Christmas (Kenny Rogers album)
Christmas is the twelfth studio album and the first Christmas album by Kenny Rogers released in 1981.
| Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Seasonal | |||
| Length | 33:37 | |||
| Label | Liberty | |||
| Producer | Kenny Rogers | |||
| Kenny Rogers chronology | ||||
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| Rogers' Christmas chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 1995 re-release cover titled "Christmas Wishes" | ||||
Overview
The album features several songs that were already well known at the time including "White Christmas", "When A Child is Born", "Carol of the Bells" and "My Favorite Things". Several original Christmas songs are also included, which have also now become well-known via this album.
Christmas was also the origin of Kenny's first holiday single, "Kentucky Home Made Christmas".
The album peaked at #10 on the U.S. Country charts and #34 on the overall U.S. charts.[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Christmas Everyday" | Pete McCann | 3:44 |
| 2. | "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" | Bill Caswel, Kin Vassy | 4:16 |
| 3. | "Carol of the Bells" | Mykola Leontovych, Robert Manookin | 2:44 |
| 4. | "Kids" | Mac Davis | 2:44 |
| 5. | "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" | Bob MacGimsey | 3:04 |
| 6. | "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year" | Pete McCann | 2:44 |
| 7. | "White Christmas" | Irving Berlin | 2:50 |
| 8. | "My Favorite Things" | Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers | 3:02 |
| 9. | "O Holy Night" | Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight | 4:39 |
| 10. | "When a Child Is Born" | Fred Jay, Zacar | 3:50 |
Personnel
- Kenny Rogers – lead vocals, backing vocals (3, 6), vocal arrangements
- Gene Page – arrangements
- Barnaby Finch – acoustic piano
- Lincoln Mayorga – acoustic piano
- John Hobbs – keyboards
- Clarence McDonald – Fender Rhodes
- Kin Vassy – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
- Ira Newborn – guitar
- David T. Walker – guitar
- Nathan East – bass guitar
- David Hungate – bass guitar
- Jerry Scheff – bass guitar
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums
- Gary Coleman – percussion
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Cindy Fee – backing vocals
- Terry Williams – backing vocals
- Jon Joyce – backing vocals (3, 6)
- Maxi Anderson – backing vocals (5)
- Marlena Jeter – backing vocals (5)
- Gwenchie Machu – backing vocals (5)
- Juance Charmaine O’Neal – backing vocals (6)
Production
- Producer – Kenny Rogers
- Assistant Producer – Brenda Harvey Richie
- Engineers – Reggie Dozier (Tracks 1, 3–6, 8 & 9); Al Schmitt (Tracks 2 & 7); John Arrias (Track 10).
- Second Engineer (Track 10) – Stephen Schmitt
- Mixed by Reggie Dozier
- Art Direction and Design – Bill Burks
- Photography – Tom Gibson and Reid Miles
Re-releases
Christmas Wishes
In some quarters (including the UK and United States) the title has changed to "Christmas Wishes" and the album reissued in 1985 with an alternate track list. In other countries though, "Christmas" is still the title.
Alternate track list
- "White Christmas" [2:47]
- "Carol of the Bells" [2:43]
- "O Holy Night" [4:38]
- "Christmas Everyday" [3:42]
- "Kids" (CD Only) [2:42]
- "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" [4:14]
- "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year" [2:43]
- "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" [3:03]
- "When a Child Is Born" [3:49]
- "My Favorite Things" (CD Only) [2:59]
Chart performance
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 34 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Holiday Albums | 27 |
References
- "Kenny Rogers charted albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
