Last week I added a piece of news to the site about the More... Best Worship Songs Ever! compilation that has just been released. It is the follow up to The Best Worship Songs... Ever album which was released last year and became the biggest selling UK worship album of all time, with sales in excess of 100,000. Both compilation albums include several Delirious? songs, and incredibly, 'More... Best Worship Songs Ever' album has just entered the official Radio1 Top 40 Compilation Albums Chart at number 14 after it's first week of release! It's highly unusual for a Christian album to make any progress in the mainstream album charts, but this series of worship albums has the backing of major label EMI Virgin, has been advertised on TV and is available to buy in high street shops and even in supermarkets, all of which has helped to give the album a massive profile.

My copy of the CD arrived last week and I've been listening to it all week. It has many of the most popular songs that get sung in church every week. The only problem with compilations like this is that when you're used to hearing the worship band at your church play a song in a certain way, and then hear it on a CD sounding completely different, it can be a little disappointing. But the CD is great, just as the first album was, and the selection of songs on it is very good. I think I probably still prefer the first compilation, but I suppose that is the danger when you get an album that is supposed to follow on from something called 'The Best Worship Songs Ever' - if the first album had the best songs, that means that the second album has the ones that weren't quite good enough to make it on the first album! Having said that, there are definitely songs on the second album that could (or even should) have been included in the 'best' list. So I would highly recommend the album, and it is very good value being a 3-disc 50-track album priced at only £12.99. If you can, try and buy it from a mainstream supplier like Amazon or Tesco, it all helps to encourage them to keep stocking Christian music.

It's been a whole month since I last blogged, so I thought I should prove that I haven't forgotten about the blog or given up. There still hasn't been much to write about. The problem with a new album is that whilst it's exciting that a new album is on the way, in the mean time there is very little else happening since the band are spending most of their time in the studio. So with very little news to write about, I've left the blog alone for a while. Last month I resorted to writing about song statistics, scraping the barrel I know. One piece of news on that though is that I have begun my campaign for QUV tracks on the new album, and have been told that they will see what they can do. At least they are aware of the situation now. (If you've no idea what I'm talking about, read my previous blog post).

There have been a few news items that I've put on the site in the last month. Delirious? were nominated for two Dove Awards; 'Modern Rock Album of the Year' for World Service and 'Special Event Album of the Year' for their contribution of the U2 classic 'Pride' on the In The Name of Love compilation. The band have had numerous nominations for the Doves in past years, but have so far failed to win one (unless you count the Dove Award for the Streams compilation they contributed to in 2000). This always causes a bit of a stir when it's discussed amongst fans. The problem with awards like the Doves is that every fan thinks their favourite band should win, and often forgets that it's not a popularity contest or even an award for the best music. The Doves are voted for by members of the CCM industry. I'm not saying it's corrupt, but you have to expect a certain amount of favourtism when a voting system is as internal as that. I don't think Delirious? are that bothered if they don't win a Dove Award, they understand the system. But having said that, every artist (d: included) would be extremely happy to get an award because if nothing else it's great publicity.

Another interesting piece of d: news in the past month was that Martin Smith was invited to join a host of other UK Christian musicians to sing on a charity single to raise money for the victims of the Tsunami disaster. Also involved in the single are Fame Academy judges David and Carrie Grant and worship leaders Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick and Matt Redman. This story has been exceptionally difficult to find information on. Other than who's singing on it, the only other concrete information I was able to dig up was that the single was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London on 19th February. The original press release said the single would be released 'in time for Easter', which is now only a few weeks away. There has been no word on a release date, or even how the single will be available.

Over the past few weeks the d: StudioCam has been active, with the band making faster than expected progress on the new album. Attentive viewers will have spotted some interesting goings on via the webcam. Last week former electrician StuG gave us a soldering masterclass, and the world famous Mr Hutch has also been spotted in the studio clutching his video camera. The inside word is that they're capturing a few things on video in case they want to use them at a later date. Maybe the new album will have some interesting extras on it, who knows? Jon has also been seen sporting an impressive new beard, and the band were seen huddled around a heater trying to keep warm during the current cold spell attacking the UK.


Above: StuG's soldering masterclass (left), Andy Hutch with video camera (right)
Below: Jon shows off his new beard (left), The band keeping warm (right)


So we move into March and what a busy month it is. The band fly out to America today ready for a mini US tour, four states in four days. Then they have two dates in Switzerland and four dates down under in Australia over Easter. The year is shaping up to be one of much travel for the band, with concerts scheduled in five different countries in May alone, and five countries during July too. By the time summer arrives this year, Delirious? will already have visited 13 different countries. No doubt the air miles will come in handy.