut album and was issued across the rest of Europe later the same month. It was later included on their US debut album and was released as their fourth US single in June 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac Powell</span> American singer

Mac Powell, originally from Clanton, Alabama, is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who formed the Christian rock band Third Day with guitarist Mark Lee, with both of them being the only continuous members of the band prior to their disbandment in 2018. Powell also delves into country music, having released several independent country albums. As of 2021, he continues his career in Christian music as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welcome Home (You)</span> 2006 single by Brian Littrell

"Welcome Home" also known as "Welcome Home (You)" is a single by Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell. It was the first single from his first solo album Welcome Home, and it was written by Littrell and Dan Muckala. Littrell wrote his part in Vienna, Austria when he was touring with the Backstreet Boys. This song was also featured in the compilation album WOW Hits 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backstreet Boys</span> American boy band

The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group consisting of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, and cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson. They were formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida.

<i>Unbreakable</i> (Backstreet Boys album) 2007 studio album by Backstreet Boys

Unbreakable is the Backstreet Boys' sixth studio album. It was released on October 24, 2007 in Japan and October 30 in the United States by Jive Records.

Christopher Rojas is a multi-platinum composer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is also the co-founder of DigiTour Media.

<i>The Lost Get Found</i> 2009 studio album by Britt Nicole

The Lost Get Found is the third studio album by Britt Nicole. It was released on August 11, 2009 and features the Christian radio No. 1 songs, "The Lost Get Found" and "Walk on the Water". It debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Albums Chart, and No. 62 on the Billboard 200, a career high for the singer.

<i>Have It All</i> (AJ McLean album) 2010 studio album by AJ McLean

Have It All is the first solo album by the American singer-songwriter AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys. The album was released on January 20, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Turn Out the Lights</span> 2011 single by NKOTBSB

"Don't Turn Out the Lights" is a song by American vocal groups New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys from their collaboration compilation album, NKOTBSB. The song's lead vocals are provided by NKOTB members Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Jordan Knight, and every Backstreet Boys member at the time. The song was written by Jess Cates, Claude Kelly, Emanuel Kiriakou, and produced by Kiriakou.

<i>In a World Like This</i> 2013 studio album by Backstreet Boys

In a World Like This is the eighth studio album by the Backstreet Boys. It was released on July 30, 2013, through the group's own K-BAHN record label, under license to BMG Rights Management, and distributed by RED Distribution. Although it serves as the follow-up to This Is Us (2009), it is the first album since Never Gone (2005) to feature Kevin Richardson, who left the group in 2006 and rejoined in 2012. It was also their first and only independent album since leaving their old label Jive Records in 2010. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, making the Backstreet Boys the first act since Sade to have nine US top 10 albums, and the only boy band to do so.

<i>DNA</i> (Backstreet Boys album) 2019 studio album by Backstreet Boys

DNA is the ninth studio album by the Backstreet Boys. The album was first released in Japan on January 23, 2019, and everywhere else on January 25, 2019, through a collaboration with the group's own K-BAHN record label and RCA Records. The album features tracks written by Edei, Lauv, Andy Grammer, Stuart Crichton, Ryan Tedder and Shawn Mendes. This is the group's second album, after 2007's Unbreakable, without involvement from long-time producers and friends Max Martin and Kristian Lundin. It also serves as the follow-up to their eighth studio album, In a World Like This (2013). It was preceded by the singles "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", "Chances", "No Place", and is supported by the DNA World Tour, which is the band's most expansive in 18 years. The tour began on May 11, 2019, in Lisbon, Portugal, before visiting North America in July 2019. The album is their first on one of Sony Music's subsidiary companies after In a World Like This was released independently through BMG. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming the Backstreet Boys' third number-one album there and the first since Black & Blue in 2000.

Jennifer Louise Johnson is an American Christian worship singer, songwriter and worship pastor. She is a co-founding member of Bethel Music, and is one-half of the husband-and-wife worship duo, Brian & Jenn Johnson. She is also a senior worship pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, California, and a Senior Overseer of WorshipU, an online school of worship under Bethel Music which she co-founded with Brian Johnson.

<i>Our Hymns</i> 1989 compilation album by Various artists

Our Hymns is a compilation album released in 1989 on Word Records. It features well-known church hymns each done by CCM artists' interpretation and styles of music from pop to rock to country. It is also a trilogy of albums from Word Records using the word "Our" in the series starting with this album, along with Our Christmas (1990) and Our Family (1992). The R&B vocal group Take 6 won the Grammy for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group for their interpretation of "The Savior Is Waiting" at the 32nd Grammy Awards. In 1990, the album won Praise and Worship Album of the Year and Amy Grant won Country Recorded Song of the Year for "'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. Our Hymns debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.

References

  1. "In Christ Alone (Radio Mix): Brian Littrell: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  2. Ross, Dena. "'Give Glory Where Glory is Due'". Beliefnet, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  3. "Brian Littrell Looks To Reconnect As Dove Co-Host". April 25, 2007. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  4. "Past Winners | the 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards".
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Welcome Home - Brian Littrell". AllMusic . Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  6. Welcome Home (booklet). Brian Littrell. Sony BMG. Reunion. 2006. 60234 10098 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. "Brian Littrell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  8. "Brian Littrell Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2019.