Transform (Rebecca St. James album)

Transform is the sixth studio album by Christian pop and rock singer Rebecca St. James. It was released on 24 October 2000 and debuted at No. 166 on the Billboard 200.[1] The album spawned two singles, "Wait for Me" and "Reborn".

Transform
Studio album by
Rebecca St. James
Released24 October 2000
GenreCCM
LabelForeFront
ProducerMatt Bronleewe, Tedd T, Dann Huff, Pete Kipley
Rebecca St. James chronology
Pray
(1998)		 Transform
(2000)		 Worship God
(2002)
Singles from Transform
  1. "Reborn"
    Released: 2000
  2. "Wait For Me"
    Released: 2000

Background

Writing and development

Like her previous albums, Rebecca co-wrote the majority of the album, with the exception of "One" and "In Me".[2] "For the Love of God" was written after Rebecca attended a missions trip to Romania,[3] while the song "Reborn" was written about a friend coming to know Christ. Rebecca stated that "To see the joy and excitement in her new 'reborn' life is beautiful."[4] Rebecca commented on the meaning of "Don't Worry" by saying "I am really quite a dramatic person and this song is a drama, a story, that challenges me to truly give things to God and not 'take them back' by worrying."[5] "Merciful" was inspired by a book titled The Mitford Years,[6] while "Universe" was penned after she took a walk by a creek next to her house, in which she was inspired of God's love.[7]

The song "Wait for Me", a track about sexual purity, was solely written by St. James. It has become one of her staple songs, being featured on every compilation album released by the singer to date.[8] Rebecca talked about the song, saying "The idea for this song came from letters that I have written to my future husband, that I will one day give to him. I sing it not just to him but on behalf of young women today, encouraging the future husbands of our generation to stay sexually pure, to wait for us."[9] "Stand" was written in the Pontiac Silverdome,[10] and "Lean On" was penned with the band Earthsuit.[11] Rebecca described "My Hope" as "a worship song that points to Jesus as the Hope for us all."[12]

The album was chiefly produced by Matt Bronleewe, who produced eight out of the thirteen tracks, including "Reborn", "Don't Worry", and "For the Love of God". Frequent Rebecca St. James collaborator Tedd T. produced the songs "Wait for Me" and "Universe". Other producers who worked on the album were Dann Huff and Pete Kipley.[13] The album's strings were performed by The London Sessions Orchestra and The Love Sponge String Quartet.[14] Rebecca described the process by saying, "Recording the strings with the London Sessions Orchestra... was a moving experience that I will never forget."[3] A song called "Vision" that was featured on a pre-release of the album was taken off for unknown reasons.[15] It is a very rare song and extremely hard to find.

Music structure and lyrics

Transform has a more electronic drive to the album. Songs such as "For the Love of God" and "Merciful" are rock-driven songs backed by string arrangements, while "Reborn" is a dance-groove track.[2] "One", "Wait for Me", and "All Around Me" all offer different outlooks on the album as well, with funk, pop, and rock respectively.[2] Lyrical content includes topics on salvation, worrying, unity, hope, and sexual purity.

Release and reception

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Jesus Freak Hideout[16]
AllMusic[17]

Transform received generally positive reviews from critics. Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying the album "marks yet another step and progression for Rebecca",[16] while Christianity Today said "This is easily Rebecca's biggest, most dramatic, and most mature production to date."[17][18] AllMusic also enjoyed the album saying "Transform has textured production, Top 40 resonance and inspiring lyrics".[19]

Chart performance

Transform debuted and peaked at No. 166 on the Billboard 200 in October 2000. It also made appearances on the Christian Albums and Heatseekers charts at No. 14 and No. 7 respectively.[20]

  • Although never released as a physical single, "Reborn" was released to Christian radio in 2000. It was successful enough that it made an appearance on WOW Hits 2001, Christian music's biggest year-end compilation album.[21]
  • "Wait for Me" was released to Christian radio in 2001. It made an appearance on WOW Hits 2002.[22] The song was released as a double A-side physical single with "Song of Love" (from Worship God) on 8 April 2003.[23]
  • "Don't Worry" was released as a Christian radio single in the UK and Australia. It charted on the Australia 2001 year-end charts at No. 17, the Australasian 2001 year-end chart at No. 5, and on the UK 2001 year-end charts at No. 36.[24][25]
  • "In Me" was released to Christian radio in Australia as well. It peaked at No. 27 on the year-end 2001 charts,[24] and No. 9 on the year-end 2001 Australasian singles chart.[24]
  • "For the Love of God", and "All Around Me" were all released as singles to Christian radio in the UK and made the 2001 year-end list at No. 31, and No. 59 respectively.[25]
  • "Stand" was featured on Rebecca's first greatest hits compilation, Wait for Me: The Best from Rebecca St. James.[26]

Promotion

Rebecca embarked on a Transform Tour in 2001.[27] "Reborn", "Don't Worry", "One", "Wait for Me", "Universe", "For the Love of God", and "Intro" were all featured in the set list. Songs such as "Wait for Me" and "Reborn" have also been performed in the Worship God Tour,[28] the Adoration Tour,[29] and the If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something Tour.[30] Live versions of both songs can be found on Rebecca's 2007 live album, ALive in Florida.

Track listing
  1. "Intro" (Instrumental) – 0:52
  2. "For the Love of God" (Matt Bronleewe, Rebecca St. James) – 4:37
  3. "Reborn" (Bronleewe, St. James) – 3:59
  4. "Don't Worry" (Bronleewe, St. James) – 3:37
  5. "Merciful" (Bronleewe, St. James, Jeremy Bose, Paul Field) – 5:00
  6. "One" (Reggie Hamm, Dan Muckala, Peter Scholtes) – 4:37
  7. "Universe" (St. James, Joel Smallbone, Michael-Anthony Tyler) – 5:00
  8. "Wait For Me" (St. James) – 4:40
  9. "In Me" (Jess Cates, Ricky Jackson) – 4:14
  10. "Lean On" (St. James, Earthsuit) – 3:38
  11. "All Around Me" (St. James, Paul Stewart) – 3:41
  12. "Stand" (St. James) – 4:36
  13. "My Hope" (St. James, Field) – 4:29

Personnel
  • Rebecca St. James – lead and backing vocals
  • Tim Akers – keyboards
  • Jeremy Bose – keyboards, programming, string arrangements
  • Matt Bronleewe – programming, guitars
  • Pete Kipley – programming, guitars
  • Damon Riley – programming, arrangements
  • Tedd T – programming, arrangements
  • Gary Burnette – guitars
  • Bob Halligan – acoustic guitar
  • Dann Huff – guitars
  • Dave Larring – guitars
  • Jerry McPherson – guitars
  • Brent Milligan – electric guitar, bass guitar, bass, cello
  • Pete Stewart – guitars
  • Oran Thornton – guitars
  • James Gregory – bass
  • Otto Price – bass
  • Jackie Street – bass
  • Dan Needham – bass, drums
  • Dale Baker – drums
  • Dennis Holt – drums
  • Chris McHugh – drums
  • Joe Porter – drums
  • John Catchings – cello, string arrangements
  • Jacob Lawson – strings
  • The London Session Orchestra – strings
  • The Love Sponge Strings – strings
  • Tasia Tjornhom – backing vocals

Production

  • Matt Bronleewe – producer (1–5, 10, 11, 12)
  • Dann Huff – producer (6, 9)
  • Tedd T – producer (7, 8)
  • Pete Kipley – producer (13)
  • David Bach – executive producer
  • Eddie DeGarmo – executive producer
  • Steve Hartley – executive producer
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering

Charts

Album – Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1998 Billboard 200 166
1998 Top Contemporary Christian 14
2000 Billboard Heatseekers 7

References
  1. "Rebecca St. James – Transform". Billboard. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r503164
  3. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   For The Love Of God lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  4. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   Reborn lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  5. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   Don't Worry lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  6. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   Merciful lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  7. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   Universe lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  8. https://www.allmusic.com/song/t4195257
  9. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   Wait for Me lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  10. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   Stand lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  11. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   Lean On lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  12. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Rebecca St. James   Transform   My Hope lyrics". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  13. Transform liner notes.
  14. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r503164/credits
  15. "Rebecca St. James Discography, Rebecca St. James Lyrics, Rebecca St. James Artist Database, Rebecca St. James Artist Profile, Rebecca Smallbone | Jesusfreakhideout.com". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  16. "Rebecca St. James, "Transform" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  17. AllMusic review
  18. "Christianity Today review". Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  19. Billboard review
  20. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r503164/charts-awards
  21. https://www.allmusic.com/song/t4195252
  22. https://www.allmusic.com/song/t6413120
  23. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r635501
  24. "The Rock Across Australia (TRAA2001) 2001" (PDF). web.archive.org. 12 March 2003.
  25. "Cross Rhythms Annual Chart". www.crossrhythms.co.uk.
  26. "Rebecca St. James, "Wait For Me: The Best From Rebecca St. James" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  27. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Transform Tour 2001 Concert Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  28. "Jesusfreakhideout.com Concert Reviews and Photos: Worship God Tour". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  29. "Jesusfreakhideout.com Concert Reviews and Photos: The Adoration Tour". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
  30. "Jesusfreakhideout.com Concert Reviews and Photos: Rebecca St. James, BarlowGirl, Jadon Lavik Tour 2006". www.jesusfreakhideout.com.
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