1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Christian Music / Gospel

Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman Are Writing the Songs You Sing at Church

Combine for 22 Songs in the CCLI Top 500

By Kim Jones, About.com

Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin

Courtesy of Chris Tomlin
Two of the best known songwriters for the church today, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman, combined for 22 songs in the Top 500 and two of the top 10 on the Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) charts. Literally, tens of millions of people are singing these songs in churches, at conferences and at other congregational meetings.

Matt Redman's songs on the chart include ...

  • "The Heart of Worship"

  • "Better Is One Day"

  • "Let Everything That Has Breath"

  • "Let My Words Be Few"

  • "Blessed Be Your Name"

Chris Tomlin's include...

  • Forever"

  • "We Fall Down"

  • "The Wonderful Cross"

  • "Famous One"

  • "Enough"

Together, Tomlin and Redman also wrote "Wonderful Maker," at No. 277 on the chart.

In addition to being featured on their own recordings, these songs have also been recorded by Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, John Tesh, Tree 63, SONICFLOOd, Something Like Silas, and Kutless, among others.

Chris Tomlin released his latest album on the sixsteps/Sparrow Records recording, Arriving, on Sept. 21, 2004. Tomlin’s third studio record and the first in two years, the album was recorded in Austin, TX, home to Tomlin and the church he co-founded, Austin Stone Community Church, which has grown 500% over the last year-and-a-half.

Personally writing nine of 11 songs for the record, Arriving also features Indescribable, the first radio single from the release written by Laura Story. People will be able to hear the radio single and other hits from Tomlin on Steven Curtis Chapman’s All Things New 70-city, six-month tour beginning this fall. Tomlin will be performing in the middle slot with opener Casting Crowns on this huge tour (which expects an average of 6,500 people per night). Tomlin is also finishing his first book, The Way I Was Made, which is slated to release on Multnomah early next year.

New songs from UK-native Matt Redman were released this summer on his sixstepsrecords recording Facedown. Facedown is a collection of 11 new songs, plus two "spur of the moment" tracks. The lyrics on Facedown take a deeper look at why and how we worship on songs like Gifted Response and Worthy, You Are Worthy, which features additional vocals by Chris Tomlin. Also featured on the album are Christy Nockels on vocals, Nathan Nockels on keys and guitars, John Ellis (Tree 63) on guitar, and Terl Bryant (Iona) and David Raven (session drummer for The Swirling Eddies, etc.) on drums. Recorded live this year during the Facedown Songwriters’ Gathering, in Atlanta, GA, the enhanced CD also features the first chapter of its companion Facedown book from Regal.

Following the Facedown CD and book, the all-new, four-hour Facedown DVD releases this week and features the live recording of the Facedown CD. The DVD also includes three complete talks from Passion founder Louie Giglio, as well as conversations with Giglio, Darlene Zchech, Mike Pilavachi, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, and Matt and Beth Redman. The DVD also includes complete chord charts and lyrics.

POSITION TITLE AUTHOR
9 The Heart Of Worship Redman, Matt
10 Forever Tomlin, Chris
14 We Fall Down Tomlin, C.
20 Better Is One Day Redman, M.
27 The Wonderful Cross Reeves, Jesse; Tomlin, C.; Walt, J. D.; Watts, I.
39 Let Everything That Has Breath Redman, M.
47 Famous One Tomlin, C.; Reeves, J.
58 Enough Tomlin, C.; Giglio, Louie
90 Let My Words Be Few Redman, M.; Redman, Beth
93 Blessed Be Your Name Redman, M.; Redman, B.
109 Be Glorified Tomlin, C.; Giglio, L.; Reeves, J.
118 Once Again Redman, M.
152 Holy Is The Lord Tomlin, C.; Giglio, L.
218 Kindness Tomlin, C.; Giglio, L.; Reeves, J.
259 Undignified Redman, M.
277 Wonderful Maker Redman, M.; Tomlin, C.
296 Not To Us Reeves, J.; Tomlin, C.
302 Unchanging Tomlin, C.
311 Take My Life Tomlin, C.; Giglio, L.
380 Lord Let Your Glory Fall Redman, M.
429 Holy Moment Redman, M.
430 The Noise We Make Tomlin, C.; Reeves, J.

Explore Christian Music / Gospel

About.com Special Features

The Best Top 40 Pop Songs

Is your favorite song on our list? More >

New TV Dramas

Get a jump on all the new dramas coming soon to your living room. More >

  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Christian Music / Gospel
  4. Christian Artists A-Z
  5. Chris Tomlin
  6. Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman Are Writing the Songs You Sing at Church>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.