Sacred Journey is the seventh studio album by the Christian music group First Call, released in 1993 on Myrrh Records. It would be their final album on Word Records in general since being on the label in 1985 on two different subsidiary labels: DaySpring and Myrrh.
Sacred Journey continues the themes explored on their previous album Human Song but with more of an unplugged and live-in studio sound. The group got involved not just in songwriting but in production as they produced the album themselves along with producers Darrell Brown and David Battheu. The title of the album is taken from a book by Presbyterian minister Fredrick Buechner that stresses the sanctity of all of life. Freedom in Christ is the central theme and is reflected in some of the songs. Music videos were made for the singles "Freedom" and "Evidence of Love."
Sacred Journey peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. On a side note, this is the final album to feature vocalist Marabeth Jordan. In 1994, Jordan was involved in an extra-martial affair with Christian singer Michael English, with whom the group had recently toured. The ensuing publicity had a devastating personal and professional effect on the group and the individuals involved. Jordan subsequently left the group and Marty McCall and Bonnie Keen continued on as a duo.
Track listing
1. Wanna Be (Bonnie Keen, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -4:44
2. Freedom (Marabeth Jordan, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -4:38
3. Thank You Lord (Bonnie Keen, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -4:38
4. Box of Glory (Bonnie Keen, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -3:59
5. Lazarus Unwound (Marty McCall, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -2:21
6. Evidence of Love (Bonnie Keen, Lowell Alexander) -4:35
7. Reasons (Marty McCall, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -4:21
8. Under the Water (Bonnie Keen, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -4:41
9. Just Can't Help Myself (Marabeth Jordan, Tony Smith, Joe Hogue, Paul Salveson) -4:14
10. When You Fall (Marty McCall, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -4:06
11. Timothy's Burden (Marabeth Jordan, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -3:26
12. Sacred Journey (Marty McCall, Darrell Brown, David Battheu) -6:12
Personnel
First Call:
Marty McCall -vocals
Bonnie Keen -vocals
Marabeth Jordan -vocals
Radio singles
1993 "Wanna Be" -#15 Christian CHR, #7 Christian AC
1993 -1994 "Freedom" -#21 Christian CHR, #11 Christian AC
1994 "Evidence of Love" -#16 Christian AC
Previous release: Human Song (1992)
Next release: La Razón de Cantar (1994) (Spanish language album)
Watch the music video of "Freedom" here:
Watch the music video of "Evidence of Love" here:
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