House of Love is the eleventh studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Amy Grant, released on August 23, 1994 by Myrrh/Word Records and A&M Records. The album was produced by Michael Omartian and Keith Thomas.
The album is the follow-up to her quintuple-platinum 1991 release Heart in Motion.
Although House of Love sold less than half of what its predecessor sold, it similarly combines pop music with Christian values. The album's lead single "Lucky One" was the album's biggest hit at number 18 on the Hot 100 and number 2 on the AC charts in Billboard magazine, followed by the title song with guest vocals by country music singer (and future second husband Vince Gill) and a remake of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi." "Say You'll Be Mine" was a U.K. Top 50 hit. When it was released in 1994, House of Love was the biggest initial release in Christian music history, shipping almost half a million copies on its first day alone. In the Christian radio market, songs like "Children of the World" and "Helping Hand" were number one hits.
Some of the album's other tracks garnered more notice later on when covered by other artists. "Oh How The Years Go By" would later be covered by R&B singer-actress Vanessa Williams in 1997 and be a Top 10 Billboard AC hit and the track "The Power" would be covered by American singer-actress Cher on her 1998 album Believe. House of Love topped the Top Christian Albums and debuted and peaked at number 13 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine.
At the 1995 Dove Awards, Grant was nominated in six categories including Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist, Pop/Contemporary Album and Song of the Year for "Children of the World," which she co-wrote with Wayne Kirkpatrick and Tommy Sims, but losing in all categories.
On September 27, 2024, Grant reissued House of Love on Amy Grant Productions/Capitol Christian Music Group as an expanded anniversary edition on two vinyls and on two CDs with a 12-page booklet with lyrics and photos inside. Disc 1 of the CD version features the original remastered 11-song album, plus two producer versions of the title track from Omartian and "Oh How the Years Go By" from Thomas. Disc 2 contains "Politics of Kissing" that was only available in the European and Asian versions of the album and "Life's Gonna Change" that was a B-side of "Say You'll Be Mine" when that single was released only in the U.K. market. Also included are six remixes of "Lucky One," two remixes of the title song, both featuring Gill, plus more remixes, rare intros of two tracks and 2024 versions of "Helping Hand" and "The Power."
Track listing on the double CD/digital album
Disc 1
1. Lucky One (Amy Grant, Keith Thomas) -4:11
2. Say You'll Be Mine (Amy Grant, Keith Thomas, Wayne Kirkpatrick) -4:04
3. Whatever It Takes (Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Keith Thomas) -4:10
4. House of Love (guest vocals by Vince Gill) (Wally Wilson, Greg Barnhill, Kenny Greenberg) -4:38
5. The Power (Tommy Sims, Judson Spence) -3:54
6. Oh How The Years Go By (Simon Climie, Will Jennings) -5:12
7. Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell) -3:01
8. Helping Hand (Amy Grant, Tommy Sims, Beverly Darnall) -4:39
9. Love Has a Hold On Me (Amy Grant, Keith Thomas) -3:55
10. Our Love (Amy Grant, Tom Hemby) -5:08
11. Children of the World (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Tommy Sims) -5:16
12. House of Love (guest vocals by Vince Gill) (Michael Omartian Version) -4:11
13. Oh How the Years Go By (Keith Thomas Version) -5:00
Disc 2
1. The Power (2024 Version) -3:30
2. Helping Hand (2024 Version) -4:24
3. Politics of Kissing (Amy Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Clif Magness) -4:14
4. Life's Gonna Change (Amy Grant, Michael Omartian) -3:41
5. House of Life (guest vocals by Vince Gill) (The Classic Philly Soul Mix) -4:30
6. Lucky One (The Lucky Street Mix) -3:56
7. Big Yellow Taxi (The Alternate Paradise Mix) -3:01
8. House of Love (guest vocals by Vince Gill) (The South Street Mix) -4:35
9. Lucky One (The A/C Rhythm Mix) -3:42
10. Say You'll Be Mine (Radio Mix) -3:37
11. Lucky One (Remix) -4:05
12. Big Yellow Taxi (The Paradise Mix) -3:04
13. Children of the World (with "Jesus Loves the Little Children" intro) -5:36
14. Lucky One (Kupper Radio) -3:41
15. Oh How the Years Go By (Radio Mix with intro) -5:14
16. Lucky One (Kupper 12" Mix) -5:20
17. Lucky One (Churban 12" Mix) -5:41
Production credits
Keith Thomas -producer (Disc 1: tracks 1-5, 9, 11 and 13; Disc 2: 1)
Michael Omartian -producer (Disc 1: tracks 6-8, 10 and 12; Disc 2: track 2 -4)
Tommy Sims -co-producer (Disc 2: track 2)
Gold certified in 1994.
Platinum certified 2x in 1995.
Radio singles
1994 "Lucky One" -#18 Billboard Hot 100, #2 Billboard AC
1994 "Children of the World" -#1 Christian CHR, #1 Christian AC
1994 "House of Love" (with Vince Gill) -#37 Billboard Hot 100, #5 Billboard AC
1994 "Love Has a Hold On Me" -#6 Christian CHR, #3 Christian AC
1995 "Helping Hand" -#1 Christian CHR for 3 weeks, #4 Christian AC
1995 "Oh How the Years Go By" -#11 Christian CHR, #12 Christian AC
Previous release: Home for Christmas (1992)
Next release: Behind the Eyes (1997)
Watch the playlist of music videos from House of Love here:
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