The Preacher's Wife (soundtrack) explained

The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Whitney Houston
Cover:Whitney Houston - The Preacher's Wife.png
Border:yes
Released:November 26, 1996
Recorded:January – February 1996
Length:62:20
Prev Title:The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album
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The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album is the soundtrack to the 1996 film of the same name and features songs performed and produced by American singer Whitney Houston, who also stars in the film. The soundtrack was released on November 26, 1996, by Arista Records and BMG Entertainment. With sales of 6 million copies worldwide, it is the best-selling gospel album of all time.[1]

Reception

Music critics saw a more emotionally engaged side of Houston, particularly with the soundtrack's gospel offerings. “For the first time in her 12-year recording career, Houston sounds genuinely moved by her material. Early on she stumbles through the Annie Lennox-penned "Step By Step," but the presence of the Georgia Mass Choir on six subsequent tracks melts her frosty reserve,” People magazine wrote.[2]

Commercial performance

Released on November 26, 1996, The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on the issue dated December 14, 1996, selling 90,500 units in the first week.[3] On its second week, the album jumped to number four on the chart with the Greatest Gainer mark, and the following week reached number three, which was the album's peak position.[4] [5] The album also debuted at number eight on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, and in three weeks later, peaked at the number one and remained there for two weeks, becoming her fourth number one album on the chart.[6] [7] It stayed for a total of 43 weeks and 49 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and the Top R&B Albums chart respectively.[6] [8]

In addition, the soundtrack was more successful on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. It debuted at number one, becoming the first album by a female solo artist to do so. It spent 26 consecutive weeks at the top from December 14, 1996, to June 7, 1997. It remained on the chart for 117 weeks during its initial run.[9] [10] It has since returned to the Top Gospel Albums chart for 44 more weeks, bringing its total to 161 cumulative weeks. The album was the number one gospel album on the 1997 Billboard Top Gospel Albums year-end chart.

Prior to the album's release, music industry insiders had expected The Preacher's Wife soundtrack to "do at least as well as" Waiting to Exhale's soundtrack, which sold 5,100,000 copies in the United States.[11] The album was the Best-selling Gospel Recording by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) in 1996–1997.[12] It was certified 3× Platinum for shipping 3 million copies in the United States alone by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 30, 1998.[13] According to Nielsen SoundScan, as of 2012, the album has sold 2,627,000 copies in the United States alone.[1]

Singles

The lead single, "I Believe in You and Me" (originally by The Four Tops), became a top five hit in the U.S.[14] and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards, where the soundtrack overall was nominated for Best R&B Album.[15]

"Step by Step" was another hit single, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "My Heart Is Calling" became the soundtrack's final single release.

Promotion and appearances

Pacific Rim Tour

Chart success of the soundtrack and its hit singles, "I Believe in You and Me" and "Step By Step", the singer further promoted the album and singles touring across Asia, Australia, and in North America. Known as the Pacific Rim Tour, Houston played shows in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia and Hawaii. The setlist featured tracks from the album, as well as duet performances of "Count On Me" with singer CeCe Winans and "In Return" at select shows in Japan.

DateTitleDetails
December 13, 1996Rosie O'Donnell Show
  • Houston is interviewed by Rosie O'Donnell to promote The Preacher's Wife film and her soundtrack album.[16]
December 14, 1996Saturday Night Live
  • Houston performed "I Believe in You and Me" and "I Go to The Rock".
March 15, 1997UK National Lottery Show
  • Houston performed "I Believe in You and Me" and later followed by a brief interview broadcast live on the BBC in the United Kingdom.

Track listing

All tracks are produced by Houston and Mervyn Warren, except where noted.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996–1997)! scope="col"
Peak
position
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)[17] 17
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[18] 22
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] 24
Chart (2012)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Billboard 200[20] 80

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)! scope="col"
Position
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 78
Chart (1997)! scope="col"
Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[22] 49
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)[23] 85
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] 73
US Billboard 200[25] 17
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[26] 1
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[27] 17
US Top Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[28] 3
Chart (1998)! scope="col"
Position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[29] 10
Chart (2017)! scope="col"
Position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[30] 35
Chart (2018)! scope="col"
Position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[31] 35
Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[32] 41
Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[33] 49

Accolades

American Music Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1998 || The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album || |Favorite Soundtrack[34] || |-

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1997 || The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album || Favorite Female, R&B<ref name="1997blockbusterbillboard">Book: Eileen Fitzpatrick . 1996 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Nominees Announced . . February 1, 1997. June 30, 2010. || |-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1998 || The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album || Favorite Soundtrack[35] || |-

Essence Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1997 || Whitney Houston (herself) || The Triumphant Spirit Award[36] [37] || |-

GMA (Gospel Music Association) Dove Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1997 || Special Award || Outstanding Mainstream Contribution to Gospel Music[38] || |-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1998 || "I Go to the Rock" || Traditional Gospel Song of the Year (with Dottie Rambo)[39] [40] || |-

Grammy Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1998 || The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album || |Best R&B Album[41] || |-| "I Believe in You and Me" || Best Female R&B Vocal Performance[41] || |-

NAACP Image Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1997 || rowspan="2"|The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album || |Outstanding Gospel Artist (with Georgia Mass Choir)[42] [43] [44] || |-|Outstanding Album[42] [43] [44] || |-

The NARM Best Seller Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1997 || The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album || Best-selling Gospel Recording[45] || |-

People's Choice Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1998 || Whitney Houston (herself) || |Favorite Female Musical Performer (tied with Reba McEntire)[46] [47] || |-

Soul Train Music Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1998 || Special Award || The 1998 Quincy Jones Award — for Outstanding Career Achievements in the field of entertainment[48] [49] || |-

Trumpet Awards

|-| style="width:35px; text-align:center;"|1998 || Whitney Houston (herself) || The Pinnacle Award[50] [51] || |-

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Whitney Houston. January 3, 2016. Green. Matt.
  2. ‘Picks and Pans Review: The Preacher’s Wife’ People Jan. 13, 1997
  3. Book: Geoff Mayfield . Between the Bullets: Watch What Happens . . December 14, 1996 . August 27, 2010.
  4. Book: Geoff Mayfield . Between the bullets: Tube Talk . . December 21, 1996 . August 27, 2010.
  5. Book: The Billboard 200 chart listing for the week of December 28, 1996 . . December 28, 1996 . August 27, 2010.
  6. Web site: The Billboard Top R&B Albums chart listing for the week of January 11, 1997 . January 11, 1997 . August 27, 2010.
  7. Book: Gail Mitchell . Arista Aims New Houston Album at 'Core Urban' Fans . . December 14, 2002 . August 27, 2010.
  8. The Billboard 200 chart listing for the week of January 4, 1997 . . January 4, 1997 . August 27, 2010.
  9. Book: Datu Faison . Datu Faison's Rhythm Section . . December 14, 1996 . August 28, 2010.
  10. Book: Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart listing for the week of June 7, 1997 . . June 7, 1997 . August 28, 2010.
  11. News: Hochman . Steve . November 10, 1996 . Artists Formerly Known as Hits . Los Angeles Times . April 29, 2022.
  12. Book: Billboard 1997 The Year in Music: Top Gospel Albums Year-End chart listing . . December 27, 1997 . August 28, 2010.
  13. Web site: RIAA certification for The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album . . June 30, 1998 . August 28, 2010.
  14. http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-03-15/r-b-hip-hop-songs
  15. Web site: 40th Annual Grammy Awards - 1998 . Rock On The Net . February 25, 1998 . March 15, 2011.
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20160412014321/http://www.acmewebpages.net/rosie/episod96.htm Acme Rosie Show Season 1 Guests 1996
  17. Music & Media: European Top 100 Albums. February 8, 1997. Music & Media. 14. 6. 22. July 13, 2024.
  18. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. July 15, 2024.
  19. Web site: 『天使の贈りもの』オリジナル・サウンドトラック. Oricon. July 13, 2024.
  20. Web site: Billboard 200. Billboard. March 17, 2012. July 13, 2024.
  21. Web site: Årslista Album (inkl samlingar), 1996. Sverigetopplistan. July 14, 2024.
  22. Web site: Jahreshitparade 1997. Hung Medien. July 14, 2024.
  23. Music & Media: European Top 100 Albums 1997. December 27, 1997. Music & Media. 14. 52. 7. July 14, 2024.
  24. Web site: Top 100 Album–Jahrescharts. GfK Entertainment. July 14, 2024.
  25. Billboard: The Year in Music 1997. December 27, 1997. Billboard. 109. 52. YE-26. July 14, 2024.
  26. Billboard: The Year in Music 1997. December 27, 1997. Billboard. 109. 52. YE-84. July 14, 2024.
  27. Billboard: The Year in Music 1997. December 27, 1997. Billboard. 109. 52. YE-39. July 14, 2024.
  28. Billboard: The Year in Music 1997. December 27, 1997. Billboard. 109. 52. YE-82. July 14, 2024.
  29. Billboard 1998: The Year in Music. December 26, 1998. Billboard. 110. 52. YE-98. July 14, 2024.
  30. Web site: Top Gospel Albums. Billboard. July 14, 2024.
  31. Web site: Top Gospel Albums. Billboard. July 14, 2024.
  32. Web site: Top Gospel Albums. Billboard. July 14, 2024.
  33. Web site: Top Gospel Albums. Billboard. July 14, 2024.
  34. Web site: 1998 The 25th American Music Awards Winners & Nominees . rockonthenet.com . January 26, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  35. Web site: 1998 The 4th Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Winners & Nominees . . March 10, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  36. Book: J.R. Reynolds . The Thythm and The Blues section, Essence Awards Accentuate The Positive; Living Legend Awards Spotlight Clayton . . April 19, 1997 . June 29, 2010.
  37. News: Kirk Nicewonger . Ali, Cosby headline Essence Awards . . May 22, 1997 . June 30, 2010.
  38. News: James Lloyd . Chapman Again Dove Artist of Year; 1997 The 28th Dove Awards Winners . . April 26, 1997 . June 30, 2010.
  39. Book: Kirk Franklin, God's Property Big Winners at Dove Awards . . May 18, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  40. Web site: Jim Patterson . Gospel awards honor late artist . . April 24, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  41. Web site: 1998 The 40th Grammy Awards Winners & Nominees . rockonthenet.com . February 25, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  42. Book: Ebony's 50th Anniversary Show, Denzel Washington Among NAACP Image Award Winners . . March 3, 1997 . June 30, 2010.
  43. Web site: 1997 The 28th NAACP Image Awards Winners & Nominees . . February 8, 1997 . June 30, 2010.
  44. News: NAACP Image Awards; Whitney Houston Wins for Preacher's Wife . https://archive.today/20130124175332/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CqosAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TRUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6642,3559862&dq=28th+naacp+image+awards+whitney+houston&hl=en . dead . January 24, 2013 . Star-News. February 10, 1997 . June 30, 2010.
  45. Book: NARM Names Its Best Seller Awards . . April 12, 1997 . June 30, 2010.
  46. News: Shauna Snow . 'Dharma' and 'Closet' Among People's Choice Award Winners . . January 12, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  47. Web site: 1998 The 24th People's Choice Awards Winners & Nominees . peopleschoice.com . January 11, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  48. Book: Anita M. Samuels . Badu Heads Soul Train; Singer Picks Up 4 Awards . . March 14, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  49. Web site: Soul Train Music Awards Library: 1998 The 12th Soul Train Music Awards . . February 27, 1998 . June 30, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130725073904/http://www.soultrain.com/stma/library.html . July 25, 2013 .
  50. News: Lawrence Van Gelder . Footlights . . January 14, 1998 . June 30, 2010.
  51. Book: Sixth Annual Trumpet Awards Gala Pays Tribute to Black Achievement . . February 9, 1998 . June 30, 2010.

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