A Drummer Boy Christmas

A Drummer Boy Christmas is the fourth studio album by For King & Country, an Australian Christian pop duo comprising brothers Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, released via Word Entertainment on 30 October 2020.[1] It features appearances by Needtobreathe and Gabby Barrett. The album was produced by Tedd Tjornhom and For King & Country, co-produced by Benjamin Backus, and Matt Hales handling executive production.

A Drummer Boy Christmas
Studio album by
For King & Country
Released30 October 2020 (2020-10-30)
Recorded2020
Genre
Length44:47
LabelWord Entertainment
Producer
For King & Country chronology
Burn the Ships
(2018)		 A Drummer Boy Christmas
(2020)
Singles from A Drummer Boy Christmas
  1. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"
    Released: 2 October 2020 (2020-10-02)
  2. "Little Drummer Boy"
    Released: 2 October 2020 (2020-10-02)

Background

In September 2020, For King & Country announced A Drummer Boy Christmas as their first full-length Christmas album,[2] due to be out on 30 October 2020 and availing the album for pre-order. The album was inspired by a concept that originated near the band's beginning, when they Joel and Luke Smallbone were rehearsing for a Christmas tour.[3] The album comprises two original Christmas songs: "Heavenly Hosts" and "The Carol of Joseph (I Believe In You)"; and contains guest appearances from Needtobreathe featuring on the track "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" while the song "Go Tell It On The Mountain" featuring guest vocals from Gabby Barrett.[4]

Release and promotion

Singles

On October 2, 2020, For King & Country announced that "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" featuring Needtobreathe and Little Drummer Boy would be serviced to Christian radio as the official singles from the album,[5] revealing the album's track-listing.[6]

Promotional singles

On October 2, 2020, For King & Country released "Joy to the World" as the first promotional single from the album, accompanied with a lyric video.[7] On October 16, 2020, For King & Country released "Heavenly Hosts" as the second and final promotional single from the album,[8] accompanied with a lyric video.[9]

Touring

On 7 October 2020, For King & Country announced that they will be embarking on A Drummer Boy Drive-In: The Christmas Tour, also in support of the album.[10] The tour is partnership with the Salvation Army, for a national toy drive encouraging concertgoers to bring new, packaged toys for collection by local Salvation Army representatives and distribute them to families struggling during the holiday season.[11] The duo will launch the tour on 12 November 2020 at the Silver Lake Sports Complex in Norco, California and conclude on 20 December 2020 at the Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.[12]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Jesus Freak Hideout[13]

Jesus Freak Hideout's John Underdown noted the oddity in following up a successful album (Burn the Ships) with a holiday themed album, but acknowledged the band's success, saying: "Ultimately, what sets this album above its peers is the direction and purpose behind the songs picked and the way they're ordered. This thoughtfulness is felt and allows for deeper layers of reflection where other Christmas records only provide background fluff."[13] In a positive review for NewReleaseToday, JJ Francesco opined that A Drummer Boy Christmas is "a reverent and intimate Christmas pageant of an album."[14]

Commercial performance

In the United States, A Drummer Boy Christmas earned 13,000 equivalent album units in its first week of sales, and as a result debuted at No. 2 on the Top Christian Albums Chart dated November 14, 2020, the band's sixth top ten release on the tally.[15] The album concurrently registered on the mainstream Billboard 200 chart at No. 50.[16]

Track listing
A Drummer Boy Christmas[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."In the Bleak Midwinter" (Prologue)Christina Rossetti1:12
2."Joy to the World"Isaac Watts3:55
3."O Come, O Come Emmanuel" (featuring Needtobreathe)Traditional4:19
4."Won't You Come"
1:32
5."Heavenly Hosts"
3:29
6."Silent Night"
4:49
7."A Christmas Monologue"
  • Backus
  • J. Smallbone
  • L. Smallbone
  • Tjornhom
1:37
8."Little Drummer Boy"
4:48
9."The Carol of Joseph (I Believe In You)"
  • J. Smallbone
  • L. Smallbone
  • Hales
4:02
10."O Come All Ye Faithful"Traditional5:17
11."Go Tell It On The Mountain" (with Gabby Barrett)John Wesley Work Jr. 
12."Angels We Have Heard on High"Traditional4:40
13."In the Bleak Midwinter" (Epilogue)Rossetti1:29
Total length:44:47

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[18] 50
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[19] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20] 9
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[21] 2

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 30 October 2020
Word Entertainment [22][23]

References
  1. Clarks, Jessie (30 October 2020). "For KING & COUNTRY Premieres 'A Drummer Boy Christmas' Album". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  2. Clarks, Jessie (10 September 2020). "for KING & COUNTRY Announces Its First Ever Full-length Christmas Album, "A Drummer Boy Christmas" | Freeccm.com". Freeccm.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  3. Cluver, Ross (9 September 2020). "for KING & COUNTRY Announces Christmas Album – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  4. "for KING & COUNTRY Reveal First-Ever Christmas Album Track List Including Collabs With Gabby Barrett and NEEDTOBREATHE – Music Mayhem Magazine". Music Mayhem Magazine. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. Clarks, Jessie (2 October 2020). "For KING & COUNTRY Announces Tracklist For First Christmas Album". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 30 October 2020. With their forthcoming album and radio singles “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (feat. NEEDTOBREATHE) and “Little Drummer Boy,” fans will soon be able to start celebrating “the most wonderful time of the year” by listening to for KING & COUNTRY’s intimate and powerful interpretations of many Christmas classics.
  6. "for KING & COUNTRY Announces the Track Listing for "A Drummer Boy Christmas" : News : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. "for KING & COUNTRY Drop 'Joy To The World'/Share Album Info – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. Longs, Herb (16 October 2020). "For KING & COUNTRY Premiere Original Christmas Song "Heavenly Hosts"". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  9. Cluver, Ross (19 October 2020). "for KING & COUNTRY Release 'Heavenly Hosts' – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. Longs, Herb (7 October 2020). "for King & Country To Launch Holiday Drive-In Tour In November : Music Row". Music Row. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  11. Cluver, Ross (7 October 2020). "for KING & COUNTRY to Partner with Salvation Army on Christmas Tour – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  12. Clarks, Jessie (7 October 2020). "For KING & COUNTRY Announce Christmas Drive-In Tour". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  13. Underdown, John (21 October 2020). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: for KING & COUNTRY, "A Drummer Boy Christmas" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  14. Francesco, JJ (29 October 2020). "A Drummer Boy Christmas by for KING & COUNTRY Christian CD Book Reviews | NRTeam Member JJFrancesco_NRT | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  15. Asker, Jim (11 November 2020). "For King & Country Snare No. 2 Debut on Top Christian Albums Chart With 'A Drummer Boy Christmas' | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  16. "Billboard 200 Chart | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  17. Monger, Timothy. "A Drummer Boy Christmas - for KING & COUNTRY | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  18. "For King & Country Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  19. "For King & Country Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  20. "For King & Country Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  21. "For King & Country Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  22. "A Drummer Boy Christmas by for KING & COUNTRY on Amazon Music - Amazon.com". Amazon.com. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  23. "A Drummer Boy Christmas by for KING & COUNTRY on Apple Music". Apple Music. Australia. Apple Inc. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
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