Amy Grant in 1985: Her Album "Unguarded" was a Crossover Success

Even up to this day, Amy Grant is still the artist to have the most #1 singles on the Billboard Christian songs chart. In 1985, Amy Grant was unstoppable. Signed to A&M Records, she released her ninth album "Unguarded." With this album, however, the religious content of the lyrics was scaled back as compared with her two previous regular studio albums. In fact, the words "God" and "Jesus" only surfaced twice across the record.
The album track "I Love You" was Grant's first secular love song from her own pen, a song she sang to her husband then, Gary Chapman. Despite this, the album's lead-off single, "Find a Way", was a number one hit on the Christian radio charts. Four other singles from the album were also Top Ten Christian radio hits.
One of the album's highlights was the song "Sharayah." It was released as the fourth and final single from the album. The song did not achieve the mainstream success that the previous Unguarded singles had seen but still emerged as a major hit on Christian radio. "Sharayah" is an uptempo, rock-styled inspirational song that features heavy use of the synthesizer and electric guitar. In the song, Grant addresses a close friend named Sharayah, a presumably fictional character who is experiencing a crisis of faith. Grant implores her friend to find salvation in God. However, the lyrics do not specifically mention God or Jesus.
The aggressive mainstream style of the songs on Unguarded, combined with a heavy promotional campaign on the part of the album's distributor in secular outlets, A&M Records, helped three of its singles reach the mainstream charts. Grant's producer, Brown Bannister, had been listening carefully to the pop charts throughout her career, and here he seemed determined to give her the kind of sound that would compete successfully on the secular airwaves of the day.
"Find a Way" was a Top Ten hit on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Everywhere I Go" was a Top Thirty AC single and "Wise Up" was a minor charting single on the Hot 100. Unguarded would be certified gold in September 1985, and platinum in June 1986.
This was the final album to be recorded at Caribou Ranch, which was owned by former Chicago producer/manager James William Guercio before the infamous March 1985 fire that destroyed the studio's control room.
Tags : Amy Grant Amy Grant news amy grant unguarded amy grant latest 1985 in christian music
Hot Trends
-
CCM Artists Call for Reform Amid Allegations Against Michael Tait: “Secrecy Always Destroys”
-
Michael Tait Accused of Watching Woman Raped During Newsboys Tour
-
TobyMac Accused of Dabbling with Satanic Occult
-
Newsboys Dropped From Label Amid Michael Tait Scandal
-
The Rise and Fall of Michael Tait
-
Matt Hammitt is Leaving Sanctus Real
-
Chrissy Metz to Star in Upcoming Film "Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story"
-
Kevin Max Explains Audio Adrenaline Departure in Open Letter (Read Here)
-
Here Are Lyrics to Passion's "The Lord Will Provide"
-
Newsboys' Michael Tait Joins Capital Chuch for their 37th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
-
Joseph Habedank Returns with "Running to Me"
-
Michael Tait Faces Additional Allegations from 6 More Men, Including Two Minors
-
NEEDTOBREATHE Frontman Bear Rinehart Accused by Younger Brother Bo of Sexual Abuse
-
Lysa TerKeurst’s 22-Yr-Old Daughter Breaks Silence About Her Dad’s Affair
-
Bishop Thomas Tyrone Tribbett, Father of Gospel Artist Tye Tribbett, Passes Away
Most Popular
-
CCM Artists Call for Reform Amid Allegations Against Michael Tait: “Secrecy Always Destroys”
-
Michael Tait Accused of Watching Woman Raped During Newsboys Tour
-
TobyMac Accused of Dabbling with Satanic Occult
-
Newsboys Dropped From Label Amid Michael Tait Scandal
-
The Rise and Fall of Michael Tait
-
Matt Hammitt is Leaving Sanctus Real
-
Chrissy Metz to Star in Upcoming Film "Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story"
-
Kevin Max Explains Audio Adrenaline Departure in Open Letter (Read Here)
-
Here Are Lyrics to Passion's "The Lord Will Provide"
-
Newsboys' Michael Tait Joins Capital Chuch for their 37th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
-
Joseph Habedank Returns with "Running to Me"
-
Michael Tait Faces Additional Allegations from 6 More Men, Including Two Minors
-
NEEDTOBREATHE Frontman Bear Rinehart Accused by Younger Brother Bo of Sexual Abuse
-
Lysa TerKeurst’s 22-Yr-Old Daughter Breaks Silence About Her Dad’s Affair
-
Bishop Thomas Tyrone Tribbett, Father of Gospel Artist Tye Tribbett, Passes Away