Grace and Gratitude is the twenty-first studio album by Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. The album was released 25 August 2006[1] through EMI exclusively by Walgreens to benefit various charities of cancer and re-released on 14 September 2010[2] through Green Hill Records as Grace and Gratitude Renewed. A "pink" edition of the original album also was released in certain territories, with a two-track remix bonus CD.[3]

Grace and Gratitude
Studio album by
Released25 August 2006
RecordedJanuary–May 2006
StudioEcho Beach Studio (Jupiter, Florida)
GenreNew-age
Length60:32
LabelEMI, Green Hill
Producer
  • Amy Sky
  • Tracy Young (Pink edition bonus)
Olivia Newton-John chronology
Stronger Than Before
(2005)
Grace and Gratitude
(2006)
Christmas Wish
(2007)
Alternative covers
Grace and Gratitude Renewed
Alternative cover
Pink edition
Singles from Grace and Gratitude
  1. "Instrument of Peace"
    Released: 2006
  2. "Help Me to Heal"
    Released: 2010

Singles

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  • The album-closing track, "Instrument of Peace", was released as the album's lead single, peaking at #30 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and #45 on the Canadian AC charts.[4]
  • "Help Me to Heal" was released as single in 2010, promoting the Renewed re-release.[5]

Tours

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Newton-john embarked on two tours to promote the album: a North American tour of 39 concerts, Grace and Gratitude Tour, and an Asian tour of 5 concerts, Body Heart & Spirit Tour. Her 2010 World Tour supported the re-release, Renewed.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
BillboardPositive[7]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic gave the album a positive review, although he said: "It's easy to knock this for not exactly being compelling—it glides, it doesn't grab—but that's the whole point: this is meditative mood music and it's gauzily effective in that regard in either of its incarnations".[6]

In their review, Billboard stated that "Grace and Gratitude has a purpose - the long-lived artist's belief that music can boost the body's healing processes...Newton-John puts her spin on diverse influences, from Tibetan chants and Islamic prayers to a Latin benediction. Not exactly "Heart Attack" or "Physical," huh? Newton-John is soulfully committed to every word she sings, and fans will be taken by the plush arrangements, melodic warmth and, of course, the artist's regal vocals." [8]

Track listing

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Grace and Gratitude track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shekhinah (interlude)"Amy Sky2:59
2."Pearls on a Chain"Newton-John, Sky3:53
3."Yesod (interlude)"Marc Jordan, Sky1:49
4."To Be Wanted"Sky4:14
5."Hod (interlude)"Greg Johnston1:38
6."Learn to Love Yourself"Newton-John, Sky4:21
7."Nezah (interlude)"Johnston1:07
8."Grace and Gratitude"Newton-John, Sky3:23
9."Tiferet (interlude)"Steven MacKinnon1:28
10."Love is Letting Go of Fear"Newton-John, Sky, MacKinnon4:11
11."Hesed-Gevurah (interlude)"Johnston1:28
12."Gaté Gaté"Johnston, Sky4:04
13."Tala' al Badru 'Alayna (interlude)"Traditional1:15
14."Let Go Let God"Newton-John, Sky, Kim Bullard5:05
15."Binah (interlude)"Johnston0:45
16."I Will Lift Up My Eyes"Sky5:08
17."Hochmah (interlude)"Sky, Traditional2:12
18."The Power of Now"Newton-John, Sky4:44
19."Keter (interlude)"Stephan Moccio2:36
20."Instrument of Peace"Jordan, Sky, Moccio4:12
"Pink" edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Magic" (New version)John Farrar4:23
2."Physical" (New version)Steve Kipner, Terry Shaddick4:15

Renewed

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The album was re-released as Grace and Gratitude Renewed on 14 September 2010, four years after the release of the original version. The new edition features new versions of tracks "To Be Wanted", "I Will Lift Up My Eyes" and "Instrument of Peace" with special guests, and also features two new tracks: "Todah" and the single "Help Me to Heal". The Japanese edition also includes the two remixes from the "Pink" edition.

No.TitleLength
1."Shekhinah" (interlude)2:59
2."Pearls on a Chain"3:53
3."Yesod" (interlude)1:49
4."To Be Wanted" (featuring Mark Masri)4:14
5."Hod" (interlude)1:38
6."Learn to Love Yourself"4:21
7."Nezah" (interlude)1:07
8."Grace and Gratitude"3:23
9."Tiferet" (interlude)1:28
10."Love Is Letting Go of Fear"4:11
11."Hesed-Gevurah" (interlude)1:28
12."Gaté Gaté"4:04
13."Ta'la al Badru 'Alayna" (interlude)1:15
14."Let Go Let God"5:05
15."Binah" (interlude)0:45
16."I Will Lift Up My Eyes" (featuring Amy Sky)5:08
17."Todah" (interlude; featuring David Darling)3:38
18."Help Me to Heal"4:03
19."Hochmah" (interlude)2:12
20."The Power of Now"4:44
21."Keter" (interlude)2:36
22."Instrument of Peace" (featuring Marc Jordan)4:12

Personnel

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Musicians

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  • Olivia Newton-John – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 4, 6, 12, 14, 17)
  • Amy Sky – keyboards (1, 3, 4, 13, 16, 17), backing vocals (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18), oboe (4), oboe arrangement (4, 12, 16), arrangements (11, 13, 19), cello (12, 16), string arrangements (20)
  • Stephan Moccio – acoustic piano (2, 4, 6, 8, 18, 19, 20), keyboards (4, 19, 20), arrangements (19)
  • Greg Johnston – transition programming, programming (2, 6, 8), string arrangements (2, 18), keyboards (5, 7, 12, 14, 15), cello arrangement (8)
  • Steven MacKinnon – keyboards (9, 10), arrangements (10)
  • Mike Frances – guitars (1, 3, 13), mandolin (3)
  • Rob Piltch – guitars (9, 10)
  • Bill Bell – guitars (16)
  • George Kollerfretless bass (1, 4), sitar (2, 12, 14, 16), dilruba (5, 12, 14, 16), acoustic bass (6, 14), bass guitar (8, 12, 14, 16)
  • Brian Barlow – cymbals (1, 4, 6, 14, 16, 20), vibraphone (1, 14)
  • Ed Hanley – percussion (11), Standing bells (11), udu (12, 13), tabla (12, 14, 16)
  • Ron Korb – Tibetan flute (1), bass flute (2), shinobue (3), Irish penny whistle (8, 17), dizi (8), Bansuri (13), low whistle (17)
  • Cynthia Steljes – oboe (4, 12, 16)
  • Paul Wildner – cello (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20)
  • Jon Craig – viola (2, 18)
  • Benjamin Bowman – violin (2, 18, 20)
  • Jayne Maddison – violin (2, 18)
  • Brenna MacCremmon – backing vocals (12, 14, 16)
  • Maryem Tollar – lead vocals (13)
  • Marc Jordan – backing vocals (17), harmony vocals (20)

Production

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  • Producer – Amy Sky
  • Instrumental overdubs recorded by Lorne Hounsell at Signal To Noise (Toronto, Canada).
  • Lead vocals recorded by Vic Florencia, assisted by Azra Ross.
  • Piano recorded by Azra Ross
  • Lead vocals and piano recorded at Maison de Musique (Toronto, Canada).
  • BGVs recorded by Greg Johnston
  • Mixed by Vic Florencia at The Concrete Jungle (Toronto, Canada).
  • Additional ProTools programming – Jeff Dalziel and Azra Ross
  • Mastered by Joao Carvahlo at Joao Carvahlo Mastering (Toronto, Canada).
  • Art direction – Gabrielle Raumberger
  • Design – Kimyio Nishio
  • Liner notes, concept and illustrations – Olivia Newton-John
  • Hand Mudrahs – Sarina Condello
  • Photography – J. Michael Lafond
  • Styling – Adrienne Gold
  • Hair and make-up – John Sheehy
  • Chart preparation – Richard Maslove

Charts

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Release history

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Release history for Grace and Gratitude
Country Date Label Edition
United States[1] 25 August 2006 EMI Standard edition
Canada[1] 27 March 2007
Hong Kong[1] April 2007 Universal
Malaysia[1]
Australia[1] 15 October 2007
United States[2] 14 September 2010 Green Hill Grace and Gratitude Renewed
Austria[3] 28 September 2010 EQ Music Grace and Gratitude (Pink edition)
Japan[10] 17 November 2010 EMI Grace and Gratitude Renewed

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Olivia Newton-John -> music -> albums -> Grace and Gratitude". www.onlyolivia.com.
  2. ^ a b "Amazon: Grace and Gratitude Renewed". Amazon.
  3. ^ a b "Newton-John's official website - "Grace and Gratitude" in Austria".
  4. ^ "Olivia Newton-John | Biography, Music & News". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Help Me to Heal (single)". Archived from the original on 11 December 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Allmusic review". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Billboard review. 21 October 2006.
  8. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. No. 21 October 2006. p. 92. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Chart Watch". Auspop. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  10. ^ "CD Japan: Grace and Gratitude Renewed". CDJapan.
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