Hymns That Are Important to Us
{{Infobox album
| name = Hymns That Are Important to Us
| type = studio
| artist = Joey + Rory
| cover = Hymns That Are Important to Us.png
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2016|2|12}}
| recorded = August 2015
| venue =
| studio = Nashville and Atlanta.
| genre = Christian country
| length = {{Duration|m=41|s=47}}
| label = Gaither
| producer = {{hlist|Rory Lee Feek|Joe West{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/joey-rory-hymns-that-are-important-to-us/|title=Album Spotlight: Joey + Rory, 'Hymns That Are Important to Us'|date=12 February 2016|work=Taste of Country|access-date=24 February 2016}}}}
| prev_title = Country Classics: A Tapestry of Our Musical Heritage
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Hymns That Are Important to Us is the eighth and final studio album by Joey + Rory. Gaither Music Group released the album on February 12, 2016. It won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album in 2017.
Background
The set, which was a "dream project" for Joey Feek, consists of twelve covers of religious hymns, plus a reprise of "When I'm Gone," which was first featured on the duo's His and Hers album in 2012. Some proceeds of the album's deluxe edition will go towards the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation, a charity selected by Joey Feek in honor of her daughter's friend who has Loeys-Dietz syndrome.{{cite news|last=Stefano|first=Angela|title=Joey + Rory Announce 'Hymns That Are Important to Us' Deluxe Edition|url=http://theboot.com/joey-and-rory-hymns-that-are-important-to-us-deluxe-edition/|access-date=January 13, 2016|publisher=The Boot|date=January 12, 2016}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = CCM Magazine
| rev2 = Digital Journal
| rev3 = Today's Christian Entertainment
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |first=Kelly |last=Meade |title=Joey + Rory 'Hymns That Are Important to Us' |url=http://todayschristianent.com/joeyrory-hymns-that-are-important-to-us/ |publisher=Today's Christian Entertainment |access-date=February 17, 2016 |date=January 31, 2016}}
}}
Awarding the album four and a half stars at CCM Magazine, Matt Conner writes, "In what they knew would be their final musical release, Joey + Rory have made another inspiring and courageous statement with Hymns That Are Important to Us." Kelly Meade, giving the album four and a half stars from Today's Christian Entertainment, states, "As you listen to this album, you can hear the honest, joyful spirit in Joey’s voice as she sings these familiar favorites. Rory lends supportive harmonies that complement his wife’s heartfelt tone. The music is beautifully arranged allowing these timeless classics to shine." Giving the album five stars from Digital Journal, Markos Papadatos describes, "it is absolutely fantastic from start to finish...Joey and Rory are excellent on their latest studio album, Hymns. They manage to make a superb connection with the hearts of their listeners."
Reviewing the album for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Erik Ernst says, "In a transition that often makes us wallow in the grief of loss, Joey Feek instead offers hope as a lasting gift for those she will likely soon leave behind."{{Cite journal|first=Erik |last=Ernst |title=New releases from Future, Joey + Rory, Cloud Cult, more |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/new-releases-from-future-joey--rory-cloud-cult-more-b99665149z1-368627141.html |journal=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=February 17, 2016 |date=February 12, 2016}} Andrew Greenhalgh, penning a review at Soul-Audio, describes, "Joey + Rory’s Hymns That Are Important To Us is a powerhouse of a listen that tells a heartfelt story. And while this story is unique to Joey and Rory, it’s ultimately one that resonates with us all, exploring pain, loss, fear head on and finding hope, grace, and forgiveness in the faith of Christ. It’s alternately humble and hard hitting and is well worth listening to time and time again."{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Greenhalgh |title=Review: Joey + Rory – Hymns That Are Important To Us |url=http://soul-audio.com/2016/02/review-joey-rory-hymns-that-are-important-to-us/ |publisher=Soul-Audio |access-date=February 17, 2016 |date=February 15, 2016}} Writing a review from Hallels, Timothy Yap concludes, "This album is not just important to the Feeks, but they are important to us too."{{cite web |first=Timothy |last=Yap |title=Joey + Rory Feek "Hymns that Are Important to Us" Album Review |publisher=Hallels |access-date=February 17, 2016 |date=January 31, 2016 |url=http://www.hallels.com/articles/14713/20160131/joey-rory-feek-hymns-that-are-important-to-us-album-review.htm }}
Commercial performance
Hymns That Are Important to Us debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts and number four on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 68,000 copies, making the album Joey + Rory's highest-charting effort and best sales week to date.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6889326/joey-rory-hyms-country-albums-chart-kelsea-ballerini-dibs|title=Joey + Rory's Bittersweet 'Hymns' Debuts at No. 1 on Top Country Albums Chart|author=Jim Asker|date=February 23, 2016|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=February 23, 2016}} In its second week, the album dropped to number two on the country album chart and sold an additional 37,000 copies.{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2016/03/39880-country-albums-chart-report-march-1-2016 |title=Country Albums Chart Report: March 1, 2016 |first= Matt |last=Bjorke |date= March 1, 2016 |work=Roughstock }} It again topped the Country Albums chart in its fourth week, with 44,000 copies sold, with over 180,000 copies sold in the US.{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2016/03/39973-country-albums-chart-report-march-15-2016 |title=Country Albums Chart Report: March 15, 2016 |first= Matt |last=Bjorke |date= March 15, 2016 |work=Roughstock }} The album has sold 590,000 copies in the US as of November 2017.{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2017/11/42552-top-country-catalog-sales-chart-november-26-2017 |title=Top Country Catalog Sales Chart: November 26, 2017 |first=Matt |last=Bjorke |date=November 26, 2017 |publisher=Roughstock |access-date=December 16, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033555/http://roughstock.com/news/2017/11/42552-top-country-catalog-sales-chart-november-26-2017 |url-status=dead }}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline =
| total_length = 41:47
| title1 = Take My Hand, Precious Lord
| writer1 =
| length1 = 2:54
| title2 = I Surrender All
| writer2 =
| length2 = 3:07
| title3 = He Touched Me
| writer3 =
| length3 = 3:20
| title4 = Softly and Tenderly
| writer4 =
| length4 = 2:41
| title5 = Jesus Loves Me
| writer5 =
| length5 = 2:26
| title6 = It Is Well with My Soul
| writer6 =
| length6 = 3:15
| title7 = The Old Rugged Cross
| writer7 =
| length7 = 2:46
| title8 = I Need Thee Every Hour
| writer8 =
| length8 = 3:27
| title9 = How Great Thou Art
| writer9 =
| length9 = 3:38
| title10 = I'll Fly Away
| writer10 =
| length10 = 3:56
| title11 = Jesus Paid It All
| writer11 =
| length11 = 3:16
| title12 = Suppertime
| writer12 =
| length12 = 3:06
| title13 = When I'm Gone
| writer13 =
| length13 = 3:55
| note13 = Bonus Track
}}
Chart performance
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{Album chart|rowheader=true|BillboardCanada|40|artist=Joey + Rory|access-date=February 23, 2016}} |
| {{Album chart|rowheader=true|Billboard200|4|artist=Joey + Rory|access-date=February 23, 2016}} |
| {{Album chart|rowheader=true|BillboardChristian|1|artist=Joey + Rory|access-date=February 23, 2016}} |
| {{Album chart|rowheader=true|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Joey + Rory|access-date=February 23, 2016}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2016)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 26, 2020}}
| 54 |
| scope="row"| US Top Christian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/christian-albums|title=Top Christian Albums – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 26, 2020}}
| 1 |
| scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 26, 2020}}
| 2 |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Top Christian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/christian-albums|title=Top Christian Albums – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 26, 2020}}
| 13 |
| scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 5, 2021}}
| 86 |
| scope="row"| US Top Current Album (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/current-albums|title=Top Current Album Sales – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 12, 2021}}
| 190 |
=Decade-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2010s)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Christian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url =https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-christian-albums|title = Hot Christian Albums – Decade-End 2010s|magazine = Billboard|access-date = November 19, 2020}}
| 33 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Joey + Rory}}
{{Authority control}}