Christmas (Michael W. Smith album)

Christmas
Studio album by
Michael W. Smith
ReleasedSeptember 1, 1989 (1989-09-01)
Recorded1989
Studio
GenreChristmas, CCM
Length37:03
LabelReunion
Producer
Michael W. Smith chronology
i 2 (EYE)
(1988) 		Christmas
(1989) 		Go West Young Man
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout[2]

Christmas is a 1989 Michael W. Smith studio album and Smith's first Christmas album.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Overture"/"O Come All Ye Faithful"John Francis Wade5:38
2."Lux Venit"Beverly Darnall, Amy Grant, M. Smith3:28
3."Anthem for Christmas"Gloria Gaither, M. Smith3:11
4."First Snowfall"M. Smith2:44
5."Christ the Messiah"Elizabeth L. Jones, M. Smith, Deborah D. Smith3:59
6."No Eye Had Seen"Amy Grant, M. Smith2:53
7."All Is Well"Wayne Kirkpatrick, M. Smith4:08
8."Memoirs: A Trilogy"M. Smith, John Mason Neale, Felix Mendelssohn4:28
9."Gloria"M. Smith, traditional5:03
10."Silent Night"Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr1:33

Personnel

  • Michael W. Smith – vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards, percussion, track arrangements
  • Dann Huff (uncredited) – guitar (2, 8, 9)
  • Paul Leim – drums (9)
  • Bryan Lenox – percussion
  • Ronn Huff – orchestral arrangements and conductor, choral arrangements, track arrangements (1)
  • Carl Gorodetzky – concertmaster, contractor
  • The Nashville String Machine – orchestra
  • The Nashville Festival Orchestra – orchestra
  • Mary Bates – backing vocals
  • Beverly Darnall – backing vocals
  • Ellen Musick – backing vocals
  • Leah Taylor – backing vocals
  • Cathedral Choir – adult choir
  • Fred Bock – music director for Cathedral Choir
  • The American Boychoir – boychoir
  • James Litton – choir conductor for The American Boychoir
  • Amy Grant – vocal soloist (6)
  • Nathan Wadley – vocal soloist (7)

Production

  • Michael Blanton – executive producer
  • Terry Hemmings – executive producer
  • Michael W. Smith – producer
  • Ronn Huff – producer
  • Mark Laycock – orchestra and choir producer
  • Bill Whittington – engineer, mixing
  • Brent King – orchestra engineer, additional engineer
  • Dan Garcia – additional engineer
  • Scott MacMinn – additional engineer
  • Steve Charles – assistant engineer
  • Joe Kraus – assistant engineer
  • Bryan Lenox – assistant engineer
  • Rick Horton – editing at Digital Associates (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • Ron Lewter – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, California)
  • Elizabeth Jones – production assistant
  • D.L. Rhodes – cover coordinator
  • Buddy Jackson – art direction, design, cover illustration
  • Mark Tucker – photography
  • Mary Beth Felts – stylist

"All Is Well"

"All Is Well" features soloist Nathan Wadley.[3] The song is also included in his compilation set The Wonder Years (1993). In 2014, Smith remade the song for his 2014 holiday album The Spirit of Christmas, this time sharing the vocals with country artist Carrie Underwood.[4] Christian girl group Point of Grace recorded a version for their 2005 album Winter Wonderland.[5] Clay Aiken recorded a cover version in 2006 for his Christmas EP All Is Well.[6]

Chart performance

Chart (1989) Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[7] 3

References

  1. ^ Christmas at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Michael W. Smith, "Michael W. Smith Christmas" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  3. ^ Christmas (booklet). Reunion Records. 1989. p. 1.
  4. ^ Horton, Carrie (August 24, 2014). "Michael W. Smith Announces Christmas Album with Lots of Country Stars". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "All Is Well - Point of Grace". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  6. ^ "All is Well: Songs for Christmas [WalMart Exclusive] - Clay Aiken". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Michael W. Smith Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2019.