Never Picture Perfect Explained

Never Picture Perfect
Type:	studio
Artist:	Rich Mullins
Cover:	Never picture perfect.jpg
Released:	December 1, 1989
Recorded:	1989
Genre:	Contemporary Christian music
Length:	37:27
Label:	Reunion
Producer:	Reed Arvin
Prev Title:	Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	The World as Best as I Remember It, Volume One
Next Year:	1991

Never Picture Perfect is the fourth solo album by songwriter Rich Mullins and was released in 1989 on Reunion Records. The album features a new recording of “Hope To Carry On.”

Track listing

All songs by Rich Mullins.

Side one

1. "I Will Sing" – 1:27
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 2 1999
2. "Hope To Carry On" – 2:33
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 2 1999
   • Earlier recording appeared on Behold the Man 1981
3. "While The Nations Rage" – 4:50
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 1996
4. "First Family" – 3:06
5. "Alrightokuhhuhamen" – 4:12
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 1996

Side two

1. "Higher Education and The Book of Love" – 5:47
2. "Bound to Come Some Trouble" – 3:41
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 2 1999
3. "The Love of God" – 2:48
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 2 1999
4. "My One Thing" – 3:42
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 1996
5. "Somewhere" – 4:32
   • Appeared on compilation Songs 2 1999
6. "The Love of God (reprise)" – 0:49

Charts

Radio singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1990	"My One Thing"	U.S. Christian	1
1990	"While the Nations Rage"	U.S. Christian	2
1990	"Alrightokuhuhamen"	U.S. Christian	4
1991	"Somewhere"	U.S. Christian	8

Personnel

• Rich Mullins – lead vocals, acoustic piano (4, 7, 8), hammered dulcimer (9)
• Reed Arvin – keyboards (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10), Synclavier (3, 5, 6, 9, 10), string arrangements
• Jerry McPherson – guitars (2–6, 9, 10), mandolin (10)
• Mark O'Connor – mandolin (4), fiddle (4)
• Tom Hemby – guitar solo (9)
• Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10)
• Danny O'Lannerghty – bass (4)
• Paul Leim – drums (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10)
• Bill Sinclair – harmonica (5, 9)
• Ed Calle – saxophone (6)
• Kristin Wilkinson – string contractor
• Ashley Cleveland – featured vocals (1)
• Pam Tillis – featured vocals (1)
• Richard Gibson – backing vocals (1)
• Donny Monk – backing vocals (1)
• Guy Penrod – backing vocals (1)
• Jon Sherberg – backing vocals (1)
• Gary Smith – backing vocals (1)
• Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals (2, 6)
• Bonnie Keen – backing vocals (5, 9)
• Marabeth Jordan – backing vocals (5, 9)
• Marty McCall – backing vocals (5, 9)
• Margaret Becker – backing vocals (6)

Production

• Reed Arvin – producer
• Michael Blanton – executive producer
• Terry Hemmings – executive producer
• Bill Deaton – engineer, mixing
• Brent King – additional engineer
• Digital Recorders (Nashville, Tennessee) – mixing location
• OmniSound Recording Studio (Nashville, Tennessee) – recording studio
• Big Dog Studio (Wichita, Kansas) – recording studio
• The Pond (Franklin, Tennessee) – recording studio
• Hank Williams – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee)
• D.L. Rhodes – cover coordinator
• Jackson Design – art direction, design
• Mark Tucker – photography