House of Love (Amy Grant song)

"House of Love" is a song by American Christian music singer Amy Grant, recorded as a duet with country singer Vince Gill. It was released in November 1994 as the second single (after " Lucky One") from her '' House of Love'' album in the United States and the fourth and final single from the album in the United Kingdom.

Background

After the success of her 1991 hit album, ''Heart in Motion'', Amy Grant took time off from recording and touring. She conceived her third child in early 1992, and Sarah Cannon Chapman was born on October 11. That same month, Grant's second Christmas album, '' Home for Christmas'', was released, spawning two singles, " Breath of Heaven" and "Grown Up Christmas List".

Grant spent much of 1993 writing songs for her next album, ''House of Love'', and recorded ''Songs from the Loft'', a praise and worship album for teenagers, which won the 1994 GMA Music Award for Praise & Worship Album of the Year. ''House of Love'' was completed soon thereafter, and the title track, a duet with country singer Vince Gill, was issued as its second single.

Two versions of the song were recorded: one produced by Keith Thomas, and one produced by Michael Omartian. Only Thomas's was released on the album, although, Grant said, she initially considered putting both on the album. A snippet of Omartian's version, with a slightly more hip-hop lilt, can be heard in the documentary ''Building the House of Love'', a video that documented the making of the album. Omartian's version has never been released (the alternate versions on the maxis were remixes, not alternate recordings). Gill sang on both versions.

Chart performance

"House of Love" did not appear on the Christian radio charts, but it was successful on the ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at number five. It also entered the top 40 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, where it reached number 37, and became a minor hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 46 in that country. In Canada, the song became a top-10 hit, peaking at number nine on the ''RPM'' 100 Hit Tracks chart.

Notwithstanding its chart success, the remaining legacy of "House of Love" is that the recording sessions for the song are where Grant and Gill first spent meaningful time together, and they soon became fast friends. Throughout the 1990s they remained so. Later, Grant divorced from her husband Gary Chapman in 1999; Gill had divorced in 1998. Grant and Gill married a year later, and thus established the legacy of "House of Love" as the point where Amy Grant and Vince Gill first began their friendly relationship.

Track listings

US CD single
# "House of Love" (The Classic Philly Soul mix)
# "House of Love" (The South Street remix)
# "House of Love" (LP version)
# " Lucky One" (Kupper 12-inch mix)

UK CD1
# "House of Love" (radio mix)
# " Baby Baby" (No Getting Over You mix)
# " Good for Me"
# "House of Love"

UK CD2
# "House of Love" (radio mix)
# "Big Yellow Taxi" (Paradise mix)
# "That's What Love Is For"
# "Lead Me On"

Personnel

* Amy Grant – lead vocals
* Vince Gill – harmony vocals
* Keith Thomas – electric piano, synthesizers
* Phil Madeira – Hammond B3 organ
* Kenny Greenberg – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
* Jerry McPherson – electric guitar
* Tommy Sims – bass
* Chad Cromwell – drums
* Terry McMillan – percussion
* Ada Dyer – backing vocals
* Judson Spence – backing vocals
* Audrey Wheeler – backing vocals
* Andy Kravitz Drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Love (Amy Grant Song)
Amy Grant songs
Vince Gill songs
1994 singles
1994 songs
A&M Records singles
Male–female vocal duets
Song recordings produced by Keith Thomas (record producer)
Songs written by Greg Barnhill
Songs written by Kenny Greenberg
Songs written by Wally Wilson