Songs of Inspiration
Encyclopedia
Songs of Inspiration is a studio album by American country music
group Alabama
. It was released by RCA Records
on October 24, 2006. The album debuted at #1 on both the Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
group Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
. It was released by RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
on October 24, 2006. The album debuted at #1 on both the Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts.
Track listing
- "His Eye Is on the SparrowHis Eye is on the Sparrow"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" is a Gospel hymn. Although today it is a staple of African-American worship services, the song was originally written in 1905 by two white songwriters, lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel...
" (Civilla D. MartinCivilla D. MartinCivilla Durfee Martin was a Canadian-American writer of many religious hymns and gospel songs in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Her husband, Walter Stillman Martin , studied ministry at Harvard University, where he became a Baptist minister but later switched to the Disciples of...
, Charles H. GabrielCharles H. GabrielCharles Hutchinson Gabriel was a writer of gospel songs and composer of gospel tunes. He is said to have written and/or composed between 7,000 and 8,000 songs, many of which are available in 21st century hymnals. He used several pseudonyms, including Charlotte G. Homer, H. A. Henry, and S. B...
) - 4:10 - "In the Garden" (C. Austin Miles) - 3:28
- "Amazing GraceAmazing Grace"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
" (John NewtonJohn NewtonJohn Henry Newton was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career on the sea at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of...
) - 3:35 - "How Great Thou ArtHow Great Thou Art (hymn)"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by...
" (Stuart K. Hine) - 4:26 - "I Need Thee" (Annie S. Hawks, Robert Lowry) - 2:09
- "Old Shep" (Red FoleyRed FoleyClyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
) - 3:06 - "Jesus Loves MeJesus Loves MeJesus Loves Me is a Christian hymn set to words by Anna Bartlett Warner. The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of a novel called Say and Seal, written by Susan Warner and published in 1860. The tune was added in 1862 by William Batchelder Bradbury who found the text of "Jesus Loves Me"...
" (William Batchelder BradburyWilliam Batchelder BradburyWilliam Batchelder Bradbury was a musician who composed the tune to Jesus Loves Me and many other popular hymns.-Biography:...
, David Rutherford McGuire, Anna Bartlett WarnerAnna Bartlett WarnerAnna Bartlett Warner was an American writer, the author of several books, and of poems set to music as hymns and religious songs for children...
) - 3:19 - "Silent NightSilent Night"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
" (Franz Gruber, Josef MohrJosef MohrJoseph Mohr, sometimes spelt Josef was an Austrian Roman Catholic priest and composer, who wrote the words to the Christmas carol "Silent Night".-Biography:...
) - 3:31 - "I Am the Man Thomas" (Larry SparksLarry SparksLarry Sparks is a Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year for his album "40," celebrating his 40th year in bluegrass...
, Ralph StanleyRalph StanleyRalph Stanley , also known as Dr. Ralph Stanley, is an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing.-Biography:...
) - 2:02 - "Rock of Ages" (Augustus Montague TopladyAugustus Montague TopladyAugustus Montague Toplady was an Anglican cleric and hymn writer. He was a major Calvinist opponent of John Wesley. He is best remembered as the author of the hymn "Rock of Ages"...
, Thomas HastingsThomas Hastings (composer)Thomas Hastings was an American composer, primarily an author of hymn tunes of which the best known is Toplady for the hymn Rock of Ages. He was born to Dr. Seth and Eunice Hastings in Washington, Connecticut...
) - 2:36 - "In the Sweet By and ByIn the Sweet By and By"The Sweet By-and-By" is a Christian hymn with lyrics by S. Fillmore Bennett and music by Joseph P. Webster. It is recognizable by its chorus:Mr. Webster, like many musicians, was of an exceedingly nervous and sensitive nature, and subject to periods of depression, in which he looked upon the dark...
" (Sanford F. Bennett, Joseph Philbrick WebsterJoseph Philbrick WebsterJoseph Philbrick Webster, also known as J.P. Webster , was an American songwriter and composer most notable for his musical compositions during the Antebellum and American Civil War periods of United States history, and his post-war religious hymns.Amongst his most notable works are the ballad...
) - 3:28 - "The Old Rugged CrossThe Old Rugged Cross"The Old Rugged Cross" is a popular Christian song written in 1912 by evangelist and song-leader George Bennard .George Bennard, was a native of Youngstown, Ohio but was reared in Iowa. After his conversion in a Salvation Army meeting, he and his wife became brigade leaders before leaving the...
" (George BennardGeorge BennardGeorge Bennard was an American hymn composer and preacher. He is best known for composing the famous hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross".- Early years :...
) - 3:09 - "What Will I Leave Behind" (Sherrill Brown) - 2:40
- "One Big Heaven" (Randy OwenRandy OwenRandy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band which saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although Alabama only records new albums on occasion, Owen himself has maintained a career...
) - 4:16 - "Rain" (Owen) - 3:35
Chart performance
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Christian Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 15 |