Jars of Clay discography explained

Artist:Jars of Clay
Studio:12
Singles:44
Ep:16
Compilation:2
Video:1

The discography of Jars of Clay, a multi-stylistic American rock and Christian band from Nashville, Tennessee consists of 12 studio albums, 44 singles, 16 extended plays, two major compilation albums, a part-studio, part-live double-album, a live DVD, and several releases of other types. While Jars of Clay has never released a major, full-length live album strictly speaking, the second disc of the part-studio, part-live double-album, Furthermore (2003), fulfills the same expectation. In addition, the band has released Live Monsters (2007), a live EP of performances from the tour following the release of Good Monsters (2006), and five more EPs of live performances in smaller, more intimate settings.

Jars of Clay's self-titled debut album (1995) was released on Essential Records as well as on Essential's parent label, Silvertone. The album hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian albums for a total of 22 weeks in 1996.[1] It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and stayed on the Billboard 200 for a total of 66 weeks, peaking at No. 46. Its first single, "Flood" reached No. 12 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and No. 1 one on the CCM Rock chart. The single's performance made Jars of Clay an overnight success in both the mainstream and Christian radio markets. The debut album was certified platinum by RIAA having sold more than 1 million copies just one year following its release. It was certified 2× platinum in 1999. Two other singles from the album also hit No. 1 on the CCM charts, "Love Song for a Savior" and "Liquid". The album was followed by a successful holiday single, "Drummer Boy", from the 1995 EP Drummer Boy, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Between the debut of their self-titled album and their final project with Essential, Greatest Hits (2008), Jars of Clay would release six more studio albums, two major hits albums and the part-studio, part-live album Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage (2003). All (except the hits albums) would peak on the Billboard Top Christian Albums charts within the top five positions with If I Left the Zoo (1999) and Redemption Songs (2005) each spending one week at No. 1.[3] [4] The band's sophomore release, Much Afraid (1997) reached No. 2 on the Top Christian Albums charts, but would become the band's highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, reaching the No. 8 spot. Much Afraid was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2000. If I Left the Zoo and Furthermore were certified gold in 2000 and 2005 respectively. Much Afraid, If I Left the Zoo, and The Eleventh Hour (2002), (their second, third, and fourth albums, respectively), each earned a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.[5]

After their tenure with Essential ended in 2007, Jars of Clay created their own record label, Gray Matters, on which they released five more albums. Christmas Songs (2008) became their first independent release. The Long Fall Back to Earth (2009) followed, reaching No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart[6] and earned the band their eighth Grammy nomination. The Tucker Martine-produced Inland (2013), the band's fourth independent release and eleventh studio album overall, reached No. 2 on the Top Christian Albums charts. Other notable albums include the Grammy-nominated Who We Are Instead (2003), an intimate exploration of the band's Nashville roots in folk and rural Americana, and Good Monsters (2006), the critically acclaimed release that the band described as their "first ever rock record."[7] Good Monsters was named "Album of the Year" by CCM Magazine in its September 2006 issue,[8] praising it as "the most profound album the Christian music community has released in years."[9] In addition to their Grammys, the band earned three GMA Dove Awards for a best album category for The Eleventh Hour, Good Monsters, and The Long Fall Back to Earth.[10]

Jars of Clay has also released video of most of their live recordings, notably (2002) on DVD and VHS, and digital video released with the four-volume EP series, Live at Gray Matters (2010–11), among other, more limited releases of live video performances.

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with chart positions and certifications
TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
[11]
US
Christ.

[12]
US
Rock
[13]
US
Alt.
[14]
US
Heat.
[15]
US
Hol.

Jars of Clay
  • Release date: October 24, 1995
  • Formats: CD, CS, digital, LP
  • Label: Essential, Silvertone
4611

2× Platinum[16]

Gold[17]

Much Afraid
  • Release date: September 16, 1997
  • Formats: CD, CS, digital, LP
  • Label: Essential, Silvertone
82
  • RIAA: Platinum
If I Left the Zoo
  • Release date: November 9, 1999
  • Formats: CD, CS, digital, LP
  • Label: Essential, Silvertone
441
  • RIAA: Gold
The Eleventh Hour
  • Release date: March 5, 2002
  • Formats: CD, CS, digital
  • Label: Essential, Silvertone
283
Who We Are Instead
  • Release date: November 4, 2003
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Essential, Silvertone
1034
Redemption Songs
  • Release date: March 22, 2005
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Essential, Silvertone
711
Good Monsters
  • Release date: September 5, 2006
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Essential
58320
Christmas Songs 130711
The Long Fall Back to Earth
  • Release date: April 21, 2009
  • Formats: CD, digital, LP
  • Label: Gray Matters, Essential
291
Jars of Clay Presents:
The Shelter
  • Release date: October 5, 2010
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Gray Matters
7852513
Inland
  • Release date: August 27, 2013
  • Formats: CD, digital, LP
  • Label: Gray Matters
7022011
20
  • Release date: August 19, 2014
  • Formats: CD, digital, LP
  • Label: Gray Matters
28
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with chart positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US
Christ.


The Essential Jars of Clay
  • Release date: September 4, 2007
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Essential/Legacy
Greatest Hits
  • Release date: April 1, 2008
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Essential
22
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with chart positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US
Christ.


US

US
Hol.

US
Cat.

[18]
US
Heat.

Drummer Boy
  • Released: November 22, 1995; November 22, 1997
  • Formats: 12", CD, CS, digital
  • Label: Essential (1995)/Silvertone (1997)
510119323
Roots & Wings EP
  • Released: March 1, 2005
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Essential
Mini Monsters EP
  • Released: August 8, 2006
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Essential
Live Monsters
  • Released: September 4, 2007
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Essential
Closer EP 44
Live at Gray Matters, Vol. 1: Songs from The Long Fall Back to Earth
  • Released: February 2, 2010
  • Formats: Digital/digital video
  • Label: Gray Matters
Flood(ed): A Benefit
  • Released: March 11, 2010
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Provident Label Group
Live at Gray Matters, Vol. 2: The Rewind Edition
  • Released: July 27, 2010
  • Formats: Digital/digital video
  • Label: Gray Matters
Live at Gray Matters, Vol. 3: The Christmas Edition
  • Released: November 16, 2010
  • Formats: Digital/digital video
  • Label: Gray Matters
Live at Gray Matters, Vol. 4: One Mic
  • Released: March 29, 2011
  • Formats: Digital/digital video
  • Label: Gray Matters
More Christmas Songs EP
  • Released: October 27, 2011
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Gray Matters
Reinvent, Remember, Replay
  • Released: November 28, 2011
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Gray Matters
Under the Weather (Live in Sellersville, PA)
  • Released: March 19, 2013
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Gray Matters
NoiseTrade Eastside Manor Sessions
  • Released: July 25, 2013
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Not on label
The Others EP
  • Released: January 9, 2015
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Not on label
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Other albums

List of other albums, with descriptions
TitleDetails
Frail
  • Released: July 5, 1994
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: Independent
  • Description: Independently released demo album containing tracks later re-recorded for their first two studio albums
Stringtown
  • Released: January 25, 1999
  • Formats: CD/CD-ROM
  • Label: Essential
  • Description: Live album originally released to Fan Club members, including a CD-ROM featuring tour multimedia and music videos
Front Yard Luge
  • Released: September 2, 1999
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: TN2 Entertainment
  • Description: Live mini-album available with pre-order of If I Left the Zoo from select retailers
The White Elephant Sessions
  • Released: March 26, 2000
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: Essential
  • Description: Limited full-length release featuring demos and other rarities packaged with copies of If I Left the Zoo
Jar of Gems
  • Released: September 25, 2001
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: Essential/Zomba
  • Description: Released only in Singapore and the Philippines, a compilation of early hits
iTunes Originals – Jars of Clay
  • Released: November 8, 2005
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Provident Label Group
  • Description: Exclusive to iTunes Store, part of the iTunes Originals series featuring the work and history of recording artists
  • Released: October 25, 2011[19]
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Gray Matters
  • Description: A compilation available on NoiseTrade also featuring tracks previously unreleased
Daytrotter Presents: Jars of Clay
  • Released: December 13, 2013
  • Formats: Digital, LP
  • Label: Daytrotter
  • Description: A seven-track mini-album featuring studio sessions of songs from the album Inland
Inlandia: The Remix Collection
  • Released: March 4, 2014
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • Label: Gray Matters
  • Description: A seven-track mini-album featuring remixes of songs from the album Inland
A Jars of Clay In-studio Performance of the "Much Afraid" Album
  • Released: March 2021
  • Formats: Digital, LP
  • Label: Gray Matters
  • Description: Limited vinyl release of a livestreamed benefit concert during the COVID-19 pandemic featuring a fan-selected album
Live In Manila
  • Released: September 14, 2021
  • Formats: LP/DVD
  • Label: Gray Matters

Special editions

List of special editions of albums and extended plays, with descriptions
TitleDetails
Jars of Clay Interactive
  • Released: October 25, 1995
  • Formats: CD-ROM
  • Label: Essential
  • Description: Features behind-the-scenes photography, the "Flood" music video, and audio from the independent release Frail
Jars of Clay Platinum
  • Released: December 8, 1996
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: Essential/Silvertone
  • Description: Limited double-disc release of the self-titled debut album released to commemorate RIAA Platinum status
Much Afraid Exclusive Seatbelt Tuba Edition
  • Released: September 16, 1997
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: Essential
  • Description: Limited release available by pre-order through Family Christian Bookstores featuring a three-track bonus disc—Seatbelt Tuba: The Acoustic Sessions
Who We Are Instead (Special Edition)
  • Released: November 4, 2003
  • Formats: CD
  • Label: Essential
Christmas Songs USB
  • Released: November 29, 2007
  • Formats: USB thumb drive/digital
  • Label: Gray Matters
The Long Fall Back to Earth Deluxe Edition (2009)
  • Released: April 21, 2009
  • Formats: Digital
  • Label: Essential
Under the Weather with Jars of Clay Deluxe Edition
  • Released: March 19, 2013
  • Formats: Digital/digital video
  • Label: Gray Matters
The Long Fall Back to Earth Deluxe Edition (2015)
  • Released: October 23, 2015
  • Formats: CD/DVD, digital
  • Label: Essential

Singles

Mainstream radio

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[20]
US
AAA

[21]
US
Alt

[22]
US
ATF

[23]
US
Main.

[24]
US
Pop

[25]
US
Radio

[26]
"Flood"199637 4 12 29 16 20 32Jars of Clay
"Crazy Times"199738 Much Afraid
"Unforgetful You"200040 If I Left the Zoo
"Fly"2002The Eleventh Hour
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Christian radio

Title!scope="col" rowspan="3"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
BillboardCCM
Hot
Christ.

[27]
Christ.
AC

[28]
CHR
[29]
ACRock
"Flood"199541Jars of Clay
"Love Song for a Savior"119
"Like a Child"229
"Liquid"199614
"Worlds Apart"13
"Blind"3
"Crazy Times"19971352Much Afraid
"Five Candles (You Were There)"1998117
"Truce"1
"Fade to Grey"1376
"Overjoyed"13230
"Needful Hands"41Exodus
"Everything in Between"1999413The Prince of Egypt: Inspirational Soundtrack
"Unforgetful You"13If I Left the Zoo
"Hand"9
"Collide"200019
"No One Loves Me Like You"
"I'm Alright"2
"Can't Erase It"200169
"The Stone"City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise
"This Road"
"I Need You"18The Eleventh Hour
"Fly"13
"Revolution"200234
"Whatever She Wants"11
"The Valley Song (Sing of Your Mercy)"1014298Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage
"Show You Love"20036715Who We Are Instead
"Sunny Days"20042930
"God Will Lift Up Your Head"20051117Redemption Songs
"I'll Fly Away"
"Waiting for the World to Fall"Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
"Dead Man (Carry Me)"20061420Good Monsters
"Work"274
"There Is a River"20072217
"Love Came Down at Christmas"1213Christmas Songs
"Wonderful Christmastime"2317
"Closer"2008Closer EP
"Two Hands"20096818The Long Fall Back to Earth
"Heaven"14
"Out of My Hands"
(featuring Mike Donehey)
20102727The Shelter
"Shelter"
(featuring Brandon Heath)
20113229
"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"41non-album single
"After the Fight"2013Inland
"Inland"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Contributions

Song!scope="col"
YearAlbumDescription
"Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows"1996Never Say DinosaurCover of Petra song by the same name for tribute album
"The Chair"1996The Long Kiss Goodnight SoundtrackOriginally intended to cover David Bowie's "Heroes", but abandoned the recording sessions and instead wrote their own song
"Needful Hands"1998ExodusAcoustic version of the song appears on
"Everything in Between"1998The Prince of Egypt: Inspirational Soundtrack
"If I Stand"1998Cover of Rich Mullins song by the same name
"Wicker Baskets"1999Sounds of Wood & Steel 2Instrumental track; also included on the 1997 Silvertone release of Drummer Boy
"Headstrong"2000Roaring LambsOuttake from the If I Left the Zoo recording sessions; the original demo version of this song can be found on The White Elephant Sessions
"The Stone"2000
"This Road"2000
"The Comforter Has Come"2001Re:Newal – The Art of CommunityA different version was later released on
"Bethlehem Town"2002One of the songs that the band recorded for their then-shelved Christmas album
"The Widowing Field"2002We Were Soldiers SoundtrackNow available on "The Essential - Jars of Clay"
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"2003
"Jesse's Song"2003Sounds of Wood & Steel 3Instrumental track
"Be Thou My Vision"2003
"All I Want Is You"2004Cover of U2 song by the same name
"I'll Fly Away"2004Different recording than the version that appears on Redemption Songs
"Christmas for Cowboys"2004Maybe This Christmas TreeCover of John Denver song by the same name
"Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)"2005Reel to Reel V.2.9 The Holidays (promo only)Cover of John Denver song by the same name. This song has never been commercially available.
"Waiting for the World to Fall"2005
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"2005Come, Let Us Adore Him
"Drive"2006Reel to Reel V.3.5 Nettwerk Covers (promo only)Cover of The Cars song by the same name. This song has never been commercially available.
"I Love My Triangle"2007Come On Over! Volume 2Children's music
"When You're with the Band"2007Come On Over! Volume 2Children's music
"Body and Wine"2010Artists United for International Justice Mission - FreedomB-side from Good Monsters
"Run"2013Come Back HomeFrom a multi-artist release to benefit Courage House
"Land of My Sojourn"2014Ragamuffin: Music Inspired by the Motion PictureRich Mullins cover
"Broken Places"2022There's a Rainbow SomewhereRandy Stonehill tribute – crowdfunded album

Collaborations

List of collaboration albums, with chart positions and certifications
TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
US
Christ.

US
Holiday
[30]
A Family Christmas
  • Release date: November 22, 2019
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
  • Label: Tone Tree Music
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

Notes
  • Footnotes
  • Notes and References

    1. Billboard Charts: Top Christian Albums Charts (14 Sept 1996). Billboard. November 29, 2020.
    2. AllMusic.com's Summary of Jars of Clay's Billboard radio singles
    3. Billboard Charts: Top Christian Albums Charts (27 Nov 1999) . Billboard . November 30, 2020.
    4. Billboard Charts: Top Christian Albums Charts (9 Apr 2005). Billboard . November 30, 2020.
    5. Web site: Grammy Award Results for Jars of Clay. Grammy Awards. November 30, 2020.
    6. Billboard Charts: Top Christian Albums Charts (9 May 2009). Billboard . November 30, 2020.
    7. Web site: Jars of Clay: Then & Now. CCMClassic.com. December 1, 2020.
    8. Web site: Jars of Clay Pours Itself into Music, Releases 'Monsters'. Chicago Tribune. November 30, 2020.
    9. Web site: Jars of Clay's Good Monsters 'Album of the Year' By CCM Magazine.. Jarchives.com. November 30, 2020.
    10. Web site: Dove Winners (1969-2019). GMA Dove Awards. December 1, 2020.
    11. Jars of Clay Chart History (Billboard 200) . . October 21, 2020.
    12. Jars of Clay Chart History (Top Christian Albums) . . October 21, 2020.
    13. Jars of Clay Chart History (Top Rock Albums) . . October 21, 2020.
    14. Jars of Clay Chart History (Alternative Albums) . . October 21, 2020.
    15. Jars of Clay Chart History (Heatseekers Albums) . . October 21, 2020.
    16. United States . album . Jars of Clay . September 27, 2020.
    17. Canada . album . Jars of Clay . Jars of Clay . September 27, 2020.
    18. Jars of Clay (Hot 100) . . April 8, 2018.
    19. Web site: Jars Of Clay, "Gather and Build: A Collection" Review . jesusfreakhideout.com . May 9, 2019.
    20. Billboard Charts: Hot 100 . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    21. Billboard Charts: Triple A Airplay . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    22. Billboard Charts: Alternative Airplay . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    23. Billboard Charts: Adult Top 40 . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    24. Billboard Charts: Mainstream Rock Airplay . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    25. Billboard Charts: Mainstream Top 40 Airplay . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    26. Billboard Charts: Radio Songs . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    27. Billboard Charts: Hot Christian Songs . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    28. Billboard Charts: Christian Adult Contemporary Airplay . Billboard. January 20, 2021.
    29. Book: Powell . Mark Allen . Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music . 2002 . Hendrickson Publishers . 1565636791 . 446 . registration .
    30. Jars of Clay Chart History (Holiday Albums) . . October 21, 2020.