Unguarded
Encyclopedia
Unguarded is the ninth album by Christian music
singer Amy Grant
, released in 1985 on A&M Records
. It is Amy's first album released by A&M.
When Unguarded was released in 1985, Amy Grant was probably the most popular star in Contemporary Christian music
, recording songs with religious lyrics in the pop/rock style of the day. With this album, however, the religious content of the lyrics was scaled back as compared with her two previous regular studio albums, Age to Age
and Straight Ahead
. The album track "I Love You" was Amy Grant's first secular love song from her own pen. 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.
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
, three of its singles reached the mainstream charts. "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.
In 2007, Unguarded was reissued and digitally remastered by Grant's new record label, EMI
/Sparrow Records
. The remastered edition is labeled with a "Digitally Remastered" logo in the 'gutter' on the CD front.
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.
covers. (Only the R and D covers are still in print, though.)
(North America)
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Singles - CCM Magazine
(North America)
Grammy Awards
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
singer Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
, released in 1985 on A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. It is Amy's first album released by A&M.
When Unguarded was released in 1985, Amy Grant was probably the most popular star in Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
, recording songs with religious lyrics in the pop/rock style of the day. With this album, however, the religious content of the lyrics was scaled back as compared with her two previous regular studio albums, Age to Age
Age to Age
Age to Age is the sixth album by Christian music singer Amy Grant, released in 1982 on Myrrh Records.Age to Age was Amy Grant's breakthrough album, finally earning her serious recognition within the burgeoning Contemporary Christian music community as it ushered her into stardom, and also...
and Straight Ahead
Straight Ahead (Amy Grant album)
Straight Ahead is the eighth album by Christian music artist Amy Grant, released in 1984. This was Grant's final album on Myrrh Records; she would later strike a record deal with A&M Records....
. The album track "I Love You" was Amy Grant's first secular love song from her own pen. Despite this, the album's lead-off single, "Find a Way
Find a Way
"Find a Way" is a 1985 single by Christian music singer Amy Grant. It was released as the first single from her Unguarded album. Also, "Find A Way" was Grant's first major single release, as it was issued in secular outlets by A&M Records along with the album...
," was a number one hit on the Christian radio charts. Four other singles from the album were also Top Ten Christian radio hits.
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
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, three of its singles reached the mainstream charts. "Find a Way" was a Top Ten hit on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, while "Everywhere I Go" was a Top Thirty AC single and "Wise Up
Wise Up (Amy Grant song)
"Wise Up" is a 1985 single by Christian music singer Amy Grant. It was released as the third single from her Unguarded album. The song reached The Billboard 100, as well as the Adult Contemporary and Christian music charts in the United States....
" was a minor charting single on the Hot 100. Unguarded would be certified gold in September 1985, and platinum in June 1986.
In 2007, Unguarded was reissued and digitally remastered by Grant's new record label, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
/Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
. The remastered edition is labeled with a "Digitally Remastered" logo in the 'gutter' on the CD front.
This was the final album to be recorded at Caribou Ranch
Caribou Ranch
Caribou Ranch was a recording studio built by producer James William Guercio in 1972 in a converted barn on ranch property in the Rocky Mountains near Nederland, Colorado, on the road that leads to the ghost town of Caribou...
, which was owned by former Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
producer/manager James William Guercio before the infamous March 1985 fire that destroyed the studio's control room.
Track listing
Personnel
- Amy Grant: Vocals.
- Michael W. SmithMichael W. SmithMichael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
: Synthesizer, Moog Synthesizer, Memory Moog. - Robbie BuchananRobbie BuchananRobbie Buchanan is a Canadian keyboardist, songwriter, arranger, and producer.Buchanan began playing the piano at the age of 6. He acquired his first paying gig as a pianist at the age of 12 playing 6 nights a week in Dawson City, Yukon Territory. While still a teenager, Buchanan joined a band...
: Synthesizer, Piano, Arranger, Sound Effects, Drum Programming, Synthesizer Bass, DX-7, Jupiter 8. - Shane KeisterShane KeisterShane Keister is an American musician. He is known for his work as a studio musician, writer, arranger and producer. He plays synthesizer, piano, Hammond B3, Synclavier, Fairlight, Fender Rhodes, and others.-History:...
: Synthesizer, Piano, Moog Synthesizer, Fairlight, Fender Rhodes, Explosions, Synthesizer Programming. - Dann HuffDann HuffDann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
: Guitars. - Jon Goin: Guitars.
- Michael LandauMichael LandauMichael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
: Guitars. - Paul Jackson Jr.: Guitars.
- Mike Brignardello: Bass.
- Paul Leim: Drums, Drum Programming, Drum Overdubs, Linn.
- Lenny CastroLenny CastroLenny Castro is an American freelancing percussionist in the studio recording industry in the Los Angeles area.-Early life:Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. His father, Hector Castro, played the keyboard in a Latin style and gave his son...
: Percussion. - Larry Williams: Synthesizer, Saxophone.
- Kathy Burdick: Screams.
- Bill ChamplinBill ChamplinWilliam Bradford "Bill" Champlin is an American singer, guitarist, keyboard player, arranger, producer, and songwriter. His performance work is principally associated with the bands Chicago and the Sons of Champlin...
: Background Vocals. - Gary ChapmanGary Chapman (musician)Gary Chapman is an American Contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter and former television talk show host.-Early life and music career:...
: Background Vocals. - Chris Eaton: Background Vocals.
- Kim Fleming: Background Vocals.
- Tommy FunderburkTommy FunderburkTommy Funderburk is an American rock and roll singer. He has recorded with artists such as Jon Anderson, Laura Branigan, Coverdale-Page, Melissa Manchester, Magnum, Mötley Crüe, Steve Lukather, Richard Marx, Rick Springfield, Starship, REO Speedwagon, Whitesnake, Yes and many others.Funderburk was...
: Background Vocals. - Steve GeorgeSteve George (keyboardist)Steve George is an American keyboard player, who is perhaps best known as the keyboardist for the 1980s band, Mr. Mister. He co-wrote many of the Mr. Mister songs, together with his childhood friend, Mr...
: Background Vocals. - Chris Harris: Background Vocals, screams.
- Tom Kelly: Background Vocals.
- Donna McElroy: Background Vocals.
- Richard PageRichard Page (musician)Richard Page , is an American musician who is the lead singer and bassist of 1980's US band Mr. Mister and is now a songwriter and solo artist.-Early life:...
: Background Vocals. - Gary Pigg: Background Vocals, screams.
Production
- Producer: Brown BannisterBrown BannisterBrown Bannister is a CCM producer and songwriter. Bannister released one album of his own, Talk to One Another, in 1981 on NewPax Records. It was reissued on the Reunion Records Label five years later, featuring a newer recording of the album's final cut, "Create In Me A Clean Heart"...
. - Executive Producer: Michael Blanton, Dan Harrell, Gary Chapman.
- Engineer: Jack Joseph PuigJack Joseph PuigJack Joseph Puig is a Grammy Award-winning music engineer and producer with a long track record of successful productions, including the mid-1990s production of Tonic. Puig also worked with Hole, Jellyfish, The Black Crowes, John Mayer, Weezer, Fiona Apple, Green Day, The Counting Crows, No Doubt,...
. - Assistant Engineers: Kevin Burns, Steven Ford, Dan Garcia, Alan Henry, J.T., Richard Markowitz, Mike Ross, Clarke Schleicher.
- Mixed by: Jack Joseph PuigJack Joseph PuigJack Joseph Puig is a Grammy Award-winning music engineer and producer with a long track record of successful productions, including the mid-1990s production of Tonic. Puig also worked with Hole, Jellyfish, The Black Crowes, John Mayer, Weezer, Fiona Apple, Green Day, The Counting Crows, No Doubt,...
. - Mastered by: Doug Sax.
- Arranger: Robbie Buchanan.
- Design: Kent Hunter.
- Photography: Mark TuckerMark Tucker (photographer)Mark Tucker is a commercial photographer based in Nashville, Tennessee whose work has been featured in Communication Arts, Print, Photo Design, Photo Insider, and PhotoMarket magazines.- Album covers :...
- Stylist: Julie MillerJulie MillerJulie Miller is a songwriter, singer, and recording artist currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. She married Buddy Miller in 1981...
.
Cover
To further heighten Amy Grant's visual appeal, A&M released Unguarded with four different covers. They are, in order from left to right: the W, O, R, and DWord Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
covers. (Only the R and D covers are still in print, though.)
Charts
Album - BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
(North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Billboard 200 | 35 |
| Top Contemporary Christian | 1 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Find a Way" | Adult Contemporary | 7 |
| The Billboard Hot 100 | 29 | ||
| "Everywhere I Go" | Adult Contemporary | 28 | |
| "Wise Up" | Adult Contemporary | 34 | |
| The Billboard Hot 100 | 66 |
Singles - CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...
(North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Find a Way" | Christian Radio–Adult Contemporary | 2 |
| "Everywhere I Go" | 2 | ||
| "Wise Up" | 19 | ||
| 1986 | "The Prodigal (I'll Be Waiting)" | 31 | |
| "Sharayah" | 6 |
End of year charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | U.S. Billboard Inspirational Albums | 6 |
| 1986 | 1 | |
| 1987 | 11 |
Awards
GMA Dove Awards| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Unguarded | Recorded Music Packaging of the Year |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Unguarded | Best Gospel Performance, Female Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Female The Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Female was awarded in from 1984 to 1990. From 1984 to 1989 it was titled the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Female.... |