Home for the Holidays (Darius Rucker album)

Home for the Holidays
Studio album by
Darius Rucker
ReleasedOctober 27, 2014
GenreChristmas, country
LabelCapitol Nashville
ProducerFrank Rogers
Darius Rucker chronology
True Believers
(2013) 		Home for the Holidays
(2014) 		Southern Style
(2015)

Home for the Holidays is the first Christmas-themed album and fifth studio album from Darius Rucker, released on October 27, 2014, through Capitol Records Nashville.[1][2] The album, produced by Frank Rogers, is a collection of twelve Christmas songs, including two originals and a collaboration with Sheryl Crow.[3]

Background and recording

On September 5, 2014, Sheryl Crow posted a picture of herself with Rucker on her Facebook page and wrote: "I love Darius Rucker - Merry Christmas Baby! (I sang on his upcoming Christmas record!)"[4]

On September 15, 2014, it was announced that Rucker had completed his first Christmas album and that it would be released on October 27, 2014.[1]

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Rucker expressed his enthusiasm over his first Christmas album:

"I am so excited to finally make a Christmas album. This has been a lifelong dream, and I hope my fans enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making it."[1]

Release

Album

Home for the Holidays was released on October 27, 2014, through Capitol Records Nashville.[1]

Reception

Critical

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]

Home for the Holidays received mostly positive feedback from music critics. In a three out of five star review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic states the album "winds up as a perfectly fine Christmas record, suited for those Rucker fans who have stuck with him from Hootie to R&B to country."[5]

Commercial

Home for the Holidays debuted at No. 31 on the US Billboard 200 chart and No. 7 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart, selling 9,000 copies in its first week.[6] It rose to No. 3 on the Top Country Albums chart in its fifth week of release,[7] and No. 25 on the Billboard 200 on its sixth week.[8] As of December 2016 the album has sold 220,800 copies in the US.[9]

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne 2:56
2."Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane 3:39
3."What God Wants for Christmas"Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell 3:37
4."You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, Albert HagueThurl Ravenscroft3:27
5."Baby, It's Cold Outside" (featuring Sheryl Crow)Frank Loesser 3:45
6."I'll Be Home for Christmas"Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, Buck Ram 3:53
7."O Come, All Ye Faithful"Frederick Oakeley, John Francis WadeFrederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade4:05
8."Winter Wonderland"Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith 2:48
9."Candy Cane Christmas"Rucker, Rogers, Steve LeslieDarius Rucker3:22
10."Please Come Home for Christmas"Charles Brown, Gene ReddCharles Brown4:11
11."Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"Charles Wesley 3:52
12."White Christmas"Irving Berlin 3:39

Chart performance

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label
United States[2] October 27, 2014
Capitol Nashville

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hudak, Joseph (September 15, 2014). "Darius Rucker To Release Christmas Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Home For The Holidays: Music". ASIN B00NMUCMAG. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  3. ^ Parker, Eric T. (September 15, 2014). "Rucker Preps Debut Holiday Album". MusicRow. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Sheryl Crow (September 5, 2014). "Sheryl Crow's Photos". Sheryl Crow on Facebook. Facebook. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Home for the Holidays - Darius Rucker - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  6. ^ Wade Jessen (November 7, 2014). "Sam Hunt Scores Country Charts Feat Last Achieved 22 Years Ago". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  7. ^ "Top Country Albums - Chart date December 13, 2014". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Top Country Albums - Chart date December 20, 2014". Billboard.
  9. ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 14, 2016). "*Special Report*: Country Catalog Chart for December 14, 2016". Roughstock. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  10. ^ "Darius Rucker Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Darius Rucker Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Darius Rucker Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Top Holiday Albums for Darius Rucker. Prometheus Global Media.
  13. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2020.