LOS ANGELES (UMe Records) - The first "best of" collection from
Amy Grant to span her pop career, "Greatest Hits 1986-2004" (A&M/UTV/UMe), to be released October 12, 2004, also features two new recordings, "Come Be With Me," featuring Keb' Mo' and co-written by Beth Nielsen Chapman (Faith Hill's "
This Kiss"), and "The Water," co-written by Grant and with husband
Vince Gill on electric guitar.
Executive produced by Grant, "Greatest Hits 1986-2004" picks up where her platinum 1987 retrospective, "The Collection," left off. Along with the pair of new tracks are 17 of the best-loved recordings, each digitally remastered, from one of the most popular, influential and groundbreaking artists in music. Included are 15 of her Top 40 Adult Contemporary hits (all but her first two), with nine of those on her scorecard of pop Top 40s to date (all but her first).
Initial shipments of "Greatest Hits 1986-2004" will be presented in a limited edition that also includes a bonus CD of four remixes -- "Every Heartbeat (7" Body & Soul Mix)," "That's What Love Is For (7" Single Mix)," "I Will Remember You (Rhythm Mix)" and "House Of Love (Classic Philly Soul Mix)." In addition, a full-length "Greatest Videos 1986-2004" DVD will be simultaneously issued, featuring 17 videos and 7 remix audio tracks sync'd to the corresponding video. The DVD also features an exclusive commentary track recorded by Amy Grant.
Signed as a 15-year-old, Grant released a series of albums in the late `70s/early `80s that helped invent the Contemporary Christian genre. Innumerable first-for-a-Christian-artist landmarks followed as did her crossover pop stardom beginning with her 1986 duet with Peter Cetera "The Next Time I Fall" (No 1 Pop/No 1 AC) from his "Solitude/Solitaire" album. "Saved By Love" (Top 40 AC) and "Lead Me On" are culled from her gold 1988 album "Lead Me On," which won the fifth of her five Grammys.
From 1991's "Heart In Motion," her first Top 10 pop album and at five times platinum her biggest seller, "Greatest Hits 1986-2004" brings together the original "Baby Baby" (No 1 pop/No 1 AC) and its Heart In Motion Mix version, "Every Heartbeat" (No 2 pop/No 2 AC), "That's What Love Is For" (No 7 pop/No 1 AC), "Good For Me" (No 8 pop/No 4 AC) and "I Will Remember You" (No 20 pop/No 2 AC). The double platinum, Top 20 "House Of Love" (1994) contributes the title track duet with Gill (No 37 pop/No 5 AC); the album's "Lucky One" (No 18 pop/No 2 AC) and cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" (No 18 AC) are heard in their respective 7" Remix and The Paradise Mix versions.
After a cover of 10cc's "The Things We Do For Love" (No 24 AC) from the soundtrack to "Mr. Wrong" (1996), "Greatest Hits 1986-2004" continues with "Takes A Little Time" (No 21 pop/No 4 AC), "Like I Love You" (No 10 AC) and "I Will Be Your Friend" (No 27 AC) from 1997's gold, Top 10 "Behind The Eyes." Appearing as well is the Top 40 AC title track from 2003's Top 40 "Simple Things," her first album of new material in six years.
AMY is available for interviews and is on tour.
Tour dates available at www.amygrant.com
