I’m happy to announce that our latest album, Risen, came out yesterday — a whole album of songs that celebrate the reality and meaning of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
When we first were planning Risen my hope was to get it out in time for Easter. God helping us, we did. And we managed to squeeze in a few extras.
More Sheet Music
We’ve included lead sheets and guitar charts as in the past, but this time both in the recorded key and in suggested congregational keys, when needed. Risen also includes the piano scores for all the songs.
More Sovereign Grace Musicians
Most of our previous major releases have utilized session players from Nashville. We used some stellar Nashville players again this time, but added Joel Sczebel, a 22 year old from our church in Surrey, Canada. He was heavily involved in the arranging and ended up playing electric on 6 tracks. Also, you can hear the Na Band on the song You Have Been Raised.
More Vocalists
We’re introducing some new vocalists on Risen that we’re excited for you to hear. Erin Hill, from Covenant Life Church (my home church) sings three songs, while David Gilland (Metro Life in Orlando, FL) and Jason McGovern (Covenant Fellowship in Philadelphia, PA) take one each. Regulars Ryan Baird, Meghan Baird, Devon Kauflin, and George Romanacce round out the rest of the vocals.
More Songs
We put 12 songs on most of our albums. Risen has 13.
One of our aims in producing this album was to provide more songs that explore why the resurrection is so important to the life of a Christian. It’s one thing to believe that Jesus rose bodily from the dead. It’s another thing to understand what implications that has. It’s yet another thing to live in the good of those implications.
Risen is our small attempt to encourage churches in all three areas. And it’s probably goes without saying that just as songs about the incarnation aren’t just for Christmas and songs about the cross aren’t just for Good Friday, so songs about the resurrection aren’t just for Easter. The gospel falls apart unless Jesus Christ was actually raised from the dead.
The resurrection is the sure sign that the power of the future age has broken into the present, that our justification is secure, that the powers of hell have been disarmed, that all those who trust in Christ will one day have glorified bodies, and that the new creation has dawned. Pretty significant, I’d say.
Yesterday we announced that you could download Risen from our webstore for only 5 bucks through April 4. Unfortunately, the response revealed some technological problems, which we’re currently working on. In the meantime, you can buy a copy of the CD, sheet music and digital booklet included, for $12, iTunes is selling Risen for $9.99, and you can download it from Amazon for $6.99.
So what are you waiting for?
And once you’ve heard it, I’d love to know what songs you enjoy or speak to you the most.
Awesome. I’m pretty excited about this album. There are too many inaccurate songs that surround our major holidays, so thanks for spending the time to put some solid stuff together.
What was really helpful for me this year putting my set together for Resurrection Sunday was your post suggesting other songs focused on the resurrection that you recommend.
I look forward to our congregation being encouraged by these songs as well.
Thanks!
Joey
Fantastic… please keep making these recordings!
“We will Rise”, “Behold Your God”, “To Live is Christ” are my favorites.
Bob,
I’m thrilled with the album! I can’t find the sheet music though…can you let us know where to find said music?
Thanks in advance.
Nathan
Nathan, we’re working to get the music up on the site now. Should be there in a day or two, or at the latest, early next week. Thanks for your patience!
is there artwork attached to the iTunes version? I always love knowing who sings the songs.
Thanks!
Leslie, yes, iTunes includes the digital songbook.
Great album! My faves are: Alive; We Have Been Healed; Name Above All Names; Behold Our God.
Thanks for getting this out in time for the church to be able to incorporate some of these songs. I appreciate the whole album, but I particularly enjoyed the last track “Hail the Day”. We may end our Easter services with this song. Also like “Jesus Lives” from a female-led power anthem standpoint.
Thanks Bob and team!
Bob and team,
Thank you for giving the church more songs on an often over looked topic! I have been looking for more songs that would emphasis the importance of the resurrection and the hope that it gives us as believers. You work “Risen” is a great blessing for me and for the church.
May God bless the work of your hands.
Andrew
Bob, music sounds fantastic. How often do you and your team get together to write songs? How many songs did you start with for this project before you narrowed it down to 13?
HI Bob,
If I order the “Risen” download from Amazon/Itunes, will SGM still get at least $5? If not, I will exercise patience until your server can handle it.
Looking forward to sharing these songs with my readers!
Jim
Jim, Sovereign Grace gets a percentage of the fee charged on Amazon and iTunes. I think it’s 80%. Thanks for asking.
Anybody else notice the moment on the promo video where Bob has a white shirt and tie on? Looking spiffy, Bob!
Anybody else notice that Risen is not available for purchase on Amazon? Under price it says “Not Available.”
Jim, apparently someone told them there was a loud pop at the beginning of two tracks. Our digital distributor checked it out and couldn’t find anything. Amazon is supposed to reload the files and have them up for sale shortly.
any chance of this one getting to emusic?
Bob, we’re checking on it. Thanks for asking!
@Bob – Emusic is on the distribution list…so it may just be that it takes a little while for eMusic to get it on their site.
Thanks for this! I told my husband to get it! I really like the first song Alive so far. I was just planning the songs to do for Easter and I stumbled upon this new CD!! Oh no, now what to do!!
I want my, I want my, I want my MP3 (download that is)
Bob,
I would love to get your thoughts at some point on the use of session musicians on worship recordings, with particular reference to non-Christians.
Obviously, we would never expect to populate the worship band of a local church with non-Christians. We do this based on certain principles which seem apparent. But how far do these go?
We certainly wouldn’t say that they go so far as to exclude non-Christian retailers, printers and perhaps even producers or sound-engineers. Non-Christian session musicians strike me as approaching that area where we are challenged to define our principles even more. Or perhaps recording worship for the church and leading worship for the church are different enough as to have different principles? What do you think?
Wonderful CD! Have particularly enjoyed Erin Hill’s vocals. Thank you, yet again, for a wonderful, Christ exalting set of songs.
Yeah! We got the download MP3 today!
Hey Bob,
Just picked up the new album last Sunday at church. Love it. Thanks to you and all your talented writers and musicians for continuing to serve the church so well. I am so grateful that Sovereign Grace uses projects like these to help teach about and meditate on facets of the gospel of our glorious God and Savior, rather than having a focus on the music or showcasing an artist or band.
Favorites so far: I’ve loved Pat’s and Joel’s song “Name Above All Names” ever since the team at Grace Church introduced it last fall. Also, “We Will Rise,” “To Live Is Christ,” “Hail the Day,” and “Behold Our God.”
I was just wondering if I could buy the downloadable soundtrack to For Me to Live. Thanks! Love your music!
Wendi, do you mean To Live Is Christ?