We Need Each Other (album)

Last updated
We Need Each Other
Weneedeachother.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 12, 2008
Recorded2007
StudioFabmusic (Franklin, TN); The Smoakstack (Nashville, TN).
Genre Christian rock, CCM, pop rock, indie rock, [1] folk rock
Length40:06
Label Sparrow/EMI CMG
Producer Christopher Stevens
Sanctus Real chronology
The Face of Love
(2006)
We Need Each Other
(2008)
Pieces of a Real Heart
(2010)
Singles from We Need Each Other
  1. "We Need Each Other"
    Released: 2007
  2. "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)"
    Released: 2008
  3. "Turn On the Lights"
    Released: 2008
  4. "Sing"
    Released: 2008
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christianity Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Jesus Freak HideoutStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Evade the NoiseStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]

We Need Each Other is the fourth album released by Christian rock band Sanctus Real. It was released in the United States on February 12, 2008 through Sparrow Records. [7] It debuted at #153 on the Billboard 200. Three songs have been released as singles: "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)", "Turn On the Lights", and the title track "We Need Each Other".

Contents

Background

We Need Each Other was recorded over a few months in 2007, beginning in the middle of the year. [8] The album's name had not yet been decided in late August 2007, [8] but in early November the working title was announced as Turn On the Lights. [9] However, by December 2007 the title was solidified as We Need Each Other. [10]

Christopher Stevens produced We Need Each Other as he had also done with band's previous release The Face of Love . [10] Lead singer Matt Hammitt explained that the album's title represents its general theme. "There's a longing for something bigger than oneself, a band, a song or a crowd of concertgoers. We need to come together as the body of Christ, unifying to see God’s work done through us. There’s so much simple truth in the statement, 'we need each other.' We can accomplish so much more if we stand together as one." [10]

Two musicians guested on two of the songs from We Need Each Other. It was the first Sanctus Real album to feature appearances from other musicians outside the band. [10] Singer Katie Herzig appeared on the song "Half Our Lives", singing a lead duet with Matt Hammitt. [10] Guitarist Peter York recorded the distinct guitar riffs for the track "Turn On the Lights". [10] Sanctus Real guitarist Chris Rohman has said that "Peter 'tore it up' in the studio and it turned out great! It's a highlight on the album". [10]

Release

The album's first single, title track "We Need Each Other", was released on November 12, 2007. [9] It began increasing in radio airplay during December 2007, [10] and in February 2008, the song stayed at number 1 for three weeks on R&R's Christian contemporary hit radio chart. [11] The album itself was then released on February 12, 2008 and debuted at #153 on the Billboard 200, becoming the band's highest charting album to date on the 200 chart. [12]

The album's second single, "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)" was released in May 2008. A music video for the song debuted in the beginning of June 2008 and was filmed about a month earlier. [13] The third radio single "Turn On the Lights" was released in August 2008.

We Need Each Other went on to receive a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album. [14]

Track listing

We Need Each Other
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Turn On the Lights" (featuring Peter York)Mark Graalman, Matt Hammitt, Chris Rohman, Christopher Stevens 3:28
2."We Need Each Other"Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman, Stevens4:16
3."Black Coal"Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman, Stevens3:26
4."Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)"Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman4:11
5."Sing"Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman, Stevens4:41
6."Leap of Faith"Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman, Stevens3:17
7."Lay Down My Guns"Graalman, Hammitt, Douglas Kaine McKelvey, Rohman4:17
8."Eternal"Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman4:27
9."Half Our Lives" (featuring Katie Herzig)Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman4:20
10."Legacy"Graalman, Hammitt, Rohman, Stevens3:43
Total length:40:06

Personnel

Sanctus Real

Additional musicians

Gang vocals on "Black Coal"

Crowd vocals on "Sing"

Production

Related Research Articles

Sanctus Real American Christian rock band

Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Chris Rohman, Mark Graalman (drums), and Dustin Lolli. The band is best known for their number one singles "Lead Me", "Forgiven", "Whatever You're Doing", "I'm Not Alright", "Don't Give Up", "We Need Each Other", "Everything About You", and "The Fight Song". Since 2002, they have released five albums through the Sparrow Records label, an independent EP This Is Love, and "Changed" on Framework Records.

<i>Fight the Tide</i> 2004 studio album by Sanctus Real

Fight the Tide is the second studio album from Christian rock band Sanctus Real, and was released on June 15, 2004 under Sparrow Records. Most of the album was written within one month and recorded in only four weeks. According to band members, the tight schedule caused them to refine the album's various musical and lyrical elements.

<i>Say It Loud</i> (Sanctus Real album) 2002 studio album by Sanctus Real

Say It Loud is an album by the band Sanctus Real. It was released on December 24, 2002 under Sparrow Records. This was Sanctus Real's first studio album, after three independent releases.

Building 429 American Christian rock band

Building 429 is an American Christian rock band from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Their name is derived from a Biblical passage known as Ephesians 4:29, which, in the New International Version of the Bible, reads as follows: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." The band members originated from Snyder Memorial Baptist Church and various areas in North Carolina as well as Texas.

Relient K American alternative rock band

Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio, by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during the band members' third year in high school and their time at Malone University. The band is named after guitarist Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name..The group is known for its Christian rock, alternative Christian rock, and contemporary Christian music.

<i>The Face of Love</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Sanctus Real

The Face of Love is the third studio album from Christian rock band Sanctus Real. It was released on April 4, 2006 and peaked at number 158 on the Billboard 200. The singles "I'm Not Alright" and "Don't Give Up" both reached number 1 on Christian contemporary hit radio. The album was written and recorded following a period of personal struggles for the band members, and carries themes of honesty and brokenness.

Decyfer Down American rock band

Decyfer Down is an American Christian rock band formed in 1999 and based in Morehead City, North Carolina, United States. Until 2002 – the year that Christopher Clonts joined the band – they went by the moniker Allysonhymn. Decyfer Down is well known in Christian music, but the band is also known for their mainstream success, having toured with bands like Puddle of Mudd and Breaking Benjamin.

We Need Each Other (song) 2007 single by Sanctus Real

"We Need Each Other" is a song by Christian rock band Sanctus Real, from their fourth album We Need Each Other. The song was released on November 13, 2007, and reached number 1 on R&R's Christian CHR chart in January 2008. It was the 8th most played song of 2008 on Christian CHR radio.

Im Not Alright (Sanctus Real song) 2006 single by Sanctus Real

"I'm Not Alright" is a song by Christian rock band Sanctus Real from their album The Face of Love. It was a number 1 hit on Christian radio in 2006. In 2007, the song was nominated at the GMA Dove Awards for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.

<i>Alive Again</i> (Matt Maher album) 2009 studio album by Matt Maher

Alive Again is the second studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Maher, released on September 22, 2009. It is his second album with Essential Records. It reached #6 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and reached #128 on the Billboard 200. The single "Alive Again" became the top selling Christian and Gospel single on iTunes Rewind. The song "Hold Us Together" was the No. 1 K-LOVE song of 2010.

Forgiven (Sanctus Real song) 2009 single by Sanctus Real

"Forgiven" is a song by American Christian rock band Sanctus Real, which was released to radio on October 23, 2009. The song is the first single from the band's fifth studio album Pieces of a Real Heart, which was released in March 2010. The song peaked at No. 4 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming their second Top 10 single from that chart. It stayed on the chart for 40 weeks, becoming their second longest charting song. The song is played in a D major key, and 82 beats per minute.

<i>Pieces of a Real Heart</i> 2010 studio album by Sanctus Real

Pieces of a Real Heart is the fifth studio album from Christian rock band Sanctus Real. It was released on March 9, 2010 via Sparrow Records. The first single released was the song "Forgiven", which reached No. 6 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart. The second single "Lead Me" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Christian Music chart and was nominated for a GMA Dove Award.

The Internet (band) American R&B and soul band

The Internet is an American band from Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of vocalist Syd, keyboardist Matt Martians, bassist Patrick Paige II, drummer Christopher Smith, and guitarist Steve Lacy.

Matt Hammitt is an American singer, songwriter, speaker and author. He was the lead singer for Sanctus Real, which has released seven studio albums with Sparrow Records, toured internationally and released 14 top five and number one singles to Christian radio. Hammitt left Sanctus Real effective December 2015 to pursue a solo career. He has since released one solo album, Every Falling Tear.

<i>Every Falling Tear</i> 2011 studio album by Matt Hammitt

Every Falling Tear is the first studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Hammitt, released on September 13, 2011 by Sparrow Records.

<i>Run</i> (Sanctus Real album) 2013 studio album by Sanctus Real

Run is the sixth studio album from contemporary Christian music band Sanctus Real. It was released on February 5, 2013 via Sparrow Records. In addition, the album producers are Jason Ingram, Seth Mosley and Christopher Stevens. The album has already garnered acclaim from the reviewers and has already achieved success from the lead single "Promises" on the charts. Furthermore, the album charted on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Christian Albums charts at Nos. 112 and 6 respectively in the debut week of February 23, 2013.

Promises (Sanctus Real song) 2012 single by Sanctus Real

"Promises" is a song by Christian Contemporary-Alternative-Rock band Sanctus Real from their sixth studio album, Run. It was released on October 9, 2012, as the first single from the album.

Pray (Sanctus Real song) 2013 single by Sanctus Real

"Pray" is a song by Christian rock band Sanctus Real from their sixth studio album, Run. It was released on April 30, 2013, as the second single from the album. This was the song used for the National Day of Prayer campaign.

<i>The Dream</i> (Sanctus Real album) 2014 studio album by Sanctus Real

The Dream is the seventh album from American Christian rock band Sanctus Real, released by Sparrow Records on October 14, 2014. Sanctus Real worked with producers Pete Kipley and Christopher Stevens in the creation of this album.

"Lead Me" is a song by American Christian rock band Sanctus Real from their 2010 album Pieces of a Real Heart. The song was written by Chris Rohman of Sanctus Real with Matt Hammitt and Jason Ingram. It was a big success staying nine consecutive weeks at the top of the US Billboard Christian Songs chart starting September 11, 2010, and until November 6, 2010, chart inclusive, staying a total of 52 weeks on the chart. The song is their highest-charting to date.

References

  1. Jared Johnson. "We Need Each Other > Overview". Allmusic . Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  2. Allmusic review
  3. Christianity Today review
  4. Jesus Freak Hideout review
  5. Jesus Freak Hideout review (second opinion)
  6. "Evade The Noise review". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  7. "Sanctus Real – We Need Each Other". Billboard . Retrieved 2008-09-10.[ dead link ]
  8. 1 2 Anne Thomas (2007-08-28). "Sanctus Real in Studio, Preparing for Tour". BREATHEcast.com. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  9. 1 2 "Sanctus Real Release New Single 'We Need Each Other'". Soul Shine Magazine . 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Sanctus Real Reminds Us We Need Each Other Feb. 12". CCM Magazine . December 2007. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  11. "Media Confirms 'Need' For Sanctus Real's Feb. 12, 2008 Release". Top40-Charts.com. 2008-02-18. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  12. "Artist Chart History – Sanctus Real". Billboard . Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  13. "Sanctus Keeping Things Real". Top40-Charts.com. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  14. "51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List". Grammy Awards . Retrieved 2009-02-02.