Much Afraid
Encyclopedia
Much Afraid is the second album
of Christian
band Jars of Clay
. It was released in 1997 by Essential Records
.
Much Afraid was highly anticipated after the success of the band's first album, but due to a noticeable stylistic shift, the album was not as well received. Despite debuting at #8 on the Billboard 200
chart (the group's eponymous debut
had failed to reach the Top 40), it quickly slid down the chart, its sales failing to match those of its predecessor. The lead single, "Crazy Times
" did not do well on mainstream radio, though it was accepted at Christian
radio. Since the sound had more of an electric-guitar driven sound, many fans expected Much Afraid to be more of a rock album than its predecessor. Instead, the album seemed to go the other way, taking a more lush and melancholy approach, scaling down the strings and drum loops that the band was known for. The lyrics were also more interpretive and less explicitly Christian than before, focusing more on relationships and emotional issues, though the album's title track and "Hymn" both mentioned "Sweet Jesus" in their lyrics. Some have compared the sound of this album to that of Toad the Wet Sprocket
, a band noted for being an influence for Mason and Haseltine of Jars of Clay.
"Fade to Grey" and "Frail
" were both previously from the group's debut demo recording Frail in 1994. All other tracks from that demo were recorded for the debut album Jars of Clay
in 1995. Both songs were changed significantly, especially "Frail" which was previously an instrumental piece which now contained lyrics. Notably, these songs were two of the first songs written by Jars of Clay.
The album features the multi-instrumental Greg Wells
, who went on to produce OneRepublic
, Katy Perry
, Pink
, and Rufus Wainwright
, who plays drums and bass guitar on almost every song and co-wrote "Tea And Sympathy" and the single "Crazy Times".
The song "Five Candles (You Were There)
" was originally written for the soundtrack to the Jim Carrey
film Liar Liar
, as the film is centred around a five year old's birthday wish, but the song was cut from the credits in favor of a blooper
reel
. The song was subsequently featured on a few other movie soundtracks. The album's title is a reference to the main character in Hannah Hurnard
's allegorical novel Hinds' Feet on High Places
.
One track that was recorded during the Much Afraid sessions that did not make the final track listing is "Fly Farther". The song, featuring vocals from Alison Krauss
, was finally released in 1999 on The White Elephant Sessions
.
This album earned the band a Grammy Award
for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
London Strings
Singles
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
band Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
. It was released in 1997 by Essential Records
Essential Records (Christian)
Essential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is a division of a major label, Sony Music Entertainment.-History:...
.
Much Afraid was highly anticipated after the success of the band's first album, but due to a noticeable stylistic shift, the album was not as well received. Despite debuting at #8 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart (the group's eponymous debut
Jars of Clay (album)
Jars of Clay is the eponymous first full-length album by Christian rock group Jars of Clay. It was released on October 24, 1995 by Essential Records. The album has been highly acclaimed, being one of few Christian albums of the mid-nineties to achieve platinum status...
had failed to reach the Top 40), it quickly slid down the chart, its sales failing to match those of its predecessor. The lead single, "Crazy Times
Crazy Times
"Crazy Times" is a song recorded and performed by Jars of Clay. The song was a writing collaboration between band members Dan Haseltine and Stephen Mason with songwriters Mark Hudson and Greg Wells. It was the first single from their second studio album, Much Afraid. The single fared well in the...
" did not do well on mainstream radio, though it was accepted at Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
radio. Since the sound had more of an electric-guitar driven sound, many fans expected Much Afraid to be more of a rock album than its predecessor. Instead, the album seemed to go the other way, taking a more lush and melancholy approach, scaling down the strings and drum loops that the band was known for. The lyrics were also more interpretive and less explicitly Christian than before, focusing more on relationships and emotional issues, though the album's title track and "Hymn" both mentioned "Sweet Jesus" in their lyrics. Some have compared the sound of this album to that of Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consists of singer/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. The band enjoyed chart success in the 1990s with the singles "Walk on the Ocean," "All I Want,"...
, a band noted for being an influence for Mason and Haseltine of Jars of Clay.
"Fade to Grey" and "Frail
Frail (song)
"Frail" is a song written and performed by Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay. It has appeared on many recordings by the group and lends its name to the group's debut demo release, Frail, from 1994...
" were both previously from the group's debut demo recording Frail in 1994. All other tracks from that demo were recorded for the debut album Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay (album)
Jars of Clay is the eponymous first full-length album by Christian rock group Jars of Clay. It was released on October 24, 1995 by Essential Records. The album has been highly acclaimed, being one of few Christian albums of the mid-nineties to achieve platinum status...
in 1995. Both songs were changed significantly, especially "Frail" which was previously an instrumental piece which now contained lyrics. Notably, these songs were two of the first songs written by Jars of Clay.
The album features the multi-instrumental Greg Wells
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,...
, who went on to produce OneRepublic
OneRepublic
OneRepublic is an American pop rock band from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins, the band achieved massive success on MySpace, becoming the most prominent unsigned act on the website then...
, Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
, Pink
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
, and Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded six albums of original music, EPs, and tracks on compilations and film soundtracks.-Early years:...
, who plays drums and bass guitar on almost every song and co-wrote "Tea And Sympathy" and the single "Crazy Times".
The song "Five Candles (You Were There)
Five Candles (You Were There)
"Five Candles " is a song written and performed by Jars of Clay. It is the second radio single off of their 1997 studio album Much Afraid. The song was initially written for the soundtrack to the motion picture Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey...
" was originally written for the soundtrack to the Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
film Liar Liar
Liar Liar
Liar Liar is a 1997 American comedy film written by Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Jim Carrey. Carrey was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical...
, as the film is centred around a five year old's birthday wish, but the song was cut from the credits in favor of a blooper
Blooper
A blooper, also known as an outtake or boner is a short sequence of a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or news report, usually in terms of misspoken words...
reel
Reel
A reel is an object around which lengths of another material are wound for storage. Generally a reel has a cylindrical core and walls on the sides to retain the material wound around the core...
. The song was subsequently featured on a few other movie soundtracks. The album's title is a reference to the main character in Hannah Hurnard
Hannah Hurnard
Hannah Hurnard is a twentieth century Christian author, best known for her allegory Hinds' Feet on High Places.Hurnard was born in 1905 in Colchester, England to Quaker parents. She graduated from Ridgelands Bible College of Great Britain in 1926. In 1932 she became an independent missionary,...
's allegorical novel Hinds' Feet on High Places
Hinds' Feet on High Places
Hinds' Feet on High Places is an allegorical novel by English author Hannah Hurnard. Hinds' Feet was written in 1955 and has become a very successful work of Christian fiction, seeing new editions published as recently as July, 2005.-Plot introduction:...
.
One track that was recorded during the Much Afraid sessions that did not make the final track listing is "Fly Farther". The song, featuring vocals from Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
, was finally released in 1999 on The White Elephant Sessions
The White Elephant Sessions
The White Elephant Sessions is a rarities and demo version album by American Christian band Jars of Clay, released in conjunction with the band's third studio album If I Left the Zoo...
.
This album earned the band a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
Standard release
- "OverjoyedOverjoyed"Overjoyed" is a song by American Christian rock group Jars of Clay. It was the fourth single from the band's second album, Much Afraid, and the fourth consecutive No. 1 radio single from the album. An acoustic rendition of the song appears on the band's 2003 double album, Furthermore: From the...
" - 2:58 - "Fade to GreyFade to Grey (Jars of Clay song)"Fade to Grey" is the first song ever written by Jars of Clay. It originally was recorded for the group's debut demo album, Frail, which was released in 1994...
" - 3:34 - "Tea and Sympathy" - 4:51
- "Crazy TimesCrazy Times"Crazy Times" is a song recorded and performed by Jars of Clay. The song was a writing collaboration between band members Dan Haseltine and Stephen Mason with songwriters Mark Hudson and Greg Wells. It was the first single from their second studio album, Much Afraid. The single fared well in the...
" - 3:34 - "FrailFrail (song)"Frail" is a song written and performed by Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay. It has appeared on many recordings by the group and lends its name to the group's debut demo release, Frail, from 1994...
" - 6:57 - "Five Candles (You Were There)Five Candles (You Were There)"Five Candles " is a song written and performed by Jars of Clay. It is the second radio single off of their 1997 studio album Much Afraid. The song was initially written for the soundtrack to the motion picture Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey...
" - 3:48 - "Weighed Down" - 3:39
- "Portrait of an Apology" - 5:43
- "TruceTruce (Jars of Clay song)"Truce" is a song written and performed by Jars of Clay. It is the fifth and final radio single from the band's second studio album, Much Afraid. In addition, it was the fifth straight single from Much Afraid to reach number one on the Christian radio airplay charts. No promotional single was...
" - 3:11 - "Much Afraid" - 3:53
- "Hymn" - 3:53
Japanese track listing
- "Overjoyed" - 2:58
- "Fade to Grey" - 3:34
- "Tea and Sympathy" - 4:51
- "Crazy Times" - 3:34
- "Frail" - 6:57
- "Five Candles (You Were There)" - 3:48
- "Weighed Down" - 3:39
- "Portrait of an Apology" - 5:43
- "Truce" - 3:11
- "Much Afraid" - 3:53
- "Hymn" - 3:53
- "The Chair" - 5:22 (from the The Long Kiss GoodnightThe Long Kiss GoodnightThe Long Kiss Goodnight is a 1996 action thriller film starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, written by Shane Black and directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
soundtrack) - "Sleepers" - 1:54
Seatbelt Tuba track listing
A bonus 3-track disc was bundled with early copies of Jars Of Clay's second album that was available exclusively through Family Christian Bookstores. All three tracks were recorded live acoustically on July 3, 1997 at the Quad, with no remastering or editing of the songs.- "Crazy Times"
- "Liquid"
- "The Coffee Song"
Jars of Clay
- Dan HaseltineDan HaseltineDaniel Paul "Dan" Haseltine is an American singer best known as lead vocalist for Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay. Haseltine has performed vocals, piano, accordion, percussion and most recently, melodica, while with Jars of Clay...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and percussion - Stephen Mason - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s and backing vocals - Matt OdmarkMatt OdmarkMatthew Odmark is an American musician most known for being a guitarist for Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay.At times, Odmark's first name is noted as "Matthew" instead of "Matt"...
- Guitars and backing vocals - Charlie LowellCharlie LowellCharlie Lowell is an American pianist most known for being the pianist and keyboardist for Christian alternative folk rock group Jars of Clay.-Biography:...
- KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Greg WellsGreg WellsGreg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Kate St. John - English Horn in Track 5
Production personnel
- Stephen LipsonStephen LipsonStephen J. Lipson is a musician and producer who has worked with numerous artists, including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Cher, Grace Jones, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Take That, Simple Minds, Lindisfarne, and Annie Lennox....
- producer - Robert BeesonRobert BeesonRobert Beeson is a music executive. He founded Essential Records in 1992, home to artists Jars of Clay and Third Day, along with Caedmon’s Call, Bebo Norman and FFH. He also created the City On a Hill series. He became Senior VP A&R for Provident Music Group after they bought Essential, working...
- executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production... - Heff Moraes - engineer and mixer
- Chuck Linder - assistant engineer
- Stephen MarcussenStephen MarcussenStephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer of Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California. Marcussen is one of the most sought-after mastering engineers in the music industry and his expertise has been coveted by a wide range of artists over the years...
- mastering - Don C. Tyler - editingEditingEditing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
Strings
Nashville Strings- Ron Huff - String arrangement
- Mike GriffithMike GriffithMike Grenville Griffith, born at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire on 25 November 1943, was a cricketer who played for and captained Sussex. A middle-order right-handed batsman, he also kept wicket occasionally....
- engineer (Strings) - Adam Hatley - assistant engineer (Strings)
London Strings
- Richard NilesRichard NilesRichard Niles is an American composer, arranger, producer, guitarist, broadcaster and journalist. He has lived in London since 1975. Because of his extensive work across many genres Sound on Sound magazine referred to him as "one of the most versatile men in modern music".-Early years:Niles was...
- String arrangement in Track 3 - Gavyn WrightGavyn WrightGavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London Session Orchestra and Penguin Cafe Orchestra, best known for his orchestral arrangements on pop productions as well as numerous TV and movie soundtracks Gavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London...
- conductor
Charts & certifications
Album| Year | Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
RIAA Certification RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 8 | Platinum Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Crazy Times" | Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
38 |