Be Still My Soul (Selah album)

Be Still My Soul is the debut album of Selah, released in 1999.

Be Still My Soul
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 18, 1999[1]
RecordedJune 1997[2]
GenreCCM, Gospel, Soul
Length44:33
LanguageEnglish, Kituba
LabelCurb Records
ProducerKyle Jason, Todd Smith, Allan Hall[1]
Selah chronology
Be Still My Soul
(1999)
Press On
(2001)

The album consists of modern arrangements of traditional Christian hymns.[3] The first track starts out with a Kituba translation of Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior, a language singers and siblings Nicol and Todd Smith know because of a missionary upbringing in Subsaharan Africa.[4] The band says that because they were on a very small budget for the album, they were forced to keep it simple, which explains the strong emphasis on vocals with piano.[2]

Reception and awards edit

CCM Magazine described it to be "a beautiful and moving music experience. While the production is sparse (piano and strings with occasional guitar and percussion), the performances are at once dynamic and soulful."[5] Steve Huey of Allmusic notes the "slight African sensibilities" in "the gospel stylings of Selah". Allmusic gave it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.[1]

The album won the Inspirational Album of the Year Dove Award in 2000.[2]

Chart positions edit

Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Heatseakers (Billboard)[1] 33
US Top Christian Albums (Billboard)[1] 24

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bika Mono Ve (Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior) / It Is Well With My Soul"Francis J. Crosby, William H. Doane / Horatio Spafford, Philip Bliss5:38
2."Be Still My Soul / What A Friend We Have In Jesus"Jean Sibelius, Jane Laurie Borthwick / Joseph M. Scriven, William Bolcom3:52
3."Precious Lord Take My Hand / Just A Closer Walk With Thee"Thomas A. Dorsey, George Nelson Allen / traditional gospel song5:06
4."Great Is Thy Faithfulness"Thomas Chisholm, William M. Runyan5:37
5."His Eye Is On The Sparrow"Civilla D. Martin, Charles H. Gabriel3:38
6."Sweet, Sweet Song Of Salvation"Larry Norman2:52
7."When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"Isaac Watts3:59
8."The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power"Andraé Crouch3:36
9."One Thing I Know"Joel Lindsay, Jason Alan Whitmore4:11
10."Wayfaring Stranger"American spiritual folk song4:39
11."Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"Helen Howarth Lemmel1:25

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Be Still My Soul > Chart positions". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Be Still My Soul info on the band's official website
  3. ^ "Selah". Christianmusic.about.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  4. ^ Family Christian Stores - Be Still My Soul - Selah
  5. ^ Selah | Be Still My Soul TodaysChristianMusic.com