Country Christmas

Country Christmas is the eighth solo studio album and first Christmas album by American country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn. It was released on October 17, 1966 by Decca Records.[1] Lynn would not release another Christmas album until 2016's White Christmas Blue, fifty years later.

For the 1992 Johnny Cash album of the same title, see Country Christmas (Johnny Cash album).
Country Christmas
Studio album by
Loretta Lynn
ReleasedOctober 17, 1966
RecordedJuly 7–15, 1966
StudioBradley's Barn (Mount Juliet)
GenreCountry
Length26:39
LabelDecca
ProducerOwen Bradley
Loretta Lynn chronology
You Ain't Woman Enough
(1966)		 Country Christmas
(1966)		 Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)
(1967)
Singles from Country Christmas
  1. "To Heck with Ole Santa Claus"
    Released: November 1966

The album includes four original compositions by Lynn, along with popular holiday songs, including "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "White Christmas", and "Frosty the Snowman".

In 2005, MCA Records reissued the album on CD as a part of their 20th Century Masters series, under the title The Christmas Collection: The Best of Loretta Lynn, with modified cover art.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

In the issue dated October 29, 1966, Billboard published a review of the album, which said, "The album's beautiful songs include "Country Christmas", "Away in a Manger" — all great programming material for country music stations, and this will create high sales. The "Manger" tune deserves a single. Possibly her best effort to date."[3]

Commercial performance

The album did not appear on any music charts.

The only single, "To Heck with Ole Santa Claus", was released in November 1966[4] and did not chart.

Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place on July 7, 13, and 15, 1966, at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.[5]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."Country Christmas"Loretta LynnJuly 7, 19662:06
2."Away In a Manger"TraditionalJuly 15, 19662:20
3."Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
July 7, 19662:08
4."Silver Bells"
July 7, 19662:00
5."Blue Christmas"
  • Billy Hayes
  • Jay W. Johnson
July 15, 19662:27
6."It Won't Seem Like Christmas"LynnJuly 7, 19662:09
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."To Heck with Ole Santa Claus"LynnJuly 13, 19662:01
2."White Christmas"Irving BerlinJuly 13, 19662:02
3."Frosty the Snowman"
July 13, 19662:58
4."Christmas Without Daddy"Jackie WebbJuly 13, 19662:07
5."I Won't Decorate Your Christmas Tree"
  • Bob Cummings
  • Barbara Cummings
  • Lynn
July 15, 19662:05
6."Gift of the Blues"Hank CochranJuly 15, 19662:19

Personnel

Adapted from the Decca recording session records.[5]

  • Harold Bradley – electric bass guitar
  • Owen Bradley – producer
  • Fred Carter Jr. – guitar, electric guitar
  • Jon Corneal – drums
  • Floyd Cramer – piano
  • Buddy Harman – drums
  • Junior Huskey – bass
  • The Jordanaires – background vocals
  • Loretta Lynn – lead vocals
  • Grady Martin – guitar, lead electric guitar
  • Hal Rugg – steel guitar

References
  1. "Loretta Lynn – Country Christmas". Discogs.
  2. Allmusic
  3. "Billboard Magazine - October 29, 1966" (PDF). American Radio History. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  4. "Loretta Lynn - To Heck With Ole Santa Claus". Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  5. "Loretta's Recording Sess". LORETTA LYNN FAN WEBSITE.
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