Christmas Wish (Olivia Newton-John album)

Christmas Wish
Studio album by
Olivia Newton-John
ReleasedOctober 2007
RecordedMarch–July 2007
GenreChristmas
Length61:13
LabelONJ
ProducerAmy Sky
Olivia Newton-John chronology
Grace and Gratitude
(2006) 		Christmas Wish
(2007) 		A Celebration in Song
(2008)

Christmas Wish is the twenty-second studio album by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. It is the second original album of Christmas music recorded by Newton-John after 'Tis the Season with Vince Gill (Hallmark, 2000), and the compilation partly from that, The Christmas Collection. It is her second album produced by Amy Sky. It features versions of classic Christmas songs and guest appearances from Barry Manilow, Jon Secada, Michael McDonald and others. In 2008, the album was re-released as a Target exclusive and included the bonus track "In the Bleak Midwinter".[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Christmas Wish a "clean, low-key affair, where her versions of traditional Christmas carols [...] are interspersed with brief instrumental interludes. Nothing here is too high-energy, it sometimes borders on the sleepy, but as background holiday mood music, it is effective."[2]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Amy Sky.

Christmas Wish track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."O Come, All Ye Faithful"Traditional4:53
2."Angels We Have Heard on High" (Interlude)Traditional1:13
3."Every Time It Snows" (featuring Jon Secada)
3:52
4."Away in a Manger" (Interlude)Traditional1:12
5."We Three Kings"Traditional4:46
6."The First Noel" (Interlude)Traditional1:10
7."Mother's Christmas Wish" (featuring Jim Brickman)
  • Newton-John
  • Sky
4:59
8."Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Interlude)Traditional1:22
9."Angels in the Snow"
  • Steven MacKinnon
  • Sky
3:18
10."What Child Is This?" (Interlude) (featuring Pavlo)Traditional1:28
11."Silent Night" (featuring Jann Arden)Traditional4:56
12."O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (Interlude)Traditional1:30
13."All Through the Night" (featuring Michael McDonald)Traditional3:39
14."The Little Drummer Boy" (Interlude)Traditional1:03
15."Underneath the Same Sky"
3:12
16."O Christmas Tree" (Interlude)Traditional1:33
17."Little Star of Bethlehem"
  • Newton-John
  • Sky
  • Stephen Moccio
4:41
18."Deck the Halls" (Interlude)Traditional0:57
19."Instrument of Peace" (featuring Marc Jordan)
  • Sky
  • Moccio
  • Jordan
3:12
20."We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (Interlude)Traditional1:40
21."Christmas on My Radio"
  • Newton-John
  • Sky
3:53
22."A Gift of Love" (featuring Barry Manilow)
  • Manilow
  • Bruce Sussman
2:30


Target 2008 reissue bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
23."In the Bleak Midwinter"Traditional5:13

Personnel

Performers and musicians

  • Olivia Newton-John – vocals, harmony vocals (9)
  • Greg Johnston – keyboards (1, 5, 7, 15), guitars (15), bass guitar (15)
  • Mark Lalama – acoustic piano (1, 5, 11, 13, 21, 23), keyboards (7)
  • Roman SebastIan – keyboards (2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20)
  • David Foster – keyboards (3), acoustic piano (3), string arrangements (3)
  • Mark Masri – keyboards (4), backing vocals (15, 21)
  • Jim Brickman – acoustic piano (7)
  • Steven MacKinnon – acoustic piano (9), accordion (9)
  • Stephen Moccio – keyboards (17, 19), acoustic piano (17, 19)
  • Jamie Oakes – guitars (7, 11, 23), dobro (11)
  • Pavlo Simtikidis – guitar (10)
  • Andy Timmons – guitars (21)
  • George Koller – bass guitar (1, 5, 7, 11, 21, 23), dilruba (23)
  • Mark Kelso – percussion (1, 5, 11, 23), drums (7, 15, 19, 21)
  • Ron Korb – low whistle (1), tin whistle (1), bansuri (5), bass flute (11), C flute (11)
  • Paul Widner – cello (4, 9, 11)
  • Amy Shulman – harp (13, 19)
  • Stephanie O'Keefe – French horn (13, 19)
  • Warren Ham – saxophone (21)
  • Phil Manos – orchestration (3), orchestral arrangements (13, 19)
  • The Westlake Players – orchestra (13, 19)
  • Robbie Buchanan – arrangements (22), string arrangements and conductor (22)
  • Zoe Sky Jordan – backing vocals (1)
  • Lauren Mayer – backing vocals (1)
  • Amy Sky – backing vocals (1, 5, 11, 15, 17, 21, 23), arrangements (1, 5, 11, 13, 23), French backing vocals (11), keyboards (12, 15)
  • Jon Secada – vocals (3)
  • Marc Jordan – backing vocals (5), harmony vocals (19)
  • Jann Arden – vocals (11)
  • Steve Real – Spanish backing vocals (11)
  • Michael McDonald – vocals (13)
  • Amoy Levy – backing vocals (15, 21)
  • Barry Manilow – vocals (22), arrangements (22)

Technical

  • Amy Sky – producer (1–21, 23), additional production (22)
  • Robbie Buchanan – producer (22)
  • Barry Manilow – producer (22)
  • Steve Addabbo – recording
  • Jim "Pinky" Beeman – recording
  • David Bryant – recording
  • Zack Fagan – recording
  • Vic Florencia – recording, mixing (1–21, 23), additional mixing (22)
  • Brian Friedman – recording
  • Humberto Gatica – recording
  • Michael Jack – recording
  • Jared Kvitka – recording
  • Michael Medina – recording
  • Ted Onyszczak – recording
  • Bill Schnee – recording, mixing (22)
  • Dustin Su – recording
  • Brian Wohlgemuth – recording
  • Matthew Zimmerman – recording
  • Steve Crowder – recording assistant
  • Scott Erickson – recording assistant
  • Rocky Grisez – recording assistant
  • Greg Kolchinsky – recording assistant
  • Greg Johnston – additional engineer
  • Mark Kelso – additional engineer
  • Steven MacKinnon – additional engineer
  • Azra Ross – additional engineer
  • Joao Carvalho – mastering
  • Paul Jarmon – creative direction
  • Megan Schaefer – art direction
  • Jennifer Bergstrom – graphic design
  • Michael Caprio – cover design
  • J. Michael Lafond – photography

Studios

  • Recorded at Concrete Jungle, Lenz Entertainment, Phase One Studios, Silverbirch Productions, Hey World Studios and The Nucleus (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Chartmaker Studios, The Cat's Room and The Document Room (Malibu, California); Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California); Gari Entertainment (Westlake, California); Shelter Island Sound (New York City, New York); Ocean Way Recording (Nashville, Tennessee); Wild Sound (Minneapolis, Minnesota); Palace Cleaners (Irving, Texas).
  • Mixed at Concrete Jungle
  • Mastered at Joao Carvalho Mastering (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Charts

Chart performance for Christmas Wish
Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[3] 187
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[4] 21
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[5] 40
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[6] 22
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)[7] 49

References

  1. ^ Billboard – 17 January 2009
  2. ^ a b AllMusic review
  3. ^ "Olivia Newton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Olivia Newton John Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Olivia Newton John Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "Olivia Newton John Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2024.