The Worship Project

The Worship Project
Studio album by MercyMe
Released 1999
Genre Christian rock, alternative rock, pop
Label Independent
MercyMe chronology

The Need
(1998)		 The Worship Project
(1999)		 Look
(2000)

The Worship Project is the fifth independent album by the contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band MercyMe. The album was intended to contain easy-to-sing worship songs, and contains the first version of the band's future hit single "I Can Only Imagine". The Worship Sessions sold over 60,000 copies, and helped MercyMe gain a record deal with INO Records.

Background
"I Can Only Imagine"
A sample of the song "I Can Only Imagine", one of the tracks on The Worship Project. The song was the final track to be included on the album.
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MercyMe's goal with The Worship Project was to create an album of worship songs.[1] Guitarist Mike Scheuchzer commented that "We were trying to do a worship record, you know, verses and chorus, verses and chorus. You put it up on PowerPoint and everyone sings it over and over".[1] The band's future hit single "I Can Only Imagine" was written as the last song to go on the record; although the band enjoyed the song, they didn't see how the song would fit on The Worship Project.[1] However, they included it because the song meant a great deal to lead singer Bart Millard.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Cross Rhythms [2]

Cross Rhythms reviewer Mike Rimmer gave the album seven out of ten stars, commenting that "Mixing rock, pop and alternative styles together, there are some rootsy things breaking through here and there and some nice Hammond style organ sounds, pleasant vocals and faint violins a fiddlin'... It all sounds curiously familiar without being distinctive. Occasionally something leaps out... but overall whilst this is a good effort, it falls short of being amazing".[2]

Release

The Worship Project was released in 1999 on an independent record.[3] It sold over 60,000 copies, and its success helped MercyMe gain a record contract with INO Records.[4]

Track listing

  1. "Here For You"
  2. "Happy Little Love Song"
  3. "It's My Joy"
  4. "Say Amen"
  5. "I Can Only Imagine"
  6. "Cannot Say Enough"
  7. "Hearts Sing Louder"
  8. "Psalm 104"
  9. "Jesus Come Quickly"
  10. "Beautiful"

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jones, Kim (February 26, 2009). "MercyMe - Celebrating 10 Years Since "I Can Only Imagine"". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rimmer, Mike. "The Worship Project (Cross Rhythms)". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "MercyMe, "The Worship Project" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Jenison, David. "A Severe Mercy". Today'sChristianMusic. CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing (Salem Communications). Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.