Heaven in the Real World

Steven Curtis Chapman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 1994)
• Original Release Date: July 12, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sparrow
• ASIN: B000005KX0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,344 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SCC takes on production chores, July 7, 2005

By 

Greg Brady "columbusboy" (Capital City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Heaven in the Real World (Audio CD)

I have to believe it's the fact that he has more control over his own sound, but Chapman sounds like he's really having fun making this album and that makes it another step up for him. For the first time, SCC joins with Phil Naish to produce and his voice sounds stronger and he takes more chances with it (and with the music for that matter, including his first genuine rock number).

HIGHLIGHTS:
The title tune kicks things off with its call for life change NOW...rather than in a future paradise. ("Where is the hope?/Where is the peace?/That will make this life complete/For every man, woman, boy and girl looking for/Heaven in the real world") Knowing Jesus personally, of course, offers that "real world" peace. A percussive track is the foundation for "King of the Jungle"..the jungle being the "rat race" of modern life. It's Chapman's reminder that "the Lord of the gentle breeze is Lord of the rough and tumble",too. "Dancing with the Dinosaur" celebrates the "old fogey" label placed on those of us who assert traditional morality. ("Right is right and wrong is wrong just like it has been all along....") "Treasure of You" is an electric guitar charged self-esteem boost. ("You are a treasure/Worth more than anything under the sun or the moon/God's greatest treasure/the treasure of you...") "Remember the Chains" urges believers to remember their sinful pasts in order to better appreciate their freedom in Christ. ("Remember your chains/Remember the prison that once held you/before the love of God broke through/Remember the place you were without grace/When you see where you are now, remember your chains and remember your chains are gone..") "Facts are Facts" isn't very deep lyrically (more or less God said it, I believe it, that settles it..) but it's a quality rock-edged rave-up.

LOWS:
"The Mountain" is tuneful and "nice" but not especially memorable. SCC sounds remarkably like Dan Hill on "Love and Learn"'s call for marital reconciliation. Again, it's pretty but not really on par with past "love songs" like "I Will be Here" or "Go There with You".

BOTTOM LINE:
While I think those saying this is his BEST record are being too generous, (ALL THINGS NEW, SIGNS OF LIFE and DECLARATION are decidedly superior on all levels) Chapman does advance his craft again here and turns in a very solid disc. A must for all Chapman fans and most CCM fans in general will probably enjoy it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chapman busts out of his shell, October 7, 2004

By 

Larry Hehn "Christian in the Rough" (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heaven in the Real World (Audio CD)

At last, Chapman has progressed to the stage where I feel that he has thrown off most of his inhibitions and is really starting to have fun with his music. This album has a higher percentage of upbeat songs than previous releases, with an all-out celebration in tracks like Facts Are Facts and Treasure of You.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Steven Curtis Chapman album without a couple of moving slow songs as well. Offerings like The Mountain, Love and Learn and Remember Your Chains are much more than filler. There are no ordinary songs here - fast or slow, joyful or contemplative, each track is lyrically and musically strong, a pleasure to listen to again and again.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Though it may sound too repetitive, SCC is the best!, September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Heaven in the Real World (Audio CD)

SCC's creativity and love for God come through loud and clear on this album, (Like his others). It is very clear that SCC not only writes music for the sake of writing music, he definately writes it "For the Sake of the Call". His creative way of tackling life and the issues in the songs "Heaven in the Real World","Dancing with the Dinasour" and "King of the Jungle" while keeping Christ the center of it all, is great! I immediately fell in love with the songs,"Burn the Ships", "Rememer Your Chains", "Still Listening" and several others! "The Treasure of You" also seems to be one of Jay Bell's (the 2nd baseman for the AZ Diamondbacks) favorites, seeing that he played it as a theme song for one of his reviews at one of his home games! Though I wouldn't say SCC plays Christian country music, the song "The Mountain" does give you sort of a nice, warm, country feeling. I've got alot of CCM artists albums which I like. I also have alot of SCC's albums which I love! But if I had to choose my favorites, this one would have to be one of them!