Stand in the Joy explained

Stand in the Joy
Type:Album
Artist:William Prince
Cover:Stand in the Joy.jpg
Alt:Picture of William Prince and his fiancée stood in a forest with the yellow text "Stand in the Joy" above them in ornate script.
Released:April 14, 2023
Studio:Low Country South
Genre:Folk, Country, Americana
Length:35:30
Label:Six Shooter Records
Producer:Dave Cobb
Prev Title:Gospel First Nation
Prev Year:2020

Stand in the Joy is the fourth studio album from Canadian singer-songwriter William Prince. The album was produced by Dave Cobb and recorded at Cobb's studio in Savannah, Georgia, in May 2022[1] and released by Six Shooter Records.

The album was described by Prince as a declaration of "love, peace and strength"[2] and a departure from the singer's more solemn previous albums.

The album was preceded in February 2023 by Prince performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, his first time playing the legendary venue.[3]

Music and composition

William Prince is listed as the sole songwriter for the entire album, in keeping with his previous albums.

In an interview with Nashville's WSMV-TV, Prince said the album was an "opportunity" to explore joy. "It’s just about acknowledging the good in your life, the people that bring that good, the love that surrounds you, and standing in what you have rather than sitting in what we may have lost over time," Prince said.

Critical reception

The album was received positively, with high album review scores from Exclaim![4] and Saving Country Music.[5] AP News complimented Prince's "disarmingly warm, gentle delivery"[6] and Folk Alley said that the new songs "refresh, restore, and rejuvenate."[7]

The album won the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024, and Prince was nominated for Songwriter of the Year for the songs "Broken Heart of Mine", "Easier and Harder" and "When You Miss Someone".[8]

Track listing

  1. When You Miss Someone
  2. Only Thing We Need
  3. Tanqueray
  4. Young
  5. Broken Heart of Mine
  6. Pasadena
  7. Goldie Hawn
  8. Easier and Harder
  9. Peace of Mind
  10. Take a Look Around

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WILLIAM PRINCE – Six Shooter Records . 2023-05-12 . en-US . 2023-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512200736/https://sixshooterrecords.com/artists/william-prince/ . live .
  2. Web site: Hudson . Alex . February 1, 2023 . William Prince Announces New Album 'Stand in the Joy' . May 12, 2023 . Exclaim! . May 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523082253/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/william_prince_announces_new_album_stand_in_the_joy . live .
  3. Abimbola Oduniyi, "Peguis First Nation's William Prince to take centre stage at storied Grand Ole Opry" . CBC News Manitoba, February 11, 2023.
  4. Web site: Boire . Anthony . April 18, 2023 . William Prince Sounds Larger Than Life on 'Stand in the Joy' . May 16, 2023 . Exclaim! . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516211900/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/william_prince_stand_in_the_joy_review . live .
  5. Web site: Trigger . April 19, 2023 . Album Review- William Prince – "Stand in the Joy" . May 16, 2023 . Saving Country Music . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516211859/https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-william-prince-stand-in-the-joy/ . live .
  6. Web site: Wine . Steven . April 13, 2023 . Review: A showcase for William Prince's noble baritone . . May 16, 2023 . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516211859/https://apnews.com/article/prince-celebrity-reviews-music-aef629db12df3833f7d7c144f2075b23 . live .
  7. Web site: April 13, 2023 . Album Review: William Prince, 'Stand in the Joy' . Folk Alley . May 16, 2023 . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516211902/https://folkalley.com/album-review-william-prince-stand-in-the-joy/ . live .
  8. https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/juno-awards-2024-full-list-winners-1.7149545 "Junos 2024: full list of winners"