CompassionArt (album)

Untitled

CompassionArt is a studio album by the songwriters' charity of the same name. It features the entire CompassionArt song writing team, Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, Darlene Zschech, Israel Houghton, Michael W. Smith, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu Garrard and charity co-founder Martin Smith, along with several other collaborators. All proceeds from the recording will directly benefit charities of the song writers' choosing.

Writing

Delirious? singer Martin Smith founded the CompassionArt charity with his wife, Anna Smith, after being moved by the poverty suffered by people in many of the countries he had visited on tour. The final Delirious? album Kingdom of Comfort was heavily influenced by these experiences. In early 2008, he invited the newly formed CompassionArt team, made up of CCM artists from around the world, to Scotland for a writing retreat. During this time the group wrote twenty two songs, fourteen of which made their way onto the album. All the artists attended the retreat apart from Chris Tomlin, who was unwell.

Recording

The majority of the album was recorded around February 2008 at Abbey Road studios in London. Chris Tomlin joined the writing team, along with additional contributors Amy Grant, Kirk Franklin, tobyMac, CeCe Winans, Leeland Mooring, Joel Houston and Christy Nockels. A couple of musicians were unable to travel to the United Kingdom for the recording, although their contributions were recorded in other studios around the world. Martin Smith also travelled to Uganda in order to visit the Watoto Children's Choir and record their contribution to the album. One of the songs which was recorded was "Fill My Cup." This had previously been written by Delirious? as a potential song for inclusion on Kingdom Of Comfort, although it was never released.

Singles

In April 2008, "So Great" was released internationally on iTunes as a single. It was also performed live at that years Dove Awards by Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels. The song was also included on the compilation album WOW Hits 1.

"King of Wonders" was released to Christian radio in November 2008.

Release

The album was released internationally in November 2008, although release was delayed until January 2009 in North America to avoid clashing with new albums from Michael W. Smith and Chris Tomlin. The album also includes a documentary DVD, and was released alongside a book, The Art of Compassion, written by the song writing team.

Track listing

1. "Come To The Water" - vocals by Chris Tomlin, Martin Smith, Kirk Franklin and Watoto Children's Choir
2. "Shout Praise" - vocals by Israel Houghton, tobyMac and Darlene Zschech
3. "King Of Wonders" - vocals Matt Redman, Tim Hughes and Joel Houston
4. "Lead Me To The Rock" - vocals by Paul Baloche
5. "We Won't Stay Silent" - vocals by Steven Curtis Chapman and Tim Hughes
6. "Highly Favoured" - vocals by Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Watoto Children's Choir
7. "Fill My Cup" - vocals by Martin Smith and CeCe Winans
8. "Friend Of The Poor" - vocals by Leeland Mooring and Andy Park
9. "King Of The Broken" - vocals by Darlene Zschech, Israel Houghton and Leeland Mooring
10. "You Have Shown Us" - vocals by Chris Tomlin, Paul Baloche and Steven Curtis Chapman
11. "Until The Day" - vocals by Darlene Zschech and Graham Kendrick
12. "Let It Glow" - vocals by tobyMac and Kirk Franklin
13. "So Great" - vocals by Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton and Christy Nockels
14. "There Is Always A Song" - vocals by Martin Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman and Watoto Children's Choir
15. "There Is Always A Song (reprise)" - vocals by Watoto Children's Choir