In 2000, the album was remastered and reissued with new artwork.
Background, release, and legacy
The album produced six #1 singles on Billboard's Christian songs chart, making the group the first to achieve such a run with their debut album.[2] One music video was filmed, for "Jesus Will Still Be There."
The group's debut single, "I'll Be Believing," was the only programmed song on the album. John Mays, then the group's A&R representative at Word Records, originally thought it would be best if it were buried in the tracklist. When the song was later performed live in 1996 on The Message About Life, Love & Other Mysteries Tour, an entirely new sequence was designed by Michael Hodge and Mark Childers. Hodge appears in the group's video for a later song, "Circle of Friends," which was recorded on that tour. Since Heather Payne's departure from the group in 2008, the song has been performed as a medley with "You Are the Answer" from the album Life, Love & Other Mysteries.
The group was initially reluctant to record "Faith, Hope & Love," but were convinced by Mays, owing to their appreciation of R&B acts such as En Vogue.[2] Vocals on the song were arranged by Mervyn Warren of Take 6.
"No More Pain" included a choir consisting of the group's family and friends, including Denise Jones' husband Stu.[2]
Although "This Day" was not released as a single, it has remained a favorite among both the group and their fans, with Shelley Breen later speculating that "it [had] sold more sheet music and accompaniment tracks than anything else on the [album]."[3]
Friends and Family All-Volunteer Choir on "No More Pain"
Jessica Atterberry, Cindy Bean, Frank Breeden, Frank Calderone, Shawn Cartwright, Travis Cottrell, Paul Cox, Christy Coxe, Ingrid DuMosch, Vicki Dvoracek, Kelly Garner, Steve Gatlin, Pamela Henderson, Chris Hogue, Ken Johnson, Suzie Johnson, Stu Jones, Tammi Lawson, Dianne Mays, H.L. McConnell, Larry McCoy, Cindy Morgan, David Mullen, Nicole C. Mullen, Alan Murdock, Patty O'Dells, Kelly Pody, Shawn Pody, Tami Pryce, Chance Scoggins, Joe Shell, Vicki Shell, Jeff Slaughter, Steve Smith, Lisa Springer, Cindy Sterling, Robert Sterling, Jennifer Teague, Audrey Teeter, Renee Thornton, Jerry Weimer, Aimee Joy Williamson, and Kara Williamson.
Production
Producers – Robert Sterling and Scott Williamson
Executive Producer – John Mays
Recorded by John Jaszcz, Wayne Morgan, Doug Sarrett and Scott Williamson.
Assistant Engineers – Barry Campbell and Wayne Morgan
Recorded at Recording Arts and Quad Studios (Nashville, TN).
Mixed by John Jaszcz at Recording Arts
Mastered by Hank Williams at MasterMix (Nashville, TN).
Art Direction – Diana Barnes
Design – Franke Design Co.
Photography – Matthew Barnes
Design (Reissue) – Chuck Hargett
Photography (Reissue) – Louise O'Brien and Daniel Scridde
