!Hero is an album featuring the songs from the rock opera, !Hero. It is based on the question, "What if Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?" The rock opera modernizes Jesus' last two years on earth and features a cast of many well-known Christian rock artists with Michael Tait, Rebecca St. James, and Mark Stuart as the three main characters: Hero (Jesus), Maggie (Mary Magdalene), and Petrov (Peter).
!Hero | |
---|---|
Studio album by Various artists | |
Released | September 2, 2003 |
Genre | Christian rock |
Length | 1 hour, 47 minutes |
Label | ForeFront / Emd |
Producer | Pete Stewart |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
CCM Magazine | B[1] |
Christianity Today | [2] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | [3] |
Track listing and performers
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "This is How it Happened" | Mat Kearney and Pete Stewart | Paul Wright | 2:08 |
2. | "A Few Good Men" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Quinlan, Mark Stuart, Michael Tait | 5:09 |
3. | "Wedding Celebration" | Eddie DeGarmo | John Cooper, John Grey, Michael Tait, Nirva Dorsaint, and GRITS[citation needed] | 4:32 |
4. | "Fire of Love" | Eddie DeGarmo | John Cooper and Michael Tait | 4:38 |
5. | "Lose My Life with You" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Tait and Nirva Dorsaint[citation needed] | 3:14 |
6. | "Man on a Mission" | Matt Kearney and Pete Stewart | Paul Wright | 1:14 |
7. | "Secrets of the Heart" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James and Michael Tait | 3:52 |
8. | "Stand Up and Walk" | Eddie DeGarmo | John Cooper, Matt Hammitt, and Michael Tait | 4:24 |
9. | "Do What You Gotta Do" | Eddie DeGarmo | John Cooper and Pete Stewart | 3:05 |
10. | "Take My Hand" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Tait | 1:48 |
11. | "Love's Declaration" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James, Mark Stuart, and Michael Tait | 3:17 |
12. | "Raised in Harlem[nb 1]" | Eddie DeGarmo and Pete Stewart | T-Bone and Michael Tait | 4:21 |
13. | "They're Callin' Him Hero" | Mat Kearney and Pete Stewart | Paul Wright | 2:42 |
14. | "Manna From Heaven" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James, Michael Quinlan, Mark Stuart, and Michael Tait | 4:20 |
15. | "Hero" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James, Michael Quinlan, and Mark Stuart | 4:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "He Just Had to Stir Things Up/Leave Here" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James, Michael Tait, and Paul Wright | 5:19 |
2. | "Stand by You" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James and Paul Wright | 2:47 |
3. | "Say the Word" | Eddie DeGarmo | Paul Wright | 1:36 |
4. | "Intentions" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Quinlan | 3:20 |
5. | "Finally Home" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James, Michael Quinlan, and Mark Stuart | 3:37 |
6. | "Not in Our House" | Eddie DeGarmo and Pete Stewart | John Cooper and Michael Tait | 2:09 |
7. | "Murder on Their Minds" | Mat Kearney and Pete Stewart | Paul Wright | 2:59 |
8. | "Party in the House Today" | Eddie DeGarmo | Mark Stuart | 3:49 |
9. | "In Remembrance of Me" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Tait | 1:53 |
10. | "Shadowman" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Quinlan and Pete Stewart | 5:00 |
11. | "Hero's Agony" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Tait[citation needed] | 2:37 |
12. | "I Am" | Eddie DeGarmo | Michael Tait | 4:17 |
13. | "Kill the Hero" | Eddie DeGarmo | John Cooper, Paul Wright, and Bob Farrell | 6:00 |
14. | "Execute/Intentions (Reprise)/Hero (Reprise)/Lose My Life With You" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James, Nirva Dorsaint and Michael Quinlan[citation needed] | 3:58 |
15. | "He's Not Here" | Eddie DeGarmo | Rebecca St. James and Nathaniel Lee | 3:41 |
16. | "The Truth Comes Out" | Eddie DeGarmo and Mat Kearney | Paul Wright | 1:47 |
Reviews
editChris Well, writing for CCM Magazine, reviewed it favorably and stated, "!Hero is inventive, rhythmic and should, no doubt, spark debate everywhere about the real Jesus.[1] On the other hand, Andree Farias of Christian Music Today, wrote, "!Hero's attempt to be all things to all people is well-intentioned, its 'replayability' value is minimal, deeming it no more than a glorified post-concert souvenir for the live stage show."[2]
Primary cast
edit- Michael Tait as Hero
- Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline as Petrov
- Rebecca St. James as Maggie
- Paul Wright as Special Agent Hunter
- Nirva Dorsaint as Mama Mary
- John Cooper of Skillet as Chief Rabbi Kai
- Michael Quinlan as Jude
- Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real as blind cripple
- T-Bone as Jairus
- Donnie Lewis as Jairus' wife
- Pete Stewart as Chief of police Devlin
- Bob Farrell as Governor Pilate
- John Grey as Preacher Rabbi at the wedding
- Nathaniel Lee as Janitor Angel
- GRITS as the Wedding Party
- Pete and Donna Stewart as the bride and groom at the wedding[6]
Secondary cast and musicians
edit- Todd Collins – percussion
- Eddie DeGarmo – piano, background vocals, executive producer
- DJ Maj – scratching
- Jason Eskridge – background vocals
- Kim Fleming – choir
- Brad Ford – vocals, assistant executive producer
- Robert Gay – children's chorus
- Rachel Goldstein – choir
- Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson – harmonica
- Tony Lucido – bass guitar
- Rick May – drums
- Ann McCrary – choir
- Antonio Phelon – choir, background vocals
- John Ray – choir
- Becky Robertson – children's chorus
- Joanna Robertson – children's chorus
- Thomas Romines – choir
- Pete Stewart – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, piano, electric piano
- Greg Thomas – choir
- Patti Thomas – choir
- Michelle Valentine – choir
- Paul Wright III[6]
Support staff
edit- Eddie DeGarmo – executive producer
- Brad Ford – assistant executive producer
- Carl Marsh – Fairlight, string arrangement
- Bethany Newman – art director, design
- Marcelo Pennell – audio engineer
- Carter Robertson – choir director
- Dan Shike – mastering
- Pete Stewart – audio engineer, producer, programming
- Greg Thomas – choir director[6]
Notes
edit- ^ Raised in Harlem was featured on Hip Hope Hits 2005, a compilation album on Gotee Records.[5]
Footnotes
editReferences
edit- Anon (2018). "Hip Hope Hits 2005". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- Anon (2017). "Original Soundtrack - The Hero: The Rock Opera - Track Listing". Allmusic. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- Anon (2017a). "Original Soundtrack - The Hero: The Rock Opera - Credits". Allmusic. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- DiBiase, John (September 3, 2003). "!Hero: The Rock Opera Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- Farias, Andree (September 2003). "!Hero: The Rock Opera". Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- Well, Chris (October 2003). "Various: !Hero" (PDF). CCM Magazine. p. 61. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2016.