Simple Things (Amy Grant album)

Simple Things
Studio album by Amy Grant
Released	August 19, 2003
Recorded	2002–2003
Studio	The Bennett House, Franklin Sound Kitchen, Franklin The Beanstalk, Franklin The Parlor, Nashville Ocean Way, Nashville
Genre	Pop, contemporary Christian music
Length	39:52
Label	A&M
Producer	Keith Thomas Wayne Kirkpatrick Brown Bannister Ron Hemby
Amy Grant chronology
Legacy... Hymns and Faith (2002) Simple Things (2003) Greatest Hits 1986–2004 (2004)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Simple Things is the fifteenth studio album by CCM singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 2003.

Simple Things did not have the effect of Grant's previous pop efforts from the 1990s. The album topped Billboard's Christian album chart^[2] and the title track became a Top Ten Christian single,^[3][4] Simple Things peaked just outside the Top 20 on the Billboard 200, at No. 23.^[5] The title track peaked at the same position on the AC chart.^[6]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Happy"	Amy Grant, Holly Lamar, Jerry McPherson, Keith Thomas	4:10
2.	"Eye to Eye"	Grant, Thomas	3:58
3.	"Simple Things"	Grant, Dillon O'Brian, William Owsley, Thomas	3:58
4.	"Beautiful"	Austin Cunningham, Trina Harmon	4:11
5.	"Out in the Open"	Grant, Chris Eaton	4:37
6.	"I Don't Know Why"	Grant, Wayne Kirkpatrick	3:31
7.	"Looking for You"	Grant, Thomas	4:12
8.	"Touch"	Grant, McPherson, O'Brian, Owsley, Thomas	3:28
9.	"Innocence Lost"	Ron Hemby	4:20
10.	"After the Fire"	Grant	3:21

Personnel

• Amy Grant – lead vocals, backing vocals (5, 7), acoustic guitar (10)
• Keith Thomas – keyboards (1-4, 7-9), programming (1, 2, 4, 8, 9), drum programming (2, 3, 7), bass programming (3, 7), acoustic guitar (7, 8)
• Jeffrey Roach – keyboards (6)
• Bruce Gaitsch – acoustic guitar (1, 3)
• Jerry McPherson – electric guitar (1, 3, 7-9)
• Kenny Greenberg – electric guitar (1-3, 7-9)
• Will Owsley – electric guitar (1-3), backing vocals (1), acoustic guitar (2), lead guitar solo (3)
• Bobby Terry – acoustic guitar (2)
• Pat Buchanan – acoustic guitar (4)
• Tom Bukovac – acoustic guitar (4), electric guitar (4)
• Vince Gill – acoustic guitar solo (4), guest vocals (4), backing vocals (7), mandolin (8)
• Gordon Kennedy – guitars (5), electric guitar (6)
• Tim Pierce – guitars (5)
• Wayne Kirkpatrick – acoustic guitar (6), backing vocals (6)
• Ron Hemby – acoustic guitar (9), nylon guitar (9), bass (9), drums (9)
• Tommy Sims – bass (1, 2, 8)
• Craig Nelson – bass (4)
• Leland Sklar – bass (5)
• Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (6)
• Chad Cromwell – drums (1, 7)
• Chris McHugh – drum programming (2), drums (4-6)
• Mark Hammond – drums (8)
• Eric Darken – percussion (1, 2, 5, 7-9)
• David Browning – percussion (2)
• Rebecca Owsley – backing vocals (1)
• Katy Hudson – backing vocals (2)
• Tiffany Arbuckle Lee – backing vocals (2, 3)
• Becky Corcoran – backing vocals (3)
• Kim Keyes – backing vocals (6)
• Felicia Sorensen – backing vocals (7, 8)

Production

• Keith Thomas – executive producer, producer (1-4, 7-10), mixing
• Brown Bannister – producer (5)
• Wayne Kirkpatrick – producer (6)
• Ron Hemby – co-producer (9)
• Bill Whittington – engineer (1-4, 7-10), mixing
• Steve Bishir – engineer (5)
• James "JB" Baird – engineer (6)
• Greg Fogie – assistant engineer (1-4, 7-10)
• Kevin Edlin – assistant engineer (1-4, 7-10)
• David Streit – assistant engineer (1-4, 7-10)
• Hank Nirider – assistant engineer (5)
• Chris Yoakum – ProTools editing, MIDI technician
• Scott Hull – mastering at The Hit Factory (New York City, New York)
• Shaun Shankel – production coordinator (1-4, 7-10)
• Darryl Bush – production coordinator (1-4, 7-10)
• Jennifer Sigler – production coordinator (1-4, 7-10)
• Traci Sterling Bishir – production manager (5)
• D'Ann McAllister – production assistance (6)
• Susan Browne – package design
• Sam Jones – photography
• Charles Dujic – stylist
• Jeanne Yang – stylist
• Kendra Richards – make-up

Charts

Weekly charts

Year	Chart	Peak position
2003	US Christian Albums (Billboard)[2]	1
	US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[7]	23
	US Billboard 200[5]	23

Singles

Title	Date	Chart	Peak position
"Simple Things"	August 15, 2003	US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[6]	23
	August 29, 2003	US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[3]	7
		US Christian Songs (Billboard)[4]	7
"Out In the Open"	February 20, 2004	US Christian Songs (Billboard)[8]	24
		US Christian Airplay (Billboard)[9]	24

References

1. Malich, Daniel. Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
2. "Amy Grant Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
3. "Amy Grant Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
4. "Amy Grant Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
5. "Amy Grant Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
6. "Amy Grant Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
7. "Amy Grant Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
8. "Amy Grant Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
9. "Amy Grant Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.