What a Wonderful World (Anne Murray album)

What a Wonderful World is the twenty-ninth studio album by Canadian artist Anne Murray. It was released by StraightWay Records on EMI Music Canada's behalf in October 1999.^[2] The album hit No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, her only No. 1 on any American album chart. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA, her highest selling album since 1981's Christmas Wishes.^[3] The album sold 2 million units worldwide by November 2007.^[4]

What a Wonderful World
Studio album by Anne Murray
Released	October 19, 1999 (1999-10-19)
Studio	Metalworks Studios, Mississauga, ON
Genre	Christian, country
Length	1:37:25
Label	StraightWay/EMI Canada
Producer	Anne Murray Tommy West
Anne Murray chronology
An Intimate Evening with Anne Murray (1997) What a Wonderful World (1999) What a Wonderful Christmas (2001)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]

Track listing

Disc 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good"	David Hanner	3:24
2.	"Amazing Grace"	John Newton	3:36
3.	"Lean on Me"	Bill Withers	3:34
4.	"Just a Closer Walk With Thee/Take My Hand Lord Jesus"	Traditional	4:18
5.	"Let It Be"	John Lennon, Paul McCartney	3:29
6.	"Softly and Tenderly"	Red Bailey, Jim Howell, Traditional	4:06
7.	"Let There Be Love"	Steven MacKinnon, Lionel Rand, Amy Sky	3:38
8.	"I Believe in You"	Bob Dylan	4:45
9.	"It is No Secret"	Stuart Hamblen	3:37
10.	"What a Wonderful World"	George Douglas, George David Weiss	2:22
11.	"Peace in the Valley"	Thomas A. Dorsey	3:25
12.	"The Other Side"	Joie Scott, Richard Wold	4:09
13.	"The Old Rugged Cross"	George Bennard, Traditional	4:10
Total length:			48:33

Disc 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Can See Clearly Now"	Johnny Nash	3:05
2.	"In the Garden"	C. Austin Miles	4:23
3.	"You've Got a Friend"	Carole King	4:37
4.	"Whispering Hope"	Traditional	4:30
5.	"Put a Little Love in Your Heart"	Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers	2:51
6.	"How Great Thou Art"	Stuart K. Hine	3:39
7.	"Song of Bernadette"	Leonard Cohen, Bill Elliott, Jennifer Warnes	3:42
8.	"Elijah"	Gene MacLellan, Rich Mullins	3:45
9.	"Bridge over Troubled Water"	Paul Simon	4:31
10.	"Bedside of a Neighbor"
11.	"Jacob's Ladder"	Traditional	4:17
12.	"Nearer, My God, to Thee"	Traditional	3:35
13.	"Lord's Prayer"	Traditional	2:14
Total length:			48:52

Personnel

• Anne Murray – vocals, backing vocals
• Doug Riley – acoustic piano, organ, string arrangements and conductor (6, 8, 12, 13, 19, 22, 25)
• Steve Sexton – keyboards, organ, string arrangements and conductor (4, 5, 10, 11, 14)
• Tommy West – keyboards, organ, backing vocals, vocals (4)
• Mike "Pepe" Francis – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin
• Aidan Mason – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, slide guitar
• Peter Bleakney – bass, fretless bass
• Peter Cardinali – bass, string arrangements and conductor(1, 2, 3, 16, 26)
• Gary Craig – drums, percussion
• Barry Keane – drums, percussion
• Brian Barlow – percussion, marimba, vibraphone
• Vern Dorge – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Richard Armin – cello
• Steve Dann – viola
• Adele Armin – violin
• Marie Berard – violin
• Dawn Cumberbatch – backing vocals
• Rique Franks – backing vocals
• Tuku Matthews – backing vocals
• Amy Sky – backing vocals
• Dawn Langstroth – vocals (7), backing vocals (12, 15, 21)
• Colina Phillips – additional vocals (24), vocal arrangements (24)
• Jackie Richardson – additional vocals (24)
• Sharon Lee Williams – additional vocals (24)
• Vivian Williams – additional vocals (24)

Production

• Anne Murray – producer
• Tommy West – producer
• L. Stu Young – recording, mixing
• Joel Kazmi – recording assistant
• Nick Blagona – mastering
• Raine Munro – production assistant
• Michael Ragogna – production assistant
• Darlene Sawyer – production assistant
• Andrew Eccles – cover photography
• Kathleen Finlay – inside photography
• Bruce Allen – management

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000) Peak position Canadian Country Albums (RPM) 6 US Billboard 200^[5] 38 US Christian Albums (Billboard)^[6] 1 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[7] 4

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[8] 23 Chart (2001) Position Canadian Country Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[9] 51 US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[10] 31 Chart (2002) Position Canadian Country Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[11] 87

References

1. Phares, Heather. "What a Wonderful World: 26 Inspirational Classics review". Allmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
2. What a Wonderful World (back cover). EMI Music Canada and StraightWay Records. 1999. ℗&© 1999 EMI Music Canada... Manufactured and marketed by StraightWay Records, 101 Winners Circle, Brentwood, TN 37027-5017.
3. "What a Wonderful World: 26 Inspirational Classics Charts". Allmusic. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
4. "Anne Murray defers retirement for duets". CTV News. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
5. "Anne Murray Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
6. "Anne Murray Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
7. "Anne Murray Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
8. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
9. . Jam!. Archived from the original on July 1, 2002. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
10. "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
11. . Jam!. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022.