From the Beginning is a Gospel compilation album by American R&B singer Deniece Williams, released in late 1990 on Sparrow Records.
It is a collection of gospel songs Williams had recorded during her years at Columbia Records. Williams recorded one gospel song on each of her albums starting with 1976's "Watching Over" from This Is Niecy to her cover of the Michael Jackson Captain EO track "We Are Here to Change the World" from 1988's As Good As It Gets. The album also contains a live performance of "God Is Amazing" from the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985, originally from her 1977 album Song Bird. A cover of Michael W. Smith's "I Am Sure" was released as the first single to Christian radio stations.
From the Beginning debuted and peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart in early 1991. Even though it was released as a
compilation album of previously released material, Williams earned two Dove
Award nominations in 1992 for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year and
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for the track "I Am Sure."
NOTE: the track "Video" has been omitted from this collection in the digital edition. It was originally available on the physical edition on CD as the final track on From the Beginning. The song "Video" is from her 1986 album Hot on the Trail.
Track listing on the digital edition
1. I Am Sure (Michael W. Smith, Mike Hudson) (from As Good As It Gets) -4:27
2. I Believe in You (Dave Raynor, Kenny Lamar) (from Water Under the Bridge) -4:24
3. My Prayer (Interlude) (Deniece Williams) (from When Love Comes Calling) -0:22
4. Watching Over (Deniece Williams, Maurice White, Freddie White, Verdine White, Jerry Peters,Al McKay) (from This Is Niecy) -3:51
5. All I Need (Monte Moir) (from As Good As It Gets) -4:14
6. God is Amazing (Deniece Williams) (live performance from the 27th Grammy Awards, originally from Song Bird) -2:46
7. We Are Here to Change the World (Michael Jackson, John Barnes) (from As Good As It Gets) -3:46
8. I Believe in Miracles (Deniece Williams, Bill Neale) (from Niecy) -2:49
9. Whiter Than Snow (traditional; arranged by Deniece Williams) (from Let's Hear It For The Boy) -3:41
10. Hold Me Tight (Betsy Cook) (from As Good As It Gets) -3:29
11. My Prayer (Interlude) (reprise) -0:21
Production credits
Brad Westering and Jay Gruska -producers (tracks 1, 7 and 10)
Steve Levine -producer (track 2)
Ray Parker, Jr. -producer (tracks 3 and 11)
Maurice White and Charles Stepney -producers (track 4)
Monte Moir -producers (track 5)
Deniece Williams -producer (tracks 8 and 9)
Thom Bell -producer (track 8)
Radio singles
1990 -1991 "I Am Sure" -#7 Christian CHR, #4 Christian AC
1991 "All I Need" -#20 Christian AC
Previous release: Change the World (1990) (compilation album)
Next release: Lullabyes to Dreamland (1991)
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