Avalon Guitars endorsee artist Chris Tomlin’s Arriving Quadruples His Release Week Sales Record, Outsells Debuts by Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Lil’ Romeo on Billboard Chart

Lands at No. 39 on Billboard Top 200, No. 1 on Worship, No. 3 on Overall CMTA SoundScan Charts

‘Indescribable’ Biggest Radio Hit Ever(Nashville, TN)  September 30, 2004:

One of the premier songwriters of today, Sixsteps/Sparrow Records, Chris Tomlin released his critically acclaimed, third studio album, Arriving, Sept. 21. In its first week at retail, SoundScan reported 22,349 copies of the recording sold, landing the album at No. 1 on the Praise & Worship chart, No. 3 on the Top Current Contemporary Christian chart and No. 39 on the Billboard Top 200.  Tomlin’s fastest selling recording to date, Arriving more than quadrupled the debut sales of his lauded sophomore release, Not To Us.  Receiving a mention today in USA Today for its sales success, Arriving also outsold release week debuts by Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson and Lil’ Romeo, as well as current projects by Linkin Park, Modest Mouse, Maroon 5, Evanescence and others.

As tens of millions of people are already singing his anthems such as ‚ÄúForever,‚Äù ‚ÄúWe Fall Down,‚Äù ‚ÄúThe Wonderful Cross,‚Äù ‚ÄúFamous One‚Äù and more in churches across the world, Tomlin has crafted nine of 11 new songs for Arriving.¬† His first studio record in two years, the album‚Äôs guitar–driven pop melodies were recorded in Austin, TX, home to Tomlin and the church he co–founded, Austin Stone Community Church.¬† Produced by Ed Cash (Caedmon‚Äôs Call, Kathy Mattea, Bebo Norman, Bethany Dillon), Arriving tips the scales more toward corporate worship songs than devotional, melding wisdom, gratitude and celebration into a single package.

The album also features “Indescribable,” Tomlin’s biggest radio hit ever.  Already Top 5 and climbing on the R & R, CRW and PDAdvisor AC charts, producer Cash calls the song “one of the best songs I’ve ever heard.”  “

Media are similarly lauding the album.¬† ‚ÄúAnother of worship music‚Äôs most beloved writer/performers, Chris Tomlin‚Ķagain displays his ability to merge cutting edge sonics with genuinely poetic devotional lyrics in a manner both artistic and remarkably accessible,‚Äù says Worship Musician. ‚ÄúWhen all is said and done, this release should solidify his standing as one of the premier songwriters in the modern church’s praise–and–worship movement,‚Äù writes Amazon.com.¬† ‚ÄúTomlin‚Äôs third album doesn‚Äôt flirt with spiritual superficiality or hint at lackadaisical song–writing, but simply comes across as a worship album that was created for just that purpose,‚Äù says RELEVANT Magazine.

ChristianityToday.com, in a 4.5 out of 5 star review says, ‚ÄúFor more than ten years, the world has been blessed by the musical contributions of prolific worship songwriters like Darlene Zschech and Matt Redman. Perhaps it’s time to start mentioning Chris Tomlin in the same breath‚Ķthese songs are generally easy to sing, and just as important, you’ll want to sing them‚Ķ‚Äù

People will be able to hear these songs and his other hits as Tomlin joins Steven Curtis Chapman on his All Things New 70–city, six–month tour beginning this fall.¬† Tomlin will be performing in the middle slot with fellow Avalon Guitars endorsees, Casting Crowns, on this major market tour launching Oct. 21 in El Paso, TX. Rooted in Passion‚Äôs collegiate movement that the New York Times calls ‚ÄúChristian Music‚Äôs New Wave,‚Äù Tomlin is further finishing his first book, The Way I Was Made, which is slated to release on Multnomah early next year.

Additional Chris Tomlin information, tour dates, etc., can be found on the newly re–launched www.christomlin.com,

Chris Tomlin was one of the first ever Worship leaders to endorse Avalon Guitars! We wish him every success!