The Jesus Record

The Jesus Record is the ninth and final album by American singer/songwriter Rich Mullins, released posthumous on July 21, 1998, ten months after his death.

The first disc of the album, entitled "The Jesus Demos", consists of 9 rough demos Mullins recorded for the album in an abandoned church on September 10, 1997, nine days before his death. The songs were meant for a concept album based on the life of Jesus Christ, to be called Ten Songs About Jesus.

The second disc was recorded after Mullins' death by a Ragamuffin Band (Rick Elias, Mark Robertson, Jimmy Abegg and Aaron Smith), with guest vocals by Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Ashley Cleveland, and Phil Keaggy. Orchestrations for the album, which were arranged and conducted by Tom Howard, were recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios. The album ends with the rough demo version of "That Where I Am, There You...", with added instruments and vocals by the Ragamuffin Band, Michael W. Smith and a large choir of family and friends. The last thing heard on the album are the faint sounds of "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus," played by Mullins on the Hammered Dulcimer. The recording, which was made during a 1997 concert performance in Green Bay, Wisconsin, barely made it onto the final album. Two men, who were helping Elias find potential recordings, searched countless church video libraries, bootleg tape traders lists, professional video tapers, music message boards, email discussion lists and other sources, before someone came forward with a tape that was made at the Green Bay church. This person was able to rush the tape to the two men doing the extensive search, who then rushed it to Elias who was mastering the album. The tape arrived on the final day of mastering, just barely in time to be included.

The entire album was performed live at the 1998 Cornerstone Music Festival by a Ragamuffin Band, who then embarked on "The Homeless Man Tour" as a tribute to Mullins' memory.

Track listing

Disc One: The Jesus Demos

1. "Hard To Get" (Rich Mullins) – 4:41
2. "All The Way To Kingdom Come" (Rich Mullins) – 3:18
3. "My Deliverer" (Rich Mullins and Mitch McVicker) – 3:18
4. "Surely God Is With Us" (Mark Robertson and Beaker) – 3:48
5. "Jesus" (Rich Mullins/Mitch McVicker/Dana Waddel) – 4:34
6. "You Did Not Have A Home" (Rich Mullins) – 2:27
7. "Heaven In His Eyes" (Rich Mullins) – 4:00
   • Earlier recording appeared on Behold the Man 1981
8. "Nothing Is Beyond You" (Rich Mullins/Mitch McVicker/Tom Booth) – 3:40
9. "That Where I Am, There You..." (Rich Mullins) – 2:45

Disc Two: The Jesus Record

1. "My Deliverer" (Rich Mullins and Mitch McVicker) – 5:59
2. "Surely God Is With Us" (Mark Robertson and Beaker) – 4:29
3. "Nothing Is Beyond You" (Rich Mullins/Mitch McVicker/Tom Boothe) – 4:19
4. "You Did Not Have A Home" (Rich Mullins) – 2:57
5. "Jesus" (Rich Mullins/Mitch McVicker/Dana Waddel) – 6:05
6. "All The Way To Kingdom Come" (Rich Mullins) – 3:51
7. "Man of No Reputation" (Rick Elias) – 6:04
8. "Heaven In His Eyes" (Rich Mullins) – 4:05
   • Earlier recording appeared on Behold the Man 1981
9. "Hard To Get" (Rich Mullins) – 4:55
10. "That Where I Am, There You..." (Rich Mullins) – 3:21

Charts

Radio single

Personnel

• Rich Mullins: Lead vocals, guitar and piano on The Jesus Demos
• The Ragamuffins: Lead vocals, Harmonica, drums, Bass, guitars for The Jesus Record
• Amy Grant: Lead vocals on "Nothing Is Beyond You" for The Jesus Record
• Ashley Cleveland: Lead vocals on "Jesus" for The Jesus Record
• Phil Keaggy: Lead vocals on "All The Way To Kingdom Come" for The Jesus Record
• Michael W. Smith: Lead vocals on "Heaven In His Eyes" and "That Where I Am, There You..." for The Jesus Record

Additional musicians

• Tom Howard: Piano, Wurlitzer, Orchestrations
• Phil Madeira: B-3, Lap Steel, Dobro, Accordion
• Eric Darken: percussion
• Sam Levine: pennywhistle, Flute, Recorder
• Jerry McPherson: Additional guitars
• Kenny Greenberg: Additional guitars
• Tim Lauer: Mellotron, Accordion, Harmonium
• Mitch McVicker: guitars
• Linda Elias: percussion

• Children's Choir: Emily Webb, Ashley Melling, Brittany Hargest, Megan Dockery, Chris White, Matthew White, Brandon Hargest, and Sterling Gibson.

• Adult Choir: Roz Thompson, Steve Flanigan, Nicole Coleman-Mullen, George Pendergrass, Percy Travis III, Melinda Doolittle, Scat Springs, and Ann Bailey.

• "That Where I Am, There You..." Choir: Mark Lutz, Elizabeth Lutz, Connie Hawk, David McCracken, Nicole Hemphill, Hardy Hemphill, Michelle Younkman, Stuart Young, Mary Quick, Michael Oliver, Kurt Lightner, Laura Davis, Lea Fulton, Eric May, Kevin Tucker, Dawn Gates, Laura Neutzling, Marie Lehman, Chuck Hargett, Janice Chaffee, Jim Chaffee, Chuck Nelson, Mari O'Neill, Jamie Kiner, Ann Bailey, Roz Thompson, Jemina Abegg, Alexia M. Abegg, Pierette Abegg, Augdrey Eva Smith, Kathryn Garcia Smith, Aaron Smith, Sydney Maria Smith, Gloria Green, Michelle Abegg, Rebecca Brown, Chris Smith, Janice Smith, Archie Griffin, Rose Corazza, Kristin Pierson, and Keith Bordeaux.

• background vocals by The Ragamuffins, Michael W. Smith, Ashley Cleveland, Jim Chaffee, Linda Elias, Ashley Cleveland, Amy Grant

Production

• Produced by Rick Elias.
• Executive Producers: Jim Chaffee and Judith Volz.
• Engineered by Russ Long.
• Orchestra and String Quartet Engineered by Peter Cobbin.
• Additional Engineering by Jordan Richter.
• Assistant Engineer: Chris Grainger, Tim Rauter.
• Recorded at The White House (Nashville, Tennessee), Ragamuffin Recorders (Brentwood, Tennessee), The Carport (Nashville, Tennessee), Soundstage (Nashville, Tennessee), Darkhorse Studio (Franklin, Tennessee).
• Orchestra and String Quartet recorded at Abbey Road Studios (London, England).
• Mixed by JR McNeely at the Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee.
• Mastered by Hank Williams at Mastermix.
• Photography: Ben Pearson

Liner notes

The Ragamuffins would like to thank the family of Rich Mullins, Jim Dunning, Jr., Jim Chaffee & Judith Volz for their vision and support for the Jesus Record. We wish to express our gratitude to all those involved in the making of this record - your labor of love has made this project come to pass.

We would also like to thank the following people: Craig Hayes, Steve Brallier, Alyssa Lakouta, Compassion International, Jamie Kiner, Myrrh Records, Keith Bordeaux, The Kid Brothers of St. Frank, Ben Pearson, Brennan Manning, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Ashley Cleveland, Phil Keaggy, Gay Quisenberry, Reed Arvin, Eric Townsend, Jason Townsend, and our families.

Finally, to all the friends and supporters of Rich Mullins and the Ragamuffin Band - this record is for you.