Songs is the official compilation album by Christian singer -songwriter Rich Mullins, released on July 30, 1996 by Reunion Records. It was the last album to be released by Mullins before his death in a car accident on September 19, 1997.
The album featured three new recordings:
"Sing Your Praise to the Lord" -originally recorded by Mullins' band Zion in 1981 on their album Behold the Man and features the same middle section as on Zion's album, unlike the Amy Grant version where the middle section is omitted from Age to Age.
"Elijah" -originally recorded on Mullins' 1986 self-titled debut album.
"We Are Not as Strong as We Think We Are" is the lone original track. The song offers a sobering estimation of humanness, set to a beautiful and haunting melody.
In addition, the album featured the full-length radio single version of "Screen Door," which had been commercially unavailable prior to this release. Songs peaked at number 10 on the first run of the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart in 1996 and into the spring of 1997, then on October 11, 1997 after Mullins' passing, the album re-entered the chart and climbed to number 7. Mullins also appears on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart on the same chart date to debut and peak at number 143. In 1998, Mullins won Artist of the Year posthumously at the 29th GMA Dove Awards
In 2001, Songs was certified Gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales of 500,000 copies, giving Mullins his first and only Gold certified album posthumously.
Track listing
All songs were written by Rich Mullins, except where noted.
1. Sing Your Praise to the Lord (new recording from Zion's album Behold the Man)
-5:37
2. Awesome God (from Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth) -3:03
3. Sometimes by Step (Rich Mullins, David "Beaker" Strasser) (from The World As Best As Remember It, Volume Two) -4:53
4. Creed (Rich Mullins, David "Beaker" Strasser) (from A Liturgy, A Legacy and a Ragamuffin Band) -5:21
5. We Are Not as Strong as We Think We Are (new recording) -4:48
6. If I Stand (from Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth) -3:44
7. Screen Door (full-length radio single version from Pictures in the Sky) -2:10
8. Let Mercy Lead (Rich Mullins, David "Beaker" Strasser) (from Brother's Keeper)
-4:25
9. Elijah (new recording from Rich Mullins) -5:17
10. Calling Out Your Name (The World As Best As Remember It, Volume One) -4:49
11. My One Thing (from Never Picture Perfect) -3:50
12. Boy Like Me/Man Like You (Rich Mullins, David "Beaker" Strasser) (from The World As Best As Remember It, Volume One) -3:17
13. Alrightokuhhuhamen (from Never Picture Perfect) -4:11
14. While the Nations Rage (from Never Picture Perfect) -4:51
15. Verge of a Miracle (from Pictures in the Sky) -4:10
16. Hold Me Jesus (from A Liturgy, A Legacy and a Ragamuffin Band) -3:06
Gold certified in 2001.
Production credits
Reed Arvin -producer (tracks 1 -7, 9 -16)
Rich Mullins, Rick Elias, Lee Lundgren, Jimmy Abegg, Phil Madeira and Aaron Smith -producers (track 8)
Accolades
Dove Award -Artist of the Year (posthumously)
Radio singles
"Sing Your Praise to the Lord" -#20 Christian CHR, #8 Christian AC
"We Are Not as Strong as We Think We Are" -#9 Christian AC
"Elijah" -#7 Christian AC
Previous release: Brother's Keeper (1995)
Next release: The Jesus Record (1998) (posthumous release)
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