Lead Me On (Amy Grant album)
Lead Me On is the seventh studio album, and eleventh overall album by Christian music singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 1988 through A&M Recordings.
Lead Me On was a departure from its predecessor, the high-energy pop album Unguarded. Unlike Unguarded or 1991's Heart in Motion, Lead Me On was not mainstream compatible. Only three of its songs earned mainstream airplay, all of them insignificantly. Christian music, however, praised the album. It would later be named the No. 1 Christian album in CCM Magazines 2001 book The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The title song was featured in .
Anniversary release
/ Sparrow Records released a double-disc 20th Anniversary Edition of the album on June 24, 2008. The first disc contains EMI's digitally remastered version of the complete original album. The second disc contains new acoustic recordings of songs from the original album, which Grant has described as "songwriter versions" that are stripped down to emphasize the lyrics. Several of these tracks feature special guests. Additionally, the 20th Anniversary Edition includes previously unreleased live recordings from the large-scale Lead Me On Tour and a short interview with Amy Grant about the original album. The discs are packaged with a previously unseen booklet of pictures and liner notes from Grant.In support of the 20th Anniversary Edition, Grant recreated the original Lead Me On tour in 20 cities, starting in October 2008. Most of the original tour's band reunited for the anniversary tour. The reissue and anniversary tour were also supported by TV specials, radio specials, and promotional appearances.
Track listing
The release was promoted in the US by the record company by issue of a unique promotional CD. The gold picture CD was hand numbered and autographed by Amy herself and was limited to 4150 copies.
Personnel
- Amy Grant – lead vocals, background vocals
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, acoustic piano
- Alan Pasqua – keyboards
- Michael W. Smith – keyboards
- Benmont Tench – Hammond B3 organ
- Shane Keister – keyboards, Hammond B3 organ, acoustic piano
- Carl Marsh – keyboards, Arco bass
- Brett Perry – Synclavier
- Keith Thomas – Synclavier, keyboards
- Jerry McPherson – electric guitar, zither, guitars
- Dann Huff – 12-string guitar, guitars, guitar solo
- Gary Chapman – acoustic guitar, background vocals
- Mark O'Connor – mandolin, viola, violin
- Mike Brignardello – bass guitar
- Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass guitar
- Paul Leim – drums
- Keith Edwards – drums
- Lenny Castro – percussion, tambourine
- John Darnall – string arrangements
- Bill Champlin – background vocals
- Tommy Funderburk – background vocals
- Chris Rodriguez – background vocals, guitars
- Wayne Kirkpatrick – background vocals
- Chris Harris – background vocals
- Diana DeWitt – background vocals
- Mary Ann Kennedy – background vocals
- Pam Rose – background vocals
- Chris Eaton – background vocals
- Donna McElroy – background vocals
- Dave Perkins – background vocals
- Randy Stonehill – background vocals
- Russ Taff – background vocals
- Carmen Twillie – background vocals
- Brown Bannister – producer
- David Anderle – executive producer
- Michael Blanton – executive producer
- Gary Chapman – executive producer
- Fran Kirkpatrick – production coordination
- Kimberly Smith – production coordination
- Jeff Balding – engineer, mixing
- Claude Achille – assistant engineer
- Jeff Coppage – assistant engineer
- Ron Jacobs – assistant engineer
- Laura Livingston – assistant engineer
- Mark McKenna – assistant engineer
- Paula Montondo – assistant engineer
- Mark Nevers – assistant engineer
- Keith Odell – assistant engineer
- Brian Scheuble – assistant engineer
- Bob Vogt – assistant engineer
- Bill Whittington – assistant engineer
- Randall J. Wine – assistant engineer
- Marc DeSisto – mixing
- Shelly Yakus – mixing
- Johnny Potoker – mixing
- Steve McMillan – mixing
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Masterdisk, New York, New York – mastering location
- Richard Frankel – art direction
- Melanie Nissen – design
- Eika Aoshima – photography
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
| 1988 | The Billboard 200 | 71 |
| 1988 | Top Contemporary Christian | 1 |
Singles -
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
| 1988 | "Saved By Love" | Christian Radio–Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1988 | "Saved By Love" | Billboard Adult Contemporary | 32 |
| 1988 | "Lead Me On" | Christian Radio–Adult Contemporary | 5 |
| 1988 | "Lead Me On" | Billboard Hot 100 | 96 |
| 1989 | "1974" | Billboard Adult Contemporary | 34 |
| 1989 | "1974" | Christian Radio–Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1989 | "What About The Love" | Christian Radio–Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1989 | "Say Once More" | Christian Radio–Adult Contemporary | 8 |
| 1990 | "Faithless Heart" | Christian Radio–Adult Contemporary | 12 |
End of year charts
End-of-decade charts
Certifications and sales
Accolades
Grammy Awards| Year | Winner | Category |
| 1989 | Lead Me On | Best Gospel Performance, Female |
GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Winner | Category |
| 1989 | Lead Me On | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year |
| 1989 | "Lead Me On" | Short Form Music Video of the Year |