Top 10 Jim Brickman Songs

Feature Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Our Top 10 Jim Brickman Songs list presents the best Jim Brickman songs like “The Gift,” “Valentine,” “Beautiful World” and many more. Hailing from Shaker Heights, Ohio, James Merrill Brickman was born on November 20, 1961, and raised in a Jewish household. When he was five years old, he began to play the piano. This was the start of a musical career that would bless the world with the music of a brilliant pianist, songwriter, and radio host. When Brickman was a teenager, he was taken to Suburban Temple-Kol Ami in Beachwood, Ohio, to be confirmed. Also as a teenager, he and fellow student, Ann Cochran, performed together in a talent competition that was held at the WGCL G98 radio station. After the two won as a piano-vocal act, Brickman was convinced by a school friend to join the Heights Youth Theatre as an accompanist. This led Brickman to become its musical director.

In addition to studying composition and performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Brickman also took business classes at Case Western Reserve University. This allowed Brickman to start his own advertising music company in 1980, The Brickman Arrangement. He wrote commercial jingles for several companies throughout the United States that included material for Isuzu, McDonald’s, and Pontiac.

Brickman Music

In 1994, Jim Brickman earned his first recording contract with Windham Hill Records. His debut album was No Words, which released “Rocket to the Moon” as his first solo instrumental to earn a spot on the US Billboard charts. “Angel Eyes” and “If You Believe” also earned some radio airplay from Brickman’s second album, By Heart, in 1995.

Picture This was Brickman’s third album recording, which was released in 1997. It featured “Valentine,” which was vocally performed by Martina McBride. Before the year was over, he also released The Gift, which was the first of many Christmas-related CDs to his credit. The title track from this recording featured Collin Raye and Susan Ashton as vocalists. This was the album Brickman earned his first Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association.

Additional Christmas albums to Brickman’s credit are 2003’s Peace, 2006’s Christmas Romance, 2007’s Homecoming, and 2008’s The Hymns and Carols of Christmas. 2005’s Grace and 2008’s Faith were concentrated on popular Christian music that wasn’t holiday specific. There was also The Disney Songbook, which was released in 2005.

As a performer and recording artist, Brickman has collaborated with musicians from various genres. For Brickman, due to his association with Windham Hill Records, his musical material was often regarded as new age. However, Brickman’s discographic portfolio is much broader than this. After switching labels from Windham to Savoy Label Group, he was able to release music under his own Brickman Music Group. Escape was the first album he released through SLG.

Brickman’s House

As of January 1997, Jim Brickman began hosting his own radio show. It began as Your Weekend with Jim Brickman, a four-hour radio program that became a nationwide broadcast. The material covered interviews with celebrities, as well as various forms of entertainment that include music, sports, and lifestyle interests.

In 2003, he founded Brickhouse Direct as a means to provide internet marketing and e-commerce solutions, specializing in promoting new acts and recharging the careers of veteran musicians. Two years later, it bought Viawerk, bringing its founder, Rod Flauhaus as a partner. It was Flauhaus who co-wrote Homecoming with Brickman. It was Brickhouse Direct that published the works of talents such as comedian Anita Renfroe, saxophonist David Koz, and singer Mark Masri. Also, 2012’s Blessings was an album that was released by this same label.

Going into 2018, The Jim Brickman Show Podcast debuted on Pandora before moving to Spotify as The Brickman Bedtime Story.

Adding to Brickman’s resume is a series of PBS specials such as 2000’s My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman, 2002’s Love Songs & Lullabies, 2005’s The Disney Songbook, and 2009’s Beautiful World.

Soothing Brickman

In 2015, Brickman released Soothe Vol. 1: Music to Quiet Your Mind and Soothe Your World, the first of a series of music that’s been designed for meditation and relaxation. In 2016, Soothe Vol. 2: Sleep – Music for Tranquil Slumber was released, and then Soothe Vol. 3: Meditation – Music for Peaceful Relaxation in 2017. Soothe Vol. 4: Subzero – Sounds That Spark the Senses was a 2018 release and Soothe Vol. 5: Lullaby Dreams – Music for a Peaceful Escape came out in 2019.

Brickman’s Legacy

There have been over fifty albums recorded and released by Jim Brickman between his 1994 debut to 2020’s 25th Anniversary: Greatest Hits. So far, there are thirty-two singles to his credit, many of which became top ten hits on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.

The Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) has awarded Brickman Songwriter of the Year in 1998 and 1999. In 2002, also from SESAC, Brickman earned a performance award for 2001’s Simple Things. This was followed in 2003 as Best New Adult Contemporary Album for 2002’s Love Songs and Lullabies.

Top 10 Jim Brickman Songs

#10 – Never Alone (featuring Hillary Scott)

Originally, Jim Brickman recorded “Never Alone” in 2006 with Sara Evans for his album, Escape. He then recorded it a second time, this time with Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, and had it released as a single. The mix of country, pop, and new-age was primarily fueled by Brickman’s piano performance while the lyrics discussed the importance of faith and unconventional love.

This ballad was a crossover hit that became a number fourteen hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. In 2010, it became a number one hit on the US Billboard New Age Digital Songs chart. Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, also from Lady Antebellum, provided the vocal harmonies. It was also Haywood who played the guitar in the single version of a song that still serves as an inspirational favorite.

#9 – Destiny (featuring Jordan Hill and Billy Porter)

With Jordan Hill and Billy Porter as vocalists, Jim Brickman’s “Destiny” was a pop song that was released as a single in 1999. On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, as well as Canada’s, it became a number ten hit. This love song was already destined to become a romantic classic the moment it was released. As a wedding song, “Destiny” became and remains a solid favorite. It’s also been a favorite choice among couples celebrating anniversaries, as well as other romantic occasions such as Valentine’s Day.

#8 – Love of My Life (featuring Michael W. Smith)

Released in 1999 from the album, Destiny, this ballad delivered the message home as a man appreciating his woman as his one true love. Between Brickman’s piano and Michael W. Smith’s vocals, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it became another top ten hit for both these artists. On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, it peaked as high as number nine.

Speaking as someone who has worked as a DJ for several functions, including weddings, “Love of My Life” was among the most requested love songs for couples as the newly wedded husband and wide performed their first dance. There’s no feeling quite like a union that feels like it was a match made in heaven.

#7 – A Mother’s Love (featuring Mark Masri)

One thing about Jim Brickman is his appreciation for mothers. This is evident in his musical material, including “A Mother’s Love.” This 2009 release began with Brickman thanking his mother for watching over him, plus all the sacrifices she made just to make sure the needs of her son were met. She didn’t treat it like it was a job. She treated her motherhood as a blessing from God, which in return relayed that blessing to Brickman.

Next time you wish to honor your mother with a great song, use “A Mother’s Love” by Jim Brickman. Mark Masri’s vocal performance in this incredible ballad is sure to bring a tear to your mother’s eyes. Maybe even yours, too. When played at a funeral to honor that special lady after she’s passed on, this song has a remarkable delivery that’s sure to empty out the tissue boxes.

#6 – Sending You a Little Christmas (featuring Kristy Starling)

As a single, “Sending You a Little Christmas” became a number one hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart in 2003. With Brickman on piano, Kristy Starling’s vocals turned this beautiful Christmas tune into a sweet favorite. From the album, Peace, “Sending You a Little Christmas” was one of the greatest musical gifts a fan of spiritually uplifting music a person could receive. On the US Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, this also became a number fifteen hit.

#5 – Simple Things (featuring Rebecca Lynn Howard)

On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, as well as Canada’s, “Simple Things” became a number one hit after it was released as a single in 1999. With Jim Brickman as the pianist, Rebecca Lynn Howard sang this song of appreciation, realizing it’s often the simplest things in life that make it worth living.

#4 – Beautiful World (We’re All Here) (featuring Adam Crossley)

Released in 2009, “Beautiful World (We’re All Here)” featured Jim Brickman and Adam Crossley collaborating together for a single that peaked at number four on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. It was also a number seven hit in the same category in Canada, as well as a number ninety-five hit on that nation’s Top Singles Chart. From the album, Beautiful World, this was yet another stellar performance that blessed the audience with timeless music that deservedly earns its place as a classic.

#3 – Your Love (featuring Michelle Wright)

In 1998, Jim Brickman earned a Canadian Country Music Association award for Vocal Collaboration of the Year with Michelle Wright for the single, “Your Love.” Released in 1997, this country pop single came from Brickman’s compilation album, Visions of Love.

“Your Love” remains a fan favorite, thanks to the beauty of this song’s delivery of appreciation of a love so pure that not even the biggest diamond can outshine. Since 1997, “Your Love” has remained a romantic favorite that’s still played often at special occasions such as weddings and anniversaries.

#2 – Valentine (featuring Martina McBride)

“Valentine” was the first big hit that would be credited to Jim Brickman as a recording artist. With Martina McBride’s angelic vocals to add even more beauty to this incredible ballad, this became a major favorite among fans who used this as the perfect song for any form of romantic occasion. It was popular at weddings and anniversaries at the time when it first came out in 1997, then again after its 1998 release, and remains a solid favorite today.

In 1997, the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart peaked “Valentine” at number three while the US Billboard Hot 100, saw it become a number fifty hit when. On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, first peaked as high as number fifty-three in 1997, then at number three as a re-release in 1998.

#1 – The Gift (featuring Collin Raye and Susan Ashton)

1997’s “The Gift” was a song that featured Collin Raye and Susan Ashton as vocalists while Jim Brickman delivered his incredible piano performance. Designed as a country pop song, this has become one of the favorites played on radio stations during the Christmas season.

On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, “The Gift” became a number one hit. On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it peaked at number fifty-three. In Canada, it climbed up to number fifty-two on its Canadian Country Tracks chart. It also earned a Dove Award by the Gospel Music Association in 1998.