''Never Picture Perfect'' is the fourth solo album by songwriter

Rich Mullins Richard Wayne Mullins (October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997) was an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter best known for his contemporary worship music, worship songs "Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step". Some of his ...

and was released in 1989 on

Reunion Records Reunion Records is a contemporary Christian record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, that operates under the Provident Label Group. It was founded in 1982 by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton. History The label was formed by Amy Grant's manager ...

. The album features a new recording of “Hope To Carry On.”

Track listing

All songs written by Rich Mullins.

Side one

# "I Will Sing" – 1:27 #*Appeared on compilation '' Songs 2'' 1999 # "Hope To Carry On" – 2:33 #*Appeared on compilation '' Songs 2'' 1999 #*Earlier recording appeared on '' Behold the Man'' 1981 # "While The Nations Rage" – 4:50 #*Appeared on compilation ''

Songs A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usuall ...

'' 1996 # "First Family" – 3:06 # "Alrightokuhhuhamen" – 4:12 #*Appeared on compilation ''

'' 1996

Side two

# "Higher Education and The Book of Love" – 5:47 # "Bound to Come Some Trouble" – 3:41 #*Appeared on compilation '' Songs 2'' 1999 # "The Love of God" – 2:48 #*Appeared on compilation '' Songs 2'' 1999 # "My One Thing" – 3:42 #*Appeared on compilation ''

'' 1996 # "Somewhere" – 4:32 #*Appeared on compilation '' Songs 2'' 1999 # "The Love of God (reprise)" – 0:49

Unreleased song & demos

In February 1989, Rich Mullins—along with his friends Lee and Nicki Lundgren of the group Avenue G—recorded a collection of demos for his then upcoming album, Never Picture Perfect. “Heart Set Free" is an unreleased song that Rich had previously considered, but was ultimately rejected, for his '' Pictures in the Sky'' album. The demo tape includes five tracks: # "Heart Set Free" (Unreleased song) # "My One Thing" (Demo) # "While The Nations Rage" (Demo) # "Higher Education and The Book of Love" (Demo) # "Bound to Come Some Trouble" (Demo)

Charts

Radio singles

Personnel

– lead vocals, acoustic piano (4, 7, 8),

hammered dulcimer The hammered dulcimer (also called the hammer dulcimer) is a percussion-string instrument which consists of String (music), strings typically stretched over a trapezoidal resonant sound board (music), sound board. The hammered dulcimer is set bef ...

(9) *

Reed Arvin Reed Arvin is an American record producer, keyboardist, and writer, known for his work producing music for singer Rich Mullins. In the early 1980s, Arvin toured as Amy Grant's keyboard player, before teaming up with Mullins in 1986. Arvin produc ...

– keyboards (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10),

Synclavier The Synclavier is an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation manufactured by New England Digital Corporation of Norwich, Vermont. It was produced in various forms from the late 1970s into the ea ...

(3, 5, 6, 9, 10), string arrangements * Jerry McPherson – guitars (2–6, 9, 10),

mandolin A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...

(10) *

Mark O'Connor Mark O'Connor (born August 5, 1961) is an American fiddle player, composer, guitarist, and mandolinist whose music combines bluegrass, country, jazz and classical. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he has won six Country Music Association Mu ...

– mandolin (4),

fiddle A fiddle is a Bow (music), bowed String instrument, string musical instrument, most often a violin or a bass. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including European classical music, classical music. Althou ...

(4) * Tom Hemby – guitar solo (9) *

Jimmie Lee Sloas Jimmie Lee Sloas is an American session musician, producer, and songwriter, who plays bass. History Jimmie Lee Sloas, born in Ashland, Kentucky, grew up in Fairborn, Ohio and Isonville, Kentucky. His father, Dave, was a member of the popular ...

– bass (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10) * Danny O'Lannerghty – bass (4) *

Paul Leim Paul William Leim (born December 29, 1950) is an American drummer and recording session musician based in Nashville. Biography Leim was born in Port Huron, Michigan and raised in Troup, Texas. He was inspired to take up drumming as a child a ...

– drums (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10) * Bill Sinclair –

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...

(5, 9) * Ed Calle – saxophone (6) * Kristin Wilkinson – string contractor *

Ashley Cleveland Ashley Cleveland (born February 2, 1957) is an American singer-songwriter best known as a background vocalist and Gospel music, gospel singer. Ashley Cleveland was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. Career She sang "We're Gonna Win This One" in 1 ...

– featured vocals (1) *

Pam Tillis Pamela Yvonne Tillis (born July 24, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is the eldest child of country singer Mel Tillis. After recording unsuccessful pop material for Elektra Records, Elektra ...

– featured vocals (1) * Richard Gibson – backing vocals (1) * Donny Monk – backing vocals (1) * Guy Penrod – backing vocals (1) * Jon Sherberg – backing vocals (1) * Gary Smith – backing vocals (1) * Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (2, 6) * Bonnie Keen – backing vocals (5, 9) * Marabeth Jordan – backing vocals (5, 9) * Marty McCall – backing vocals (5, 9) *

Margaret Becker Margaret Becker (born July 17, 1959) is an American Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She has had twenty-one No. 1 Christian radio hits, won four Dove Awards, and been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Biography Becker was born ...

– backing vocals (6)

Production

* Michael Blanton – executive producer * Terry Hemmings – executive producer * Reed Arvin – producer * Bill Deaton – engineer, mixing * Brent King – additional engineer * Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee) * D.L. Rhodes – cover coordinator * Jackson Design – art direction, design * Mark Tucker – photography

References

{{Authority control Rich Mullins albums 1989 albums Albums produced by Reed Arvin