Amy Grant - Greatest Hits 1986-2004

It may be hard to believe, but A&M/UTV's 2004 release Greatest Hits 1986-2004 is the first compilation of Amy Grant's to be released since 1986's The Collection. In that time, she went from ccm to secular pop music and back again, scoring several big hits in the late '80s and early '90s. Appropriately, that era dominates Greatest Hits, with a great majority of the album hailing from 1988-1994; in fact, nearly half of her biggest album, 1991's Heart in Motion, is here. Some of this material is religious, including the previously unreleased opener, "The Water," but most of this sounds and feels like adult contemporary pop of the time, which shouldn't be surprising because songs like "Baby Baby" and the Peter Cetera duet "The Next Time I Fall" defined the sound of the mainstream pop sound of the turn of the decade. While the production of this music is undoubtedly dated -- the keyboard bass, synthesized backing, and surface gloss pin it to the year, if not very month, of release -- it nevertheless has aged surprisingly well for two reasons. First, the songs featured on Greatest Hits were constructed with genuine skill, from the writing to the production; even if the sound of the record is dated, that popcraft means they're still appealing, years after their release. Second, Grant is a very appealing singer. Not only does she have a warm, sweet voice that enlivens these highly polished productions, but she has a charming, everywoman persona that makes them easily relatable. Her strengths are most apparent on those hits from 1988-1994 that make for the bulk of the album, but the revelation of Greatest Hits is that she produced a consistently enjoyable body of work, with the late-'90s/early-2000s work and the new songs holding their own with the better-known material. And that's what makes Greatest Hits 1986-2004 not only a good portrait of Grant, it makes it one of the best adult contemporary pop albums of its kind. [Initial pressings of Greatest Hits 1986-2004 contain a bonus disc with remixes of "Every Heartbeat," "That's What Love Is For," "I Will Remember You," and "House of Love."] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Abrams Production Coordination Adam Starr Product Manager Albert Sanchez Photography Amy Grant Photography, Executive Producer, Liner Notes Andy McKaie Compilation Producer Barry Korkin Editorial Assistant Brown Bannister Producer Dan Marnien Engineer, Mixing Daniel Abraham Mixing, Producer David Lindley Soloist, Lap Steel Guitar, Musician David Nottingham Assistant Donna McElroy Vocals (Background) Doug Schwartz Assembly Eika Aoshima Photography Eric Sarafin Remixing, Producer Erick Labson Mastering Glenn Spinner Assistant Gordon Kennedy Musician, Guitar (Electric) Jennifer Cooke Executive Producer Jerry McPherson Guitar (Electric), Musician John Richards Producer, Remixing Just Loomis Photography Keb' Mo' Dobro, Musician, Vocal Harmony, Remixing Keith Thomas Producer, Remix Arrangement, Remix Producer Kim Keyes Vocals (Background) Kurt Markus Photography Mark Johnson Remixing Mark Mazzetti Remixing, Remix Consultant, Producer Michael Blanton Executive Producer Michael Omartian Producer Mike Ragogna Compilation Producer Norman Jean Roy Photography, Cover Photo Peter Cetera Duet Phil Madeira Musician, Organ (Hammond) Phil Nicolo Remixing Ryan Null Photo Coordination Sam Bacco Musician, Percussion Steve Brewster Drums, Musician Susan Browne Design Tabitha Fair Vocals (Background) Tommy Sims Bass, Musician Victoria Pearson Photography Vince Gill Duet Wayne Kirkpatrick Guitar (Acoustic), Musician, Producer