[Mickey]

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) July 29, 2002- Essential Records, home to blockbuster acts like Jars of Clay and Third Day, announces the unwrapping of City On A Hill - It's Christmas Time, available in stores Sept. 24. This is the first Christmas project in the Dove Award-winning City On A Hill series.

Whereas its predecessors feature a variety of original and traditional worship songs, City On A Hill- It's Christmas Time blends traditional carols, seasonal hymns and original songs to unite generations this holiday season. The album incorporates vintage and new, including "Silent Night" (interpreted by Sixpence None the Richer), "Babe in the Straw" (an original, sung by Caedmon's Call), "Bethlehem Town" (another original, performed by Jars of Clay) and "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (performed by Out of Eden).

In keeping with tradition, City On A Hill- It's Christmas Time uniquely showcases a diverse collection of acts. Top artists returning to the series are Jars of Clay, Third Day, Sixpence None the Richer, Caedmon's Call and Derri Daugherty (The Choir). Welcomed for the first time into the community are Paul Colman Trio, Sara Groves, Julie Miller (Buddy & Julie Miller), Out of Eden, Michael Tait (dc talk, Tait) and Terry Scott Taylor.

City On A Hill fosters creative community, as evidenced by the all-cast title track "It's Christmas Time." Unique vocal pairs are a hallmark of the City series, and City On A Hill- It's Christmas Time is no exception. The record boasts the innovative match-up of Third Day singing with Derri Daugherty and Julie Miller on "Manger Throne" and a duet with Miller and Daugherty, capturing a tender Americana spirit, on "Away in a Manger." Additionally, Michael Tait pairs with Sixpence None the Richer frontwoman Leigh Nash on "O Holy Night," for an intimate album closer.

At the helm of City On A Hill- It's Christmas Time is producer Steve Hindalong, returning for his third tour with the series. Mr. Hindalong was recognized for his work on the initial album with a Dove nomination for Producer of the Year in 2001. On this latest offering from the City On A Hill community, Hindalong was joined by co-producer and longtime friend Derri Daugherty (The Choir).

Steve Hindalong says of the project, "I had a great time working with Derri again, who engineered City On A Hill- Songs Of Worship And Praise. We both found that this record came together beautifully due largely in part to the great writers and amazing vocalists involved. The artists gave us some of the best performances I've ever heard."

He continues, "I am particularly proud of the original songs on the album because they are so well crafted. It's a challenge to create new songs that live up to Christmas classics, but I really feel like our new material is able to stand up to the old. Equally important, however, is the wonderful time we all had working on the album. By nature, Christmas carries such a whimsical sentiment and profound subject matter that everyone involved in It's Christmas Time walked away with good feelings."

Commissioned again to design an original painting for the album is visual artist, singer-songwriter and author Kim Thomas (Say So). Ms. Thomas' work graced the first two City On A Hill record covers.

Essential Records plans to support It's Christmas Time with a multi-faceted marketing campaign. At retail, plans include a Christmas ornament consumer premium campaign, a Christmas floor display designed to house the entire City On A Hill catalogue and advertising in fall and Christmas pieces for all major chains and regional stores. On the media front, the project's title track will be serviced to radio this holiday season and the record will be the focus of extensive Internet promotions and publicity efforts.

Since the concept's inception two years ago, City On A Hill- Songs Of Worship And Praise (2000) and City On A Hill- Sing Alleluia (2002) have enjoyed overwhelming critical, consumer and radio success. City On A Hill- Songs Of Worship And Praise won the 2001 Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year and held the No. 1 spot on the SoundScan Top Praise and Worship chart for multiple weeks. The album's debut radio single, "God of Wonders," impacted Christian radio across the board, including securing the No. 1 slot on The CCM Update's Adult Contemporary chart, a Top 5 spot at Inspirational radio and a Top 10 at Christian Hits (CHR) radio.

The highly anticipated City On A Hill- Sing Alleluia was a Top 5 album its first week out earlier this year. USA Today, critically awarded the album three out of four stars, saying, "...City On A Hill collaborators continue to create some of the most substantive tunes in the burgeoning genre of contemporary worship music... They also contribute original songs of gentle grace and beauty." Numerous mainstream and Christian media outlets offered similarly high marks to this record, which doubled the first-week sales of its predecessor.

For more information, go to www.city-on-a-hill.com or www.essentialrecords.com.

*Song listing and artist contribution are as follows:

Caedmon's Call
Sara Groves
Jars of Clay
Out Of Eden
Paul Colman Trio
Sixpence None The Richer
Tait
Terry Scott Taylor
Third Day

1. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
2. It's Christmas Time - Cliff & Danielle Young (Caedmon's Call), Derri Daugherty (The Choir), Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), Leigh Nash, Out Of Eden, Michael Tait, Mac Powell (Third Day)
3. Silent Night - Sixpence None The Richer
4. Holy Emmanuel - Terry Scott Taylor
5. Babe In The Straw - Caedmon's Call
6. Child Of Love - Sara Groves
7. Bethlehem Town - Jars of Clay
8. Manger Throne - Third Day with Derri Daugherty (The Choir) and Julie Miller
9. Away In A Manger - Julie Miller and Derri Daugherty (The Choir)
10. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Out Of Eden
11. In The Bleak Midwinter - Paul Colman Trio
12. O Holy Night - Michael Tait and Leigh Nash

Nashville-based Essential Records was founded in 1992 and specializes in providing relevant pop, alternative and modern music. The label's roster includes Bebo Norman, Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay, Third Day, FFH, Sarah Sadler and True Vibe. Essential Records, and its affiliate label, Watershed Records, are distributed through Provident Music Distribution and through partnerships with parent company Zomba Music Group.