Mockingbird (Derek Webb album)

Mockingbird (2005) is the third solo studio album from singer-songwriter Derek Webb.

Mockingbird
Studio album by Derek Webb
Released	December 26, 2005
Recorded	Sumner Studio, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre	Singer-songwriter, folk, contemporary Christian music
Length	40:26
Label	INO
Producer	Derek Webb, Cason Cooley
Derek Webb chronology
I See Things Upside Down (2004) Mockingbird (2005) One Zero (Acoustic) (2007)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
CCM Magazine	A[1]
Christian Broadcasting Network	[2]
Christianity Today	[3]
Cross Rhythms	[4]
Indie Vision Music	unrated[5]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[6]
New Release Tuesday	[7]
Relevant	[8]

Produced by Cason Cooley, the album touches on subjects such as politics, social justice, and war. Webb has stated that he tackled these subjects to stimulate discussion and engage people to bring about changes in what he sees as some of the greatest problems the world is facing today.[9] The Work of the People (a community of artists, storytellers, filmmakers, poets and theologians) created a music video for Webb's song A New Law which is available for viewing on their website.[10]

To broaden this discussion to people less inclined to purchase his album, beginning September 1, 2006, Webb offered Mockingbird for free on the website www.freederekwebb.com, where it was available for download until December 8, 2006.[11][12] Over 80,000 free copies of the album were downloaded during this time.[13]

Background

When speaking about the inspiration behind Mockingbird, Webb says, "We have a history of not loving people well. We live in a country that was founded on genocide against Native Americans. We haven't loved well and a lot of people don't like Americans. We need to own up to some responsibility there, we need to look at why, and we need to let that inform how we're making decisions for the future." Concerning the political aspect of 'Mockingbird', he continued, "If you look, Jesus doesn't go straight down one party line. We try to fit him in our Western politics, but he wouldn't land on either side." Living in the middle is something Webb sees Jesus' model and to let go of our idea that "Christian" and "Republican" go hand in hand. "We, too, have to be willing to move in and out of political systems and parties if we're going to follow him."[14]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Guest musician(s)	Length
1.	"Mockingbird"	Derek Webb	Jordan Brooke Hamlin, David Henry	4:15
2.	"A New Law"	Webb	Henry	4:46
3.	"A King & A Kingdom"	Webb		3:03
4.	"I Hate Everything (But You)"	Sandra McCracken, Webb	Hamlin	4:22
5.	"Rich Young Ruler"	Webb	McCracken	3:55
6.	"A Consistent Ethic of Human Life"	Webb	Hamlin, Henry	0:25
7.	"My Enemies Are Men Like Me[15]"	Webb		5:16
8.	"Zeros & Ones"	Webb	Hamlin, Henry	3:51
9.	"In God We Trust"	Webb	Henry	4:35
10.	"Please, Before I Go"	Webb	Hamlin, Henry	2:48
11.	"Love Is Not Against the Law"	Webb	Hamlin, Henry	3:10
Total length:				40:26

Personnel

Band[16]

• Derek Webb – vocals, acoustic guitar, bells (tracks 3, 5, 8, 10), Mellotron (track 7)
• Cason Cooley – piano, mellotron (tracks 3, 5, 7), bells (tracks 4, 6, 11), Rhodes piano (tracks 4 & 5), electric guitar (track 5)
• Mark Polack – bass guitar
• Will Sayles – drums, percussion

Additional musicians[16]

• Jordan Brooke Hamlin – French horn (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11), trumpet (tracks 4, 6, 10, 11)
• David Henry – cello (tracks 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)
• Sandra McCracken – vocals (track 9), acoustic guitar (track 5)

Technical[17]

• Derek Webb – producer, additional engineer, design concept, direction
• Cason Cooley – producer
• Shane D. Wilson – engineer, mixing
• Peter Carlson – assistant engineer
•  Sandra McCracken – additional engineer
• Jim DeMain – mastering
• Sumner Studio, Nashville, Tennessee – recording location* Cason Cooley – additional engineer
• Pentavarit – mixing location
• Yes Master, Nashville, Tennessee – mastering location
• Chris Richards – illustration for www.cerichards.net
• Wayne Brezinka – design, layout for www.brezinkadesign.com

Awards and accolades

Mockingbird was named the No. 7 "Best Christian Album of 2006" by Christianity Today magazine.[18]

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[19]	42
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[20]	41

References

1. Argyrakis, Andy (January 1, 2006). "In Review: Derek Webb: Mockingbird (INO)" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. p. 57. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
2. Jones, Jennifer E. (January 2006). "Album Reviews Archive". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
3. Breimeier, Russ (December 1, 2005). "Mockingbird". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on September 7, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
4. Hailstone, Jamie (June 21, 2006). "Review: Mockingbird – Derek Webb". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
5. Pettersson, Eric (October 12, 2006). "Derek Webb – Mockingbird". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
6. Vander Loop, Jessica (December 23, 2005). "Derek Webb, "Mockingbird" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
7. Davis, Kevin (June 30, 2008). "Catchy 'message' songs". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
8. Berry, Paul (January 26, 2006). "Derek Webb, 'Mockingbird' RELEVANT". Relevant Media. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
9. "Derek Webb: Mockingbird" Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine (PDF). Press Release. 2005–10. The Media Collective. Retrieved November 6, 2006.
10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 19, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. Underwood, Ryan (September 14, 2006). www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006609140378 "Can You Make Money Giving Away CDs?" Tennessean.com. Retrieved November 6, 2006.
12. Boucher, Geoff (October 10, 2006). www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-et-christian10oct10,0,1519920.story?coll=cl-music "Pirating Songs of Praise." LATimes.com. Retrieved November 6, 2006. Archived July 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
13. "‘FREE DEREK WEBB’ CAMPAIGN CLOSES WITH OVER 80,000 DOWNLOADS OF MOCKINGBIRD CD." Archived December 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Press Release. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
14. crossrhythms.co.uk
15. Includes a recorded excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.
16. Derek Webb, "Mockingbird" (liner notes), INO Records, 2005
18. "The Best Christian Albums of 2006". Christianity Today. January 1, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
19. "Derek Webb Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard.
20. "Derek Webb Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard.