Healing Rain is Michael W. Smith's nineteenth album, released in 2004 and debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart. It is a departure from his previous two albums which are live worship albums. Healing Rain is a pop CCM album, in a similar vein to his 1999 album This Is Your Time. The album was reissued as a DualDisc in 2005.[7] Some of the album's tracks were recorded at George Lucas' Skywalker Sound, located in Marin County, California.

Healing Rain
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 26, 2004
Recorded2004
StudioSkywalker Sound, Nicasio, CA
GenreContemporary Christian music, pop
Length50:54
LabelReunion
ProducerMichael W. Smith, Matt Bronleewe, Sam Ashworth
Michael W. Smith chronology
The Second Decade
(2003)
Healing Rain
(2004)
Stand
(2006)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
CCM MagazineB[2]
Christianity Today[3]
Cross Rhythms[4]
Jesus Freak Hideout[5]
The Village VoiceD+[6]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Here I Am"Michael W. Smith, Martin Smith5:10
2."Healing Rain"Smith, Martin Smith, Matt Bronleewe4:59
3."Live Forever"Smith, Wes King5:19
4."Hang On"Smith, King, Bronleewe4:13
5."Fly To The Moon"Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick5:20
6."Human Spark"Smith, Dan Hill4:50
7."We Can't Wait Any Longer"Smith, Kirkpatrick4:42
8."I Am Love"Smith, Taylor Sorenson3:56
9."Bridge Over Troubled Water"Paul Simon4:44
10."Eagles Fly"Smith, Kirkpatrick3:08
11."All I Want"Smith, Martin Smith4:33
DualDisc DVD side
No.TitleLength
1."Entire album in PCM Stereo and 5.1 Digital Surround Sound" 
2."The Stories Behind Healing Rain" 
3."Healing Rain Music Video" 
4."Here I Am Music Video" 
5."The Second Chance Movie Trailer" 

Awards

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In 2005, the album was nominated for a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards. The title song also received three nominations for Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, and Worship Song of the Year.[8]

Personnel

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  • Michael W. Smith – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 4–7, 9, 10), piano (1, 2, 5–9, 11), keyboards (1, 5, 6, 7, 11), Hammond B3 organ (1, 2, 3, 5, 6), Wurlitzer electric piano (2, 3, 4, 8, 10), Rhodes (3, 4, 10), programming (7, 11), additional guitars (7)
  • Matt Bronleewe – various random additional and supplemental sonic material (2, 3, 4, 10)
  • Jeremy Bose – programming (2, 3, 4, 10)
  • F. Reid Shippen – additional programming (4, 10)
  • Taylor Harris – programming (8)
  • Paul Moak – guitars (1), synth pad (2, 3), various sound effects (2, 4, 10), electric guitar (2, 3, 4, 10), EBow guitar (2, 3, 10), pedal steel drone (2), Hammond B3 organ (3, 10), Mellotron (4), vibraphone (4, 10), sitar (10), Moog synthesizer (10), child's piano (10)
  • Glenn Pearce – guitars (1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11)
  • Bruce Gaitsch – acoustic guitar (2)
  • Sam Ashworth – acoustic guitar (8), electric guitar (8), backing vocals (8)
  • Matt Slocum – acoustic guitar (8), electric guitars (8)
  • James Gregory – bass (1–4, 10)
  • Anthony Sallee – bass (5, 6, 7, 9)
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (8)
  • Raymond Boyd – drums (1, 5, 6, 7, 9), percussion (1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11)
  • Lindsay Jamieson – drums (2, 3, 4, 8, 10)
  • Ken Lewis – percussion (8)
  • The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – strings (2, 3)
  • Keith Getty – orchestration and conductor (2, 3)
  • Joni McCabe – strings technical production (2, 3)
  • Christa Black – violin (7)
  • Mark Lekas – cello (8)
  • Monisa Angell – viola (8)
  • David Angell – violin (8)
  • David Davidson – violin (8)
  • Charlie Peacock – string arrangement (8)
  • Sheree Brown – backing vocals (2)
  • Darwin Hobbs – backing vocals (2)
  • Leanne Palmore – backing vocals (2)
  • Ugandan Children's Choir – choir (7)

Production

  • Michael W. Smith – producer at Skywalker Sound, Marion County, California, Deer Valley Studios, Franklin, Tennessee, Dark Horse Recording Studio, Franklin, Tennessee, Ocean Way Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • Matt Bronleewe – producer at Dark Horse Recording (2–4, 10)
  • Sam Ashworth – producer at Blackbird Studio, Art House and Laser Fox Studios, Nashville, Tennessee (8), additional production (7)
  • Rob Burrell – engineer, mixing The Fishbowl at Dark Horse Recording (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • Richie Biggs – engineer (8)
  • Taylor Harris – engineer (8)
  • Clayton Wood – technical engineer at Skywalker Sound (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • Marius Perron III – choir engineer at Studio M, San Antonio, Texas (7)
  • Judy Kirschner – assistant engineer (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • Joseph Logsdon – assistant engineer (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • Marc Meeker – assistant engineer (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • Michael Modesto – assistant engineer (1–7, 9–11)
  • Dann Thompson – assistant engineer (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • André Zweers – assistant engineer (1, 5–7, 9, 11)
  • Aaron Swihart – engineer at Pentavarit, Nashville, Tennessee, Deer Valley Studios (2–4, 10)
  • Justin Loucks – additional engineering at The Smoakstack, Nashville, Tennessee (2–4, 10)
  • Randy LeRoy – digital editing at Final Stage Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee
  • F. Reid Shippen – mixing at Sound Stage Studios, Nashville, Tennessee (2–4, 10)
  • Lee Bridges – mixing assistant (2–4, 10)
  • Shane D. Wilson – mixing at Pentavarit (8)
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City
  • Michael Blanton – executive producer
  • Robert Beeson – executive producer
  • Alice Smith – production coordination for Showdown Productions (2–4, 10)
  • Michelle Pearson – A&R production
  • Stephanie McBrayer – art direction
  • Bert Sumner – cover and packaging design for Ground Level Design
  • Pamela Springsteen – photography
  • Sabrina Poole – hair, make-up
  • Maude – stylist

Chart performance

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[9] 11
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[10] 1

References

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  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ "CCM Magazine review" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 25, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Christianity Today review". Archived from the original on September 3, 2009. Retrieved 2013-12-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "Review: Healing Rain - Michael W Smith | Cross Rhythms". www.crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Michael W. Smith, "Healing Rain" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Christgau, Robert (November 30, 2004). "Consumer Guide: Mine Enemy the Turkey". The Village Voice. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  7. ^ "Healing Rain [DualDisc] - Michael W. Smith". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  8. ^ 2005 Dove Awards - 36th Annual Dove Awards Archived 2007-12-20 at the Wayback Machine on About.com; Jones, Kim
  9. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.