Step Up to the Microphone

Step Up to the Microphone
Studio album by
Newsboys
Released30 June 1998
Recorded1998
StudioThe Board Room, Franklin, Tennessee
GenreCCM, pop rock, bubblegum pop[1]
Length42:06
LabelStar Song
ProducerPeter Furler
Newsboys chronology
Take Me to Your Leader
(1996) 		Step Up to the Microphone
(1998) 		Love Liberty Disco
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Cross Rhythms[2]
HM MagazineNo rating[3][4]
Jesus Freak Hideout[5]
Kerrang![6]
The Phantom TollboothNo rating[7]

Step Up to the Microphone is the seventh studio album by Christian pop rock band Newsboys, released in 1998 through Star Song Communications. It was the Newsboys' first album following the departure of lead singer John James in 1997, with Peter Furler and Phil Joel subsequently sharing lead vocal duties.

Track listing

Album release
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."WooHoo"Peter Furler, Phil JoelPhil Joel3:15
2."Step Up to the Microphone"Jeff Frankenstein, Furler, JoelPeter Furler3:43
3."Entertaining Angels"Jody Davis, Furler, JoelPhil Joel & Peter Furler4:18
4."Believe"Furler, JoelPeter Furler4:33
5."Tuning In"Furler, Joel, Steve TaylorPeter Furler4:17
6."Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot"Furler, Joel, TaylorPeter Furler & Phil Joel4:00
7."Deep End"Davis, Frankenstein, Furler, JoelPeter Furler4:06
8."Hallelujah"Frankenstein, Furler, JoelPeter Furler3:56
9."The Tide"Furler, JoelPeter Furler, Phil Joel5:01
10."Always"Furler, JoelPeter Furler5:01
Total length:42:08

Music videos

  • "Entertaining Angels"

Radio singles

Note: all CCM Magazine' chart information is available in the book Hot Hits CHR 1978-1997 (1997) by Jeffrey Lee Brothers

Single CCM
Chart 		Debut Peak
Date 		Peak
Pos 		Total
Wks 		Mediabase
Spins
(since 1998) 		Other Newsboys album appearances Various artists album appearances
"Entertaining Angels" CHR 4/20/98 6/8/98 1 14 9,887
  • The Simply Xcellent New Music Sampler
  • Life on the Edge
  • WOW 1999 (1998)
  • The Joyriders (Soundtrack) (2000)
  • Stadium Jam (live)
  • Extreme Days (Soundtrack) (2001)
AC 5/25/98 6/29/98 32 8
"Believe" AC 7/6/98 9/21/98 4 17 3,114
  • Live: One Night in Pennsylvania (1999) (concert video)
  • Shine: The Hits (2000)

—

CHR 12/14/98 3/1/99 1 13
"Hallelujah" Rock 7/13/98 9/28/98 4 18 144
  • Live: One Night in Pennsylvania (1999) (concert video)
  • Listen Louder (1999) (Illumination Remix)
"WooHoo" CHR 7/27/98 9/21/98 1 16 615
  • Live: One Night in Pennsylvania (1999) (concert video)
  • Shine: The Hits (2000)
  • The Ultimate Collection (2009)

—

Rock 1/11/99 3/15/99 20 8
"Step Up to the Microphone" CHR 5/3/99 6/14/99 1 16 503
  • Live: One Night in Pennsylvania (1999) (concert video)
  • Shine: The Hits (2000)
  • 8 Great Hits (2003)
  • The Ultimate Collection (2009)
  • 10 Great Songs (2012)
 —

Personnel

Newsboys

  • Peter Furler – lead vocals, drums, guitars, programming
  • Phil Joel – vocals, bass guitar, guitars
  • Jody Davis – lead and rhythm guitars, bass, vocals
  • Jeff Frankenstein – keys, vocals, programming
  • Duncan Phillips – percussion, drums, vocals

Additional musicians

  • Mylon LeFevre – additional vocals "Na-Nas" on "WooHoo"
  • "Bull" – additional vocals "Na-Nas" on "WooHoo"
  • Summer Furler – additional vocals "Na-Nas" on "WooHoo"
  • The Love Sponge Strings – strings on "Entertaining Angels"
  • Blair Masters – strings on "Believe"
  • Jonathan Roberts – trumpet on "Tuning In"

Production

  • Peter Furler – producer, mixing
  • Wes Campbell – executive producer, mixing
  • Danny Goodwin – executive producer
  • John Mays – executive producer
  • Richie Biggs – recording, mixing
  • Jeff Frankenstein – additional mixing
  • Glenn Meadows – mastering at Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Christiév Carothers – creative direction
  • Len Peltier – art direction
  • Thom Bissett – graphic design for a3dtb/D
  • John Dunne – photography

References

  1. ^ a b Step Up to the Microphone at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Newsboys - Step Up to the Microphone | CROSS RHYTHMS REVIEW". Crossrhythms.co.uk. 1 December 1998. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 13 July 2001. Archived from the original on 13 July 2001. Retrieved 4 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  4. ^ McGovern, Brian Vincent (September–October 1998). "Album Reviews: NEWSBOYS Step Up to the Microphone". HM Magazine (73). ISSN 1066-6923.
  5. ^ "Newsboys, "Step Up to the Microphone" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  6. ^ Sherry, James (5 September 1998). "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 715. EMAP. p. 46.
  7. ^ "Newsboys review by The Phantom Tollbooth". Tollbooth.org. Retrieved 4 March 2012.