Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2

Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2 is the tenth soundtrack album by the cast of the American musical television series Glee, released by Columbia Records on November 11, 2011.[1]

Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2
Soundtrack album by
Glee Cast
ReleasedNovember 11, 2011
GenreChristmas
LabelColumbia / 20th Century Fox TV
Glee Cast chronology
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(2011)		 Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2
(2011)		 Glee: The Music, Volume 7
(2011)

Background

The album features twelve Christmas tunes: ten covers and two original songs. The original songs are both written by Adam Anders, Peer Åström and Shelly Peiken: "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" and "Christmas Eve with You".[2] In addition to featuring twelve of the starring characters from the television show's third season (only Dianna Agron, Jane Lynch and Harry Shum Jr. are not listed), all four of the finalists from The Glee Project are featured: Damian McGinty solos on "Blue Christmas", Samuel Larsen is featured with Cory Monteith and Mark Salling on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", and runners-up Lindsay Pearce and Alex Newell duet on "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number six, selling 71,000 copies in its first week.[3]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]

Heather Phares of AllMusic gave the album a rating of three-and-a-half stars out of a possible five, and wrote that "listeners know what to expect" and the album "delivers just that". She praised Amber Riley's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" as "charming", Naya Rivera's "Santa Baby" as "mischievous", Heather Morris's "Christmas Wrapping" as "brilliant", and Chris Colfer and Darren Criss for their "brassy, breezy" version of "Let It Snow". She did note that the album "flags" when "unfamiliar" songs are presented and singled out the original song "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" in this regard. She also criticized the final song of the album, "Do They Know It’s Christmas?", and described it as "overwrought".[4]

Track listing

Unless otherwise indicated, information is based on the liner notes.[5]

No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."All I Want for Christmas Is You"Mariah Carey, Walter AfanasieffAmber Riley4:03
2."Extraordinary Merry Christmas"Adam Anders, Peer Åström, Shelly PeikenDarren Criss and Lea Michele3:39
3."Santa Baby"Joan Javits, Philip Springer, Tony SpringerNaya Rivera2:31
4."Christmas Eve with You"Anders, Åström, PeikenMatthew Morrison and Jayma Mays3:28
5."Little Drummer Boy"Katherine K. Davis, Harry Simeone, Henry OnoratiKevin McHale2:56
6."River"Joni MitchellMichele4:03
7."Do You Hear What I Hear?"Noël Regney, Gloria Shayne BakerAlex Newell and Lindsay Pearce3:52
8."Let It Snow"Sammy Cahn, Jule StyneChris Colfer and Criss2:47
9."Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"John Frederick Coots, Haven GillespieCory Monteith, Mark Salling and Samuel Larsen2:49
10."Christmas Wrapping"Chris ButlerHeather Morris4:03
11."Blue Christmas"Billy Hayes, Jay W. JohnsonDamian McGinty3:49
12."Do They Know It's Christmas?"Bob Geldof, Midge UreColfer, Criss, McHale, Michele, Monteith, Morris, Riley, Rivera, Salling and Jenna Ushkowitz3:35
Notes
  • While Dianna Agron and Jane Lynch are credited as part of the Glee cast vocals in the liner notes, they are not credited on any tracks.[5]
  • "Santa Baby" samples the instrumental track of Madonna's cover version[6]
  • "River" samples the piano track from Joni Mitchell's original version[7]
  • The musical arrangement of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" is based on the Bruce Springsteen cover version[8]

Personnel

Source: Allmusic[9]

References
  1. https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/glee-the-music-the-christmas/id473247035
  2. "Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2 Available 11/15!". GleeTheMusic.com. Sony Music Entertainment. October 25, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  3. Caulfield, Keith (November 23, 2011). "Drake's 'Take Care' Blasts Onto Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  4. Phares, Heather. "Review - Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Vol. 2". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  5. Glee Cast. Glee: The Music, Christmas Album Vol. 2. Columbia / 20th TV. 2011. Archived December 31, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Naya Rivera Cover of Madonna's "Santa Baby". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/cover/401085/Naya-Rivera-Santa-Baby-Madonna-Santa-Baby/
  7. Jon Caramanica, et. al. "Chestnut Roasted, and Sometimes Burned". New York Times. 22 November 2011. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2011/11/25/arts/music/holiday-cds-from-justin-bieber-to-john-zorn-with-a-stop-at-glee.html
  8. Sciarretto, Amy. "‘Glee’ Cast...Song Review". Pop Crush. 12 December 2011. http://popcrush.com/glee-santa-claus-is-coming-to-town/
  9. "Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Vol. 2: Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
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