First Hand (album)

First Hand is the debut album released by Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman. The album was released in 1987 by Sparrow Records and features the single "Weak Days".

First Hand
Studio album by Steven Curtis Chapman
Released	June 15, 1987
Genre	CCM, country, soft rock, pop
Length	42:39
Label	Sparrow
Producer	Phil Naish
Steven Curtis Chapman chronology
First Hand (1987) Real Life Conversations (1988)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout	(not rated)[2]

The album features a blend of country music with soft rock and pop.[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Steven Curtis Chapman, except where noted.

1. "First Hand" (Niles Borop, Chapman, Phil Naish) – 3:38
2. "Weak Days" (Chapman, James Isaac Elliot) – 4:20
3. "Hiding Place" (Chapman, Jerry Salley) – 4:49
4. "Run Away" – 4:22
5. "Do They Know" – 4:01
6. "Tell Me" – 4:21
7. "Who Cares" (Chapman, Geoff Moore, Naish) – 5:07
8. "Dying to Live" – 3:37
9. "Said and Done" – 5:10
10. "My Redeemer Is Faithful and True" (Chapman, Elliot) – 3:47

Personnel

Musicians

• Steven Curtis Chapman – lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, guitar solo (8), background vocals
• Jon Goin – electric guitar
• Phil Naish – keyboards
• Mike Brignardello – bass guitar
• Mark Hammond – drums
• Carl Gorodetzsky – strings (5, 10)
• Nashville String Machine – strings (5, 10)
• Alan Moore – string orchestrations (5, 10)
• Herb Chapman – background vocals, featured backing vocal (5)
• Wayne Kirkpatrick – background vocals
• Chris Rodriguez – background vocals

Production

• Phil Naish – producer
• Greg Nelson – executive producer
• Jeff Balding – recording and mix engineer
• Mike Clute – assistant engineer
• Bill Whittington – assistant engineer
• Denny Purcell – mastering
• Cindy Wilt – production coordinator
• Mark Tucker – photography
• Buddy Jackson – design
• Barbara Catanzaro-Hearn – art direction
• Beth Middleworth – title illustration
• Jane Golden – cover image of Santa Monica mural
• The Bennett House, Franklin, Tennessee – recording studio
• OmniSound, Nashville, Tennessee – recording studio
• Hummingbird, Nashville, Tennessee – recording studio
• Gold Mine Studios, Nashville, Tennessee – recording studio
• Center Stage, Nashville, Tennessee – recording studio
• Downstage Studios, Nashville, Tennessee – recording studio
• Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee – mastering location

References

1. First Hand at AllMusic
2. "Steven Curtis Chapman, "First Hand" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
3. Carpenter, Bil. "First Hand Overview (AllMusic.com)".