Free at Last (DC Talk album)

Free at Last
Studio album by DC Talk
Released	November 18, 1992
Recorded	1992
Genre	Christian rock, golden age hip hop, Christian hip hop
Length	54:07
Label	ForeFront
Producer	Mark Heimermann, Joe Hogue, Toby McKeehan
DC Talk chronology
Nu Thang (1990) Free at Last (1992) Jesus Freak (1995)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Cross Rhythms	[2]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[3]

Free at Last is the third studio album from DC Talk, which was released in 1992. Music videos were filmed for "Jesus Is Just Alright", "The Hardway" and "Luv Is A Verb". In 1994, DC Talk released a long-form video of the "Free at Last World Tour" entitled Narrow is the Road, in which all three music videos can be seen.

The album was listed at No. 9 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album (including Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Album) in 1993. The songs "Socially Acceptable" and "Jesus Is Just Alright" received Dove Awards at the 24th GMA Dove Awards for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year and Rock Recorded Song of the Year respectively. "Luv Is a Verb" received a Dove Award for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year at the 25th GMA Dove Awards.

A special commemorative reissue of this album, including rare tracks and a DVD, was released upon its 10th anniversary.

Track listing

1. "Luv Is a Verb" (Toby McKeehan, Mark Heimermann, George Cocchini) – 4:15
2. "That Kinda Girl" (McKeehan) – 4:12
3. "Greer" – 0:21
4. "Jesus Is Just Alright" (Arthur Reid Reynolds) – 4:37
5. "Say the Words" (McKeehan, Heimermann) – 5:00
6. "WDCT" – 0:43
7. "Socially Acceptable" (McKeehan, Heimermann) – 4:57
8. "Free at Last" (McKeehan, Joe Hogue) – 4:55
9. "Time Is..." (featuring Michael Sweet) (McKeehan, Heimermann, Cocchini) – 4:10
10. "The Hardway" (McKeehan) – 5:19
11. "2 Honks & a Negro" – 0:18
12. "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers) – 5:00
13. "Testimony" – 0:44
14. "I Don't Want It" (Kevin Max Smith, McKeehan) – 4:14
15. "Will Power" – 0:15
16. "Word 2 the Father" (McKeehan) – 4:02
17. "Jesus Is Just Alright (Reprise)" – 1:00

(10th Anniversary Edition features "The Hardway - Revisited" and look back tracks)

Music videos

• "Jesus Is Just Alright"
• "The Hardway"
• "Luv Is a Verb"

Singles

• "Jesus Is Just Alright"
• "Socially Acceptable"
• "Luv is a Verb"
• "The Hardway"
• "Say the Words (Now) - (Remix)"

Legacy

The album is looked at as a turning point in the history of Christian music and has been named one of the greatest albums in the genre.^[4] It has been rereleased twice with a tenth anniversary edition in 2002^[5] and a single disc remaster in 2013.^[6]

Credits

DC Talk

• Michael Tait – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16)
• Kevin Max – lead vocals, additional backing vocals (1, 7), backing vocals (2, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14)
• TobyMac – producer (1-17), rapping (1, 2, 5, 7-10, 14, 16), drum programming (1, 2, 4, 5, 7-10, 12, 14, 16), keyboards (2, 8, 12), bass programming (2, 8, 12), additional programming (2), backing vocals (2, 8, 12, 14, 16), art direction

Musicians and production

• Joe Baldridge – engineer
• Steve Bishir – additional engineer
• Raymond Boyd – congregation vocals (8)
• Dan R. Brock – executive producer
• Ronnie Brookshire – additional engineer
• Cindy Butts – choir (8)
• Teron Carter – rapping (1, 7)
• Mary Chapman – choir (8)
• George Cocchini – guitar (1, 5, 8, 9, 14, 16)
• Todd Collins – additional programming (1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16), rapping (1, 4, 5, 7-10, 12, 16), backing vocals (8, 10, 14, 16)
• Keith Compton – additional engineer
• Jeffrey Coppage – assistant engineer
• Eddie DeGarmo – executive producer
• Mark Douthit – saxophone (1)
• Danny Duncan – additional programming (16)
• Shirley Durrance – congregation vocals (8)
• Manciella Elder – choir (8)
• Mark Elem – choir (8)
• John Falls – back cover photo, inside photos
• Monica Flair – choir (8)
• Juanita Flemster – choir (8)
• Beth Finch – art coordination
• Lynn Fuston – additional engineer
• Billy Gaines – backing vocals (1, 7, 16)
• Bryan Harden – assistant engineer
• Chris Harris – preacher (8), backing vocals (10)
• Mike Haynes – trumpet (1)
• Mark Heimermann – producer (1, 3-7, 9, 10, 11, 13-17), drum programming (1, 5, 9), keyboards (1, 5, 7, 9, 16), additional backing vocals (1, 5, 7), additional keyboards (4, 10, 14), backing vocals (10, 14)
• P.J. Heimermann – backing vocals (10)
• Roberta Higgs – choir (8)
• Clark Hook – assistant engineer, mix assistant
• Cher Hogue – congregation vocals (8)
• Joe Hogue – producer (2, 8, 12), keyboards (2, 4, 7, 8, 12), bass programming (2, 8, 12), drum programming (2, 4, 7, 8, 12), backing vocals (2, 4, 8, 12), congregation vocals (8)
• Dann Huff – guitar (4, 7, 9)
• Amy Hughes – mix assistant
• John Hurley – mix assistant
• Wade Jaynes – bass (4)
• Stacy Jones – rapping (1, 7)
• Patrick Kelly – assistant engineer
• Bryan Lenox – additional engineer
• Michael Brooks Linney – drum programming (16), keyboards (16)
• Ken Love – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, TN).
• Phil Madeira – Hammond B3 organ (1, 4, 8), guitar (4), live drums (4)
• John Madgett – choir (8)
• Majik – DJ (4, 8)
• Chris McDonald – trombone (1)
• Michael McGaffin – design and layout
• Jerry McPherson – guitar (10, 12)
• Anthony Miracle – drum programming (10, 14), keyboards (10, 14, 16)
• Judy Northcutt – design and layout
• John Mark Painter – wah bass (7), string arrangements (7), muted trumpet (10)
• Greg Parker – assistant engineer
• Nyana Parker – congregation vocals (8)
• Angelo Petrucci – backing vocals (8)
• Veronica Petrucci – backing vocals (8), guest vocalist (8)
• Sheila Price – choir (8)
• Michael Quinlan – assistant producer (2, 8, 12), congregation vocals (8)
• Dexter M. Redding – choir (8)
• Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (1, 7)
• Norman Roy – front cover photo, inside photos
• Paul Salveson – engineer
• Penn Singleton – additional engineer
• Ken "Scat" Springs – backing vocals (16)
• Stephen Stewart-Short – mix engineer
• Jackie Street – bass (1, 5, 9, 14, 16), additional bass (8)
• Lisa Stutts – art coordination
• Michael Sweet – backing vocals (9)
• Kimberly Thompson – choir (8)
• George Tidwell – trumpet (1)
• Oliver Wells – choir director (8)
• Kristin Wilkinson – strings (7)
• Carmen Williams – choir (8)
• Chris Willis – backing vocals (1, 2, 7)
• Micah Wilshire – backing vocals (2), guitar (2, 12), congregation vocals (8)
• Shane Wilson – assistant engineer
• Martin Woodlee – assistant engineer, mix assistant
• Michael Wright – choir (8)

References