Two tie-ins to the album were released: a video, subtitled The Video Story, and an autobiography by the group, written with Davin Seay.
Background
The group characterized the album as their hardest to record. They called it a "growing pain" because John Mays, who had signed them to Word Records, had left the label.[3] Shortly afterward, Word was sold, leaving the group to make all major decisions independently.
Music videos were filmed for "Keep the Candle Burning" and "That's the Way It's Meant to Be," and a live video was released for "Circle of Friends." The "Keep the Candle Burning" video featured footage from the group's four-city tour on the album's release day, including shots from the Dallas Mavericks' jet showing Terry Jones' husband Chris, Denise Jones' husband Stu, and Shelley Breen's then-fiancé David, whom she married later that year.
"Circle of Friends" has been regarded as the group's signature song; a book by the group and their fan club both share this title. The current trio served as background vocalists on Kenny Rogers' cover of the song on his 2011 album The Love of God. Breen originally did not want to record the song, as she thought it was "kitschy, like a campfire song [or] 'Kumbaya' or something."[1]
Since Heather Payne departed from the group in 2008, they have performed the song "Keep the Candle Burning" as a medley with "The Great Divide," and "You Are the Answer" as a medley with "I'll Be Believing."
In addition to the album, an autobiographical book by the same title, subtitled "Advice and Inspiration from America's #1 Christian Pop Group," was released in October 1996.[4] A video titled Life, Love & Other Mysteries: The Video Story was released in 1997.[5]
A tie-in video, Life, Love & Other Mysteries: The Video Story, was released in 1997. The video includes the music videos for "Keep the Candle Burning" and "That's the Way It's Meant to Be," as well as four live performances, and interviews with the group as well as their husbands and songwriter/producer Michael Omartian. In addition to the two studio videos, the live performance of "Circle of Friends" was released as a promo video, and was included on the WOW 1998 video and DVD.
Point of Grace – vocal arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10)
Phil Naish – vocal arrangements (2, 8, 10)
Cheryl Rogers – vocal arrangements (2, 8, 10)
Blair Masters – track arrangements (4)
Jeff Borders – track arrangements (5)
Production
Point of Grace – executive producers
Cheryl Rogers – vocal co-producer (2, 8, 10)
Ronnie Brookshire – engineer, mixing (2, 4, 8, 10)
Terry Christian – engineer, mixing (3, 6, 7, 9)
David Schober – engineer, mixing (1, 5)
Tim Coyle – additional engineer, mix assistant (1, 5)
David Dillbeck – additional engineer, mix assistant (2, 8, 10)
Doug Sarrett – additional engineer
Scott Williamson – additional engineer
Tony Castle – assistant engineer
Eric Elwell – assistant engineer
Marc Frigo – assistant engineer
Shawn McLean – assistant engineer
Greg Parker – assistant engineer
Aaron Swihart – assistant engineer
Nick Sparks – assistant engineer
Jason White – assistant engineer
John Thomas II – mix assistant (3, 6, 7, 9)
Mel Jones – mix assistant (4)
Ken Love – mastering
Lynn Keesecker – A&R direction
Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty – production coordinator (2, 8, 10)
Suzy Martinez – production coordinator (3, 6, 7, 9)
Christy Coxe – art direction
Chuck Hargett – design
Michael Haber – photography
Patrick Swan – hair stylist
I.B. Fishman – make-up
Mike Atkins – management
Studios
Recorded at Woodland Digital, Masterfonics/Studio Six, Javelina Studios, OmniSound Studios, The Music Mill, Uno Mas Studio, Quad Studios and Great Circle Sound (Nashville, Tennessee); Tejas Recorders, Studio at Mole End, The Sound Kitchen and The Bennett House (Franklin, Tennessee).
Mixed at The Sound Kitchen and Studio at Mole End; Sound Stage Studios (Nashville, Tennessee).
Mastered at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee).
Reception
Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars.[2] Dial-the-Truth Ministries, however, criticized Point of Grace for covering "Sing a Song" by Earth, Wind & Fire because of that group's new age influence.[6][7]
References
^ ab24 (Liner notes). Point of Grace. Word Records. 2003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Life, Love & Other Mysteries (Liner notes). Point of Grace. Word Records. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
