Step Up to the Microphone is the seventh studio album by the Australian Christian rock band Newsboys, released on June 30, 1998 by Star Song Records. The album is produced by Peter Furler.
It was the Newsboys' first album following the departure of lead singer John James in 1997, with Peter Furler and Phil Joel subsequently sharing lead vocal duties. Lead guitarist Jody Davis sings lead on the track "Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot." James, at the time, was battling drugs and alcohol, so original member Furler is now the new lead singer with Duncan Phillips now on the drums. Step Up to the Microphone was preceded by the lead single and music video "Entertaining Angels" with bassist Phil Joel singing the lead. The song topped the Christian CHR chart followed by three more number ones: "WooHoo," "Believe" and the title song. "Hallelujah" climbed to number 4 on the Christian Rock chart.
The track "WooHoo" features the "Na-Na" vocals from Furler's wife Summer and her father and Furler's father-in-law, Christian rock singer Mylon LeFevre. This is the first album that is not co-produced by singer/songwriter/producer Steve Taylor. Taylor has only co-written two tracks with "Truth Be Known..." and "Tuning In." Step Up to the Microphone topped the Top Christian Albums and peaked at number 61 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine. In 1999, Newsboys were nominated for Group of the Year, Rock Album of the Year and Song of the Year for "Entertaining Angels," and winning Short Form Music Video of the Year for "Entertaining Angels" at the 30th GMA Dove Awards. In late 1999, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Track listing
All songs were written by Peter Furler and Phil Joel, except where noted.
1. WooHoo -3:15
2. Step Up to the Microphone (Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Jeff Frankenstein) -3:43
3. Entertaining Angels (Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Jody Davis) -4:19
4. Believe -4:43
5. Tuning In (Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Steve Taylor) -4:08
6. Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot (Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Jody Davis)
-4:00
7. Deep End (Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Jody Davis, Jeff Frankenstein) -4:06
8. Hallelujah (Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Jeff Frankenstein) -3:56
9. The Tide -5:01
10. Always -5:02
Personnel
Newsboys:
Peter Furler - lead vocals on tracks 2 -10, drums, guitars, programming
Phil Joel -lead vocals on tracks 1, 3, 6 and 9, bass guitar, backing vocals
Jody Davis -lead vocals on track 6, lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Duncan Phillips -drums, percussion, backing vocals
Jeff Frankenstein -keyboards, programming, backing vocals
Gold certified in 1999.
Accolades
Dove Award -Short Form Music Video of the Year ("Entertaining Angels")
Radio singles
1998 "Entertaining Angels" -#1 Christian CHR, #32 Christian AC
1998 "WooHoo" -#1 Christian CHR for 4 weeks
1998 -1999 "Believe" -#1 Christian CHR for 4 weeks, #4 Christian AC
1999 "Step Up to the Microphone" -#1 Christian CHR
Previous release: Take Me to Your Leader (1996)
Next release: Love Liberty Disco (1999)
Watch the music video of "Entertaining Angels" here:
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