Losing My Religion (album)

Losing My Religion is the eleventh studio album from Kirk Franklin. RCA Inspiration a division of RCA Records alongside Fo Yo Soul Recordings released the album on November 13, 2015.[1] It won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album in 2017.

Losing My Religion
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 13, 2015 (2015-11-13)
GenreChristian R&B, urban contemporary gospel, R&B
Length1:00:54
LabelRCA Inspiration, Fo Yo Soul
ProducerKirk Franklin and Shaun Martin
Kirk Franklin chronology
Hello Fear
(2011)
Losing My Religion
(2015)
Long Live Love
(2019)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
CCM Magazine     [3]
The Christian Beat     [4]
Cross Rhythms          [5]
New Release Today     [6]

Signaling in a ten out of ten review from Cross Rhythms, Tony Cummings called the album "a great comeback".[5] Matt Conner, indicating in a four star review by CCM Magazine, stated "Losing My Religion is every bit the spirited, charismatic and powerful album you’d expect (and hope for) from the seven-time GRAMMY winner."[3] Awarding the album five stars at New Release Today, Dwayne Lacy stated, "This is vintage Kirk!"[6] Thom Jurek of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars, praising the album for its message and concept saying "It's a rhyming, socio-political-spiritual manifesto, an admonition to evangelists that religion masks God's love and mercy; it's a barrier rather than a bridge."[2]

Commercial performance

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The album debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 35,000 copies.[7]

Track listing

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All music is composed by Kirk Franklin except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Losing My Religion" 3:21
2."Miracles" 5:53
3."123 Victory"Kirk Franklin and Lawrence Parker3:57
4."Road Trip" 4:00
5."Pray for Me" 4:45
6."Wanna Be Happy?" (contains portion of "Tired of Being Alone" by Al Green)Kirk Franklin and Al Green4:25
7."It's Time" (featuring Tasha Page-Lockhart and Zacardi Cortez) 4:03
8."True Story" 4:20
9."Over" 4:16
10."When" (featuring Kim Burrell and Lalah Hathaway) 5:17
11."My World Needs You" (featuring Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs and Tamela Mann) 7:16
12."Intercession" 5:06
13."No Sleep Tonight" 4:15
Total length:60:54

Personnel

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Vocalists

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  • Faith Anderson
  • Melodie Davis
  • Chelsea West
  • Michael Bethany
  • Amber Bullock
  • Caltomeesh "Candy" West
  • Crystal Aikin
  • Myron Butler
  • Niya Cotton
  • Anthony Evans
  • Nathan Myers
  • Shawlesa Amos
  • Darian Yancey
  • Joy Hill
  • James Henderson
  • Dalon Collins
  • Deonis Cook
  • Maurice Brown
  • Adrian Oneal
  • Patron Thomas
  • Shaun Martin
  • Deon Yancey
  • Darius Dixon
  • Elgin Johnson
  • Sydnii Raymore
  • Teaira Dunn
  • Emoni Wilkins
  • John Montes

Instrumentalists

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  • Kirk Franklin – piano, keyboards
  • Shaun Martin – keyboards, piano
  • Keith Taylor – bass
  • Robert Searight – drums
  • Braylon Lacy – bass, upright bass
  • Mark Lettieri – lead guitar
  • Kermit Wells – Hammond B-3
  • Max Stark – programming
  • Philip Lassiter – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Tyler Summers – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Roy Agee – trombone and bass trombone

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (2015–2016) Peak
position
South Korean International Albums (Gaon)[8] 27
UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC)[9] 2
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[10] 24
US Billboard 200[11] 10
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[12] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[13] 3

Year-end charts

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Chart (2016) Position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[14] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] 17

Decade-end charts

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Chart (2010-2021) Peak
position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[16] 7

References

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  1. ^ Thomasos, Christine (September 25, 2015). "Kirk Franklin Is Losing His Religion and Wants to Help Others Do the Same". The Christian Post. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Jurek, Thom (2015-11-28). "Allmusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-11-28.
  3. ^ a b Conner, Matt (December 16, 2015). "Kirk Franklin – 'Losing My Religion' album review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Dittmer, Madeleine (December 17, 2015). "Kirk Franklin Offers A Challenging Message With "Losing My Religion"". The Christian Beat. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Cummings, Tony (May 11, 2016). "Review: Losing My Religion - Kirk Franklin". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Lacy, Dwayne (November 9, 2015). "Kirk Franklin Never Disappoints". New Release Today. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  7. ^ "Near-Record Eight Albums Debut in Top 10 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Album Chart: 2015 Weeks 48" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. November 20, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  12. ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  13. ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  14. ^ "Gospel Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  15. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  16. ^ "DECADE-END CHARTS: TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS: 2010s". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2024 – via Wayback Machine.