Oxygen (Avalon album)

Oxygen is Avalon's fifth studio album, released on May 22, 2001, and produced by Brown Bannister and Grant Cunningham. The project was strongly supported by Christian radio, containing six No. 1 radio singles[2]—the most of any Avalon album to date. Oxygen is the first (and so far, only) album by the group to release alongside a Collector's Edition, which features a hidden bonus track, "Beyond the Clouds".

Oxygen
Studio album by
Avalon
ReleasedMay 22, 2001
Recorded2000
GenreCCM, Inspirational
Length54:10[1]
LabelSparrow
ProducerBrown Bannister, Grant Cunningham
Avalon chronology
Joy: A Christmas Collection
(2000)		 Oxygen
(2001)		 O2: Avalon Remixed
(2002)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Track listing
  1. "Wonder Why" (Grant Cunningham, Matt Huesmann) - 4:00; Sung by Janna and Jody
  2. "The Best Thing" (Mark Pennells, Zack Porter) - 4:55; Sung by Michael and Cherie
  3. "By Heart, by Soul" (feat. Aaron Neville) (Stephanie Lewis, Phil Silas) - 4:08; All split lead
  4. "Undeniably You" (Billy Chapin, Jim Cooper, Kevin Cyka, Tresa Jordan) - 3:57; Sung by Cherie
  5. "I Don't Want to Go" (Jess Cates, Yanci) - 5:25; Sung by Janna
  6. "Never Givin' Up" (Tommy Collier, Scott Faircloff, Tresa Jordan) - 4:26; All split lead
  7. "Make It Last Forever" (Jess Cates, Michael Linney) - 3:23; Sung by Michael, Jody and Cherie
  8. "The Glory" (Jim Cooper, Reggie Hamm) - 5:02; Sung by Jody and Cherie
  9. "Oxygen" (Nik Kershaw, Richard Page) - 4:53; Sung by Michael and Janna
  10. "Love Remains" (Randy Goodrum, Rob Mathes) - 4:31; Sung by Jody
  11. "Come and Fill My Heart" (Cunningham, Huesmann) - 5:09; Sung by Michael
  12. "Beyond the Clouds" (Hidden track) - 4:21; Sung by Janna and Cherie

Personnel

Avalon

Musicians

  • Dan Needham – programming (1), synthesizers (4)
  • Dan Muckala – programming (2, 3, 6, 7, 10)
  • Blair Masters – synthesizers (2, 5), acoustic piano (5), keyboards (6, 9), additional keyboards (10)
  • Jeff Savage – programming (4, 7)
  • Bernie Herms – programming (5, 11)
  • Alan Pasqua – keyboards (6, 8, 9)
  • Phil Madeira – Hammond B3 organ (11)
  • Chris Rodriguez – electric guitar (1, 3, 4), BGV arrangements (1), acoustic guitar (4, 10)
  • Jerry McPherson – electric guitar (2, 6, 11), guitars (5, 10)
  • Michael Thompson – electric guitar (3, 6-9), acoustic guitar (9)
  • Tim Pierce – electric guitar (6-9), mandolin (8)
  • Leland Sklar – bass (6, 8, 9)
  • Steve Brewster – drums (5)
  • Neal Wilkinson – drums (6, 8, 9)
  • Chris McHugh – drums (11)
  • Eric Darken – percussion (1, 2, 5)
  • Luis Conte – percussion (6, 9)
  • Patrick Kiernan – violin (7)
  • Michael Mellett – BGV arrangements (1, 2, 4, 10)
  • Carl Marsh – string arrangements (5, 11)
  • Gavyn Wright – concertmaster (5, 11), violin (7)
  • The London Session Orchestra – strings (5, 11)

Production
  • Brown Bannister – producer
  • Grant Cunningham – executive producer
  • Michael Mellett – vocal production (1, 2)
  • Steve Bishir – recording, mixing
  • Bill Deaton – additional engineer
  • Patrick Kelly – additional engineer
  • Russ Long – additional engineer
  • Hank Nirider – mix assistant
  • Jonathan Allen – strings recording (5, 11)
  • Andrew Dudman – strings recording assistant (5, 11)
  • Fred Paragano – digital editing
  • Steve Hall – mastering
  • Traci Bishir – production coordinator
  • Michelle Bentrem – production coordinating assistant
  • Christiév Carothers – creative direction
  • Jan Cook – art direction
  • Dan Harding – art direction, design
  • Matthew Barnes – photography
  • Gino Tanabe – stylist
  • Sheila Davis – grooming, make-up
  • Marybeth Felts – grooming, make-up
  • Brady Wardlaw – grooming, make-up
  • Proper Management – management

Studios

  • Recorded at The Sound Kitchen (Franklin, Tennessee).
  • Strings recorded at Abbey Road Studios (London, UK).
  • Tracks 1 & 2 mixed at Seventeen Grand Studio (Nashville, Tennessee); Tracks 3-11 mixed at The Sound Kitchen.
  • Mastered at Future Disc (Hollywood, California).

Radio Singles
  • "The Glory" +
  • "Make It Last Forever" +
  • "Wonder Why" +
  • "Come and Fill My Heart" +
  • "I Don't Want To Go" +
  • "Undeniably You" +

+ Denotes #1 Radio Hit

Audience Reaction

Radio

Oxygen received a warm welcome from Christian radio, as the album now boasts six No. 1 radio hits[2]—the most of any Avalon album to date. Highlights include:

  • "The Glory", the first AC single from Oxygen, received 41 adds from all 41 reporting stations its debut week—the first single at radio to ever achieve 100% participation its first week. "Make It Last Forever", the single issued to CHR, received an initial 14 adds out of 19 reporting stations, giving Avalon a total of 55 adds in just one week. This is an unprecedented mark in not only Avalon's radio history, but for Christian radio as well.[2]

Sales

Riding the momentum of its radio successes, Oxygen was an out-of-the-box bestseller. It sold more than 33,400 copies its first week of release,[3] debuting at #37 on the Billboard 200[4] and #1 on Billboard's Christian albums chart.[5] Both chart positions represent the highest performances on their respective charts in the group's illustrious career.

References
  1. Kittle, Ashleigh. "Review: Oxygen". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  2. Avalon - EMICMG Fact Sheet Archived 2007-10-10 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Price, Deborah (16 June 2001). "Higher Ground". Google Books. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. "Avalon - Chart History". Billboard. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. "Billboard Magazine, Vol. 113 No. 23". Google Books. Billboard Magazine. 9 June 2001. Retrieved 14 June 2015.


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