Step Up to the Microphone
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Step Up to the Microphone
| type = Studio
| artist = Newsboys
| cover = Stepmicro.jpg
| alt =
| released = 30 June 1998
| recorded = 1997
| studio = The Board Room, Franklin, Tennessee
| genre = CCM, pop rock, bubblegum pop
| length = 42:06
| label = Star Song
| producer = Peter Furler
| prev_title = Take Me to Your Leader
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Love Liberty Disco
| next_year = 1999
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r365337}}
| rev2 = Cross Rhythms
| rev2Score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Newsboys/Step_Up_To_The_Microphone/4173/ |title=Newsboys - Step Up to the Microphone | CROSS RHYTHMS REVIEW |publisher=Crossrhythms.co.uk |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=4 March 2012}}
| rev3 = HM Magazine
| rev3Score = No rating{{cite web |url=//www.hmmagazine.com/issue73/73Albums.htm |title=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=13 July 2001 |access-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010713015007/http://www.hmmagazine.com/issue73/73Albums.htm |archive-date=13 July 2001 |df= }}{{cite journal |last=McGovern |first=Brian Vincent |date=September–October 1998 |title=Album Reviews: NEWSBOYS Step Up to the Microphone |journal=HM Magazine |issue=73 |issn=1066-6923}}
| rev4 = Jesus Freak Hideout
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/StepUp.asp |title=Newsboys, "Step Up to the Microphone" Review |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |accessdate=4 March 2012}}
| rev5 = Kerrang!
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Sherry |first=James |date=September 5, 1998 |title=Albums |magazine=Kerrang! |publisher=EMAP |issue=715|page=46}}
| rev6 = The Phantom Tollbooth
| rev6Score = No rating{{cite web|url=http://www.tollbooth.org/reviewm/nboys.html |title=Newsboys review by The Phantom Tollbooth |publisher=Tollbooth.org |accessdate=4 March 2012}}
}}
Step Up to the Microphone is the seventh studio album by Christian pop rock band Newsboys, released in 1998 through Star Song Communications. It was the Newsboys' first album following the departure of lead singer John James in 1997, with Peter Furler and Phil Joel subsequently sharing lead vocal duties.
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Album release
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = WooHoo
| extra1 = Phil Joel
| length1 = 3:15
| writer1 = Peter Furler, Phil Joel
| title2 = Step Up to the Microphone
| extra2 = Peter Furler
| length2 = 3:43
| writer2 = Jeff Frankenstein, Furler, Joel
| title3 = Entertaining Angels
| extra3 = Phil Joel & Peter Furler
| length3 = 4:18
| writer3 = Jody Davis, Furler, Joel
| title4 = Believe
| extra4 = Peter Furler
| length4 = 4:33
| writer4 = Furler, Joel
| title5 = Tuning In
| extra5 = Peter Furler
| length5 = 4:17
| writer5 = Furler, Joel, Steve Taylor
| title6 = Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot
| extra6 = Peter Furler & Phil Joel
| length6 = 4:00
| writer6 = Furler, Joel, Taylor
| title7 = Deep End
| extra7 = Peter Furler
| length7 = 4:06
| writer7 = Davis, Frankenstein, Furler, Joel
| title8 = Hallelujah
| extra8 = Peter Furler
| length8 = 3:56
| writer8 = Frankenstein, Furler, Joel
| title9 = The Tide
| extra9 = Peter Furler, Phil Joel
| length9 = 5:01
| writer9 = Furler, Joel
| title10 = Always
| extra10 = Peter Furler
| length10 = 5:01
| writer10 = Furler, Joel
| total_length = 42:08
}}
=Music videos=
- "Entertaining Angels"
Radio singles
Note: all CCM Magazine' chart information is available in the book Hot Hits CHR 1978-1997 (1997) by Jeffrey Lee Brothers
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Single
!CCM !Debut !Peak !Peak !Total !Mediabase !Other Newsboys album appearances !Various artists album appearances |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|"Entertaining Angels"
|CHR |4/20/98 |6/8/98 |1 |14 |rowspan="2"|9,887 |rowspan="2"|{{smalldiv|
}} |rowspan="2"|{{smalldiv|
}} |
| AC
|5/25/98 |6/29/98 |32 |8 |
| rowspan="2"|"Believe"
|AC |7/6/98 |9/21/98 |4 |17 |rowspan="2"|3,114 |rowspan="2"|{{smalldiv|
}} |rowspan="2"| — |
| CHR
|12/14/98 |3/1/99 |1 |13 |
| "Hallelujah"
|Rock |7/13/98 |9/28/98 |4 |18 |144 |rowspan="1"|{{smalldiv|
}} |{{smalldiv|
}} |
| rowspan="2"|"WooHoo"
|CHR |7/27/98 |9/21/98 |1 |16 |rowspan="2"|615 |rowspan="2"|{{smalldiv|
}} |rowspan="2"| — |
| Rock
|1/11/99 |3/15/99 |20 |8 |
| "Step Up to the Microphone"
|CHR |5/3/99 |6/14/99 |1 |16 |503 |{{smalldiv|
}} |— |
Personnel
Newsboys
- Peter Furler – lead vocals, drums, guitars, programming
- Phil Joel – vocals, bass guitar, guitars
- Jody Davis – lead and rhythm guitars, bass, vocals
- Jeff Frankenstein – keys, vocals, programming
- Duncan Phillips – percussion, drums, vocals
Additional musicians
- Mylon LeFevre – additional vocals "Na-Nas" on "WooHoo"
- "Bull" – additional vocals "Na-Nas" on "WooHoo"
- Summer Furler – additional vocals "Na-Nas" on "WooHoo"
- The Love Sponge Strings – strings on "Entertaining Angels"
- Blair Masters – strings on "Believe"
- Jonathan Roberts – trumpet on "Tuning In"
Production
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
- Peter Furler – producer, mixing
- Wes Campbell – executive producer, mixing
- Danny Goodwin – executive producer
- John Mays – executive producer
- Richie Biggs – recording, mixing
- Jeff Frankenstein – additional mixing
- Glenn Meadows – mastering at Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee
- Christiév Carothers – creative direction
- Len Peltier – art direction
- Thom Bissett – graphic design for a3dtb/D
- John Dunne – photography
{{div col end}}