Brrrrrrrrr....... cold

Wow -- it is COLD here in Nashville, Tennessee.  It's going to get down to single digits tonight.  Now for you North Easterners, etc., that might not seem so cold to you, but for this California girl it is just too cold to do anything other than bundle up by the fire.;)

Amy was back in the studio today putting down some guitar tracks on some of the new songs.  I spoke to her this morning and reminded her that there is a lot of interest from all of you in hearing directly from her and she promised to post a blog soon.  I'll stay after her.   And I'll keep blogging...

We've hit the ground running to start 2009 and we should be making some new announcements in the next couple of weeks.  One thing I am working on is uploading some of the Lead Me On Anniversary shows on to the FOA Radio Amy... as well as the BIG FOA announcement I hinted at earlier...

Also, in addition to working on the new album we are also looking at releasing some special catalogue projects and would love to hear back from you as to what you would most enjoy having in your collections?  A remix (dance) collection?  A remix (non-dance) collection?  Rarities, b-sides?  A complete box set of everything she has done?  Cover songs?  Lullabye songs?  Collections of songs with certain themes and adding new liner notes and pictures?  It would be interesting to hear what you most want.  I'm listening...

More to come....

God bless,

Jen

Comments

[Audrey]

Just wanted Amy to know how much I love her book, "Mosaic" which I just finished reading last night. She has really blessed me and touched my heart with this book. What an interesting person. She has given me much to think about by sharing her own heart and thoughts. Bless you and your family for all the hard work and giving of yourselves.

[Lori]

I would love to hear some b-sides put together or a remix of non-dance songs with some new pictures. :)

[Chad Taylor]

Wow... what an exciting time to be an Amy fan!!

Jenn, is it just a coincidence that the "Big Announcement" comment came at the end of the statement about the LMO tour? Hmm... or could there be a connection? Hint! Hint! At least tell us how much time we'll have to wait for this announcement.

I would buy anything Amy & Co. would release. If you're asking what we most want, though, here goes, in no particular order:

1. a new hymns CD --> I LOVED RoA
2. Rarities & B-sides --> including BtE tracks
3. dance remixes
4. covers ("Don't Know Much", "Turn, Turn, Turn", etc.)
5. a boxed set would be cool
6. Amy singing the phone book (Hey, you know we'd buy it!

Note- the idea of a lullaby CD does NOT appeal to me at all... I'm liking the more energized Amy. But, of course, I would buy *anything* Amy release. Have I mentioned that yet? ;-)

Jennifer, thank you so much for the work you do. I appreciate you!

God bless,
Chad

[Amy Robinson]

Thanks for asking for some input...you know we all love whatever Amy does from her heart!
I personally would love a box set with pictures, extensive liner notes and comments like a "behind the music" type thing.
I also am loving some of the rare songs from the Amy radio...especially "Where ever you go", "Come into my World", I'll be Home Soon" and "Watchin'the waves". What a fun cd that would be to have Amy unplugged singing just as the songs were written, bare bones.
Thanks again for all that you do!
Amyr

[Rachel (WI)]

LOL.Single digits in Nashville tonight. For me that is extremely cold, but in Wisconsin tonight and tomorrow it's going to be around 20 below. Schools around here were canceled today. Anyway,I think it would so cool if Amy would release a box set of some kind. Maybe a collection of the songs that were recorded but never made it on to an album or a duets album. But I'm not that crazy about remixes. And I think it should include a song or two with Vince. I love when they sing of play together. I think it adds a nice touch to it. there's my opinions for ya!

[Lionel]

Jen,

You know I'm gonna say a Dance Remix Project! You already have the contact list of DJ remixers I've provided you! Many fans and Grammy winning DJs in the dance/club genre have been eagerly anticipating this remix project! Please make it happen.

[Bradley Olson]

Also, as vinyl LPs are resurging in popularity, vinyl reissues are worthwhile. Also, there is a person on another forum who would like you guys along with EMI to license some of her catalog to Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab or Audio Fidelity for gold disc or SACD release of her product.

A rarities comp and a boxed set would be worthwhile for the market.

A cover song album is perfect as well. I'll think of more ideas as time goes by.

[Nathaniel]

Hey Jen!

I would still love the complete Dance Remix album ! It would be absolutely amazing!

Look how well Plumb has done with her recent remixes! They have gone to #1 on Billboard Dance and Clubs!

I have the feeling that with the right remixers Amy could be in the same place!

We all loved dancing during the Lead Me On Tour and would love to keep on dancing with Amy for an entire DANCE REMIX CD!!!

Please please please we have been waiting since Texas for it !!!
please please please please please DANCE!!!

~Nathaniel

[LorrieM]

I would love to see some bsides and rarities. A boxed set with a whole bunch of them would be fine. I am not so into dance remixes. Not my thing at all. The B-sides and rarities draws the most interest from me. And live recordings..

[Cat]

Thanks for asking! I definitely vote for more rarities...I loved her Legacy...Hymns and Faith DVD that accompanied the CD as a behind the scenes look at her life and the making of her music. I would also love a duet of her and Vince singing "Give Me Jesus." I most look forward to that duet at their Christmas concerts. Makes me cry every time. And one of the highlights of going to Amy's concerts is hearing her speak. I'd love to hear more of her heart and stories. I loved going to the Amy concert in Bloomington, IL! She and Vince rocked! As a radio host for a Christian station, I'd also love to play some Amy music on our station once again...although I'm not sure if that's in my power to do that! :)

[Cat]

Thanks for asking! I definitely vote for more rarities...I loved her Legacy...Hymns and Faith DVD that accompanied the CD as a behind the scenes look at her life and the making of her music. I would also love a duet of her and Vince singing "Give Me Jesus." I most look forward to that duet at their Christmas concerts. Makes me cry every time. And one of the highlights of going to Amy's concerts is hearing her speak. I'd love to hear more of her heart and stories. I loved going to the Amy concert in Bloomington, IL! She and Vince rocked! As a radio host for a Christian station, I'd also love to play some Amy music on our station once again...although I'm not sure if that's in my power to do that! :)

[Elisabeth]

I would like some new music from Amy. I own all of her albums (4 copies of Lead Me On alone) and while I would buy a boxed set (preferably with new liner notes and photos), but I would be more interested in new music and the rare songs. I think it would be absolutely spectacular if Amy would record Who I Am. Faith Hill does a good job, but it's Amy all the way and she should record it.

[Cat]

Thanks for asking! I definitely vote for more rarities...I loved her Legacy...Hymns and Faith DVD that accompanied the CD as a behind the scenes look at her life and the making of her music. I would also love a duet of her and Vince singing "Give Me Jesus." I most look forward to that duet at their Christmas concerts. Makes me cry every time. And one of the highlights of going to Amy's concerts is hearing her speak. I'd love to hear more of her heart and stories. I loved going to the Amy concert in Bloomington, IL! She and Vince rocked! As a radio host for a Christian station, I'd also love to play some Amy music on our station once again...although I'm not sure if that's in my power to do that! :)

[Michael McClure]

I think it would be wonderful to have a dance remix cd! It would be great if that would happen!!!

I would also love to have a cd of all rare and unreleased songs...how awesome would that be?

Thanks for asking us what we think...that means a lot!

[Ron]

Personally, I love everything Amy does. There are 2 things that come to mind that I would love to see from Amy:

1. A Dance remix project of some of her hits from the past, but also include at least 2-3 new songs (dance genre) from her that could be pitched to radio. Dance music is hot again on top 40 radio, and I think this would be a cool way to reintroduce Amy to another generation of fans.

2. A songwriter's project: You could promote this as a contest for unknown and independent songwriters who are worthy of their hire...and I do mean true songwriters that write great songs who are looking for their big songwriting break. Amy could record the album taken from entries of 12 or so of the best songs of her choosing.

Also, I think she and Vince should do some type of a songwriter's getaway for those who are independent songwriters that want to be mentored from the best in the business.

Just my two cents...hopefully you can make it happen!

[stephen Kaiss]

Wow. I definitely want a copy of "Be Still" and "Welcome to my world'. Amy shines when she sings from the heart. For me Amy's music resonates when she sings about her humanness and God's greatness. As we age we grow hopefully in wisdom. I know Amy has and look forward to hearing more of the lessons that God has revealed to her as she travels down her path. This encourages me and lifts my soul as life gets hard. There are enough fluff dance remixes out there. Do what you do best Amy. Bring it. :)

[Stephen]

OK Jenn,

In just two blogs since the year began (and both 3 days apart!), you have already made 2009 the best year. I mean with the "BIG announcement" and now those collections and all...would LOVE a dance one.

Maybe an "Amy's favorites album". I think it would be interesting to see what Amy's top 20 favorites (or 40--double CD--hint, hint) would be.

Ooh, another one that a few members have expressed interest in are a lot of the songs from the "Behind the Eyes" period that were recorded but not chosen that are now part of Radio Amy.

Thanks for the new blog.

Hope all is well with Braden and yourself.

Bye,
Steve

[jonathan]

I would love the following:

Deluxe Cd treatments of the following seminal albums:

Amy Grant "S/T" with studio outtakes, live versions, b-sides, etc.

Amy Grant "Age To Age" with studio outtakes, live versions, b-sides, etc.

Amy Grant "Behind The Eyes" including all the fabulous non-album tracks from the sessions, incorporating them into a newly sequenced tracklist.

Also, remaster it (and the aforementioned two albums) to save it from its current incarnation as one of the worst-sounding cd's in digital history. Many of the tracks have distortion; a shame for such a great release. Master it the way the original A&M "Age To Age" cd sounds, warm and open, not the compressed, boosted, loud, awfully EQ'd method used for the recent Amy remasters.

Thanks!

[Bradley Olson]

Jonathan is right that these releases need to be mastered like the original CDs and not the heavily compressed, EQ'd, loud method used on the recent remasters.

For an explanation of this problem and some related links. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war

[sarah]

I would absolutly love to see some rarities!!!! that would be super awesome.
-also i sorta wish it was cold here. My friend just got back from visiting nashville and told us about snow. Here in SoCal we don't really know what that means. lol. it's been like 80 degrees and windy here. We've yet to see winter.

[jonathan]

Hmmm...well I'm in SoCal and we received 45 inches of snow last month!! I'm in Big Bear of course. But yes, it has been too warm in January.

[Cheryl]

I would like to have the Wallet song recorded or added to the FOA Radio. I know it's probably considered an old song, but not too me. What makes Amy's songs so wonderful is that she tells a story along with the song, which is what I would like to see more of on her next project. Another hymns project would be great. There's a song called "Glory to God the Angels Sing" that would be wonderful to record. No one has done it and our choir sang it years ago as we all lined up to form a cross throughout our church. It was absolutely beautiful to see, perform, and to hear the different parts. Vince would sound fabulous singing this song with Amy. Of course, more Christmas music from Amy is always great, too!!! Thank you for asking for suggestions. If you talk to Amy, ask her if she got the chance to sit down and watch the video I gave her called UpSide Down? Thank you, Jennifer.

[John Lam]

Would like a new album with upbeat/dance songs, that are radio friendly, and appealing to a younger crowd. For the broadest reach, it would be great to remix the songs to hit all segments where Amy has been popular: Pop, Dance, Adult contemporary.

Lyrically, she should be honest in her writing and where she is in her life as of now, but musically, please please something more upbeat.

[Simple]

Hi, Well I love when Amy does stuff that is soft and honest. I like a mix of all of her music. To mention a few would be...(drum roll), lol ..
El Shaddai, Thy word, Eye To Eye, Saved By Love, Tender Tennessee Christmas, keep on rolling, come be with me, After The Fire...:) That sort of style is smooth for her. (My Opinion) :) So far her new music is right up my alley I love it..:)
One small note, My 8 year old son, Dayton was hanging around me and I would listen to Breath of Heaven and sing along and stuff. Well, it would also play on the radio and he just out of the blew said "Mom, I love that song". And I was like Really? and he said "yeah, don't you". And I'm like yeah its really meaningful huh? And he just smiled..hehe. So cute..:)
Anyways enjoy Goodluck to you and all you are doing for Amy and Us.. Thank you..

xoxo, Simple..

[Sandy]

HI Jen,

WOW thanks for asking!

1.I always loved Amys DUETS, there are so many wonderful DUETS with Amy and other great singers/songwriters that are not so much known as all the great Duets with SMITTY or Vince...like "With these Hands"
"Come Y Sinners" "House of Pooh Corner" "I Could never say good-bye" "KINGDOM OF LOVE" "Thank Someone" "Come be with me" "Life as we know it" "Thanks to Spring"

BTW I like the newes Duet with Smitty "Highly Favoured".

2.It would be great to hear some "Cover Songs" like "Turn Turn Turn"
(Maybe a CD with Songs that AMY has a special personal realationship, Songs that she loves and that inspired her..)

3.an UNPLUGGED Accoustic CD..Amy has such a wonderful voice! I always loved to listend to her songs where only she and her guitar are on CD or Stage :-)

4. A lullaby CD would be a blast for many mothers, to help children that don´t want to go to bed and sleep..my children love to listen to Amy´s songs before they fall asleep.

5. Of Course RARITIES (like behind the scenes DVD) are VERY appreciated.

JEN thank you that you told Amy that many of us loved to read something new from her, and THANK YOU that you don´t stop blogging.
For many of us, that don´t live in USA, it´s a special blast to be part of FOA. We cannot attend concerts, but I know that Amy has many fans outside USA and it´s so great to read something NEW from you or Amy.

Have a wonderful day, I send you some
"DEGREES" from my living room that you don´t have to freeze so much;-)

Sandy