It's Christmas (Planetshakers album)
It's Christmas is the first studio Christmas album from Australian worship band Planetshakers.[1] Planetshakers Ministries International and Venture3Media released the album on 29 November 2019.[2] This album includes the Christmas releases of EPs Christmas Vol. 1 (2017) and Christmas Vol. 2 (2018).[3]
| It's Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 29 November 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2017-18-19 | |||
| Studio | Planetshakers Studios in Melbourne, Australia | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:00 | |||
| Label | Planetshakers Ministries International, Venture3Media | |||
| Producer | Joth Hunt | |||
| Planetshakers chronology | ||||
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| Planetshakers Christmas albums chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| CCM Magazine |   [4] |
| One Man In The Middle |  [5] |
Awarding the album four stars at CCM Magazine, Jaime Vaughn states, "The title track 'It’s Christmas' is a festive pop sound that will help you get right into the Christmas spirit with lyrics 'Can you feel it in the air / Joy is everywhere, it’s Christmas / Everything is shining bright / Oh what a glorious night, it’s Christmas.' This album also blends in a beautiful jazz ballad of 'All Glory' to bring your heart to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. This album gives the entire family a song to fall in love with no matter what their favorite musical genre may be."[4] Rating the album 6.9 stars by One Man In The Middle, Rob Allwright states, "Other than these tracks you will find a couple of other original tracks from the band on the album previously featured. I do think that this is an album that is trying hard to be everything for people and I know we don't live in little boxes for our musical tastes. There are some great tracks here and if you don't own either of the previous EPs then this is worth picking up."[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Worship leader(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Angels We Have Heard On High" | Joth Hunt | Joth Hunt / Kemara Fuimaono | 3:15 |
| 2. | "Joy To The World" | George Frederic Handel / Isaac Watts / Joth Hunt | Andy Harrison | 2:44 |
| 3. | "It's Christmas" | Joth Hunt / Samantha Evans | Joth Hunt | 3:39 |
| 4. | "The First Noel" | Joth Hunt / Rachel Vatucicila | Kemara Fuimaono / Rachel Vatucicila | 3:15 |
| 5. | "Silent Night" | Franz Xaver Gruber / John Freeman Young / Joseph Mohr / Joth Hunt | Chelsi Nikkerud / Joth Hunt | 3:47 |
| 6. | "All Glory" | Joth Hunt | Joth Hunt | 5:05 |
| 7. | "Hark" | Charles Wesley / Felix Mendelssohn / Joth Hunt | Joth Hunt | 3:12 |
| 8. | "O Holy Night" | Adolphe Charles Adam / John S. Dwight / Joth Hunt | Joth Hunt | 5:56 |
| 9. | "The Prayer" | David Foster / Carole Bayer Sager / Alberto Testa / Tony Renis | Natalie Ruiz / Steve Sowden | 4:03 |
| 10. | "Light Of The World" | Joth Hunt | Rudy Nikkerud / Joe Vatucicila | 3:17 |
| 11. | "O Come All Ye Faithful" | Joth Hunt / C. Frederick Oakeley / John Francis Wade | Chelsi Nikkerud / Natalie Ruiz / Joth Hunt | 3:43 |
| Total length: | 42:00 | |||
Personnel
- Planetshakers – Primary artist
- Joth Hunt – Arranger, chant, composer, guitars, keyboards, mixing, producer, programming, vocals
- Samantha Evans – Worship leader, vocals, executive producer
- Rudy Nikkerud – Vocals
- Chelsi Nikkerud – Vocals
- Steve Sowden – Vocals
- Natalie Ruiz – Vocals
- Joe Vatucicila – Vocals
- Rachel Vatucicila – Vocals
- Kemara Fuimaono – Vocals
- Andy Harrison – Vocals, drums
- Josh Ham – Bass
- Joe Carra – Mastering
- Joshua Brown – A&R, Artist development
- Daryl Chia – Artwork
- Rachel McCarthy – Artwork
- John F. Wade – Arranger, composer
- Russell Evans – Worship Leader, executive producer
- Steve Nicolle – Executive producer
It's Christmas Live
| It's Christmas Live | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | November 27, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Venue | Planetshakers Church | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:00 | |||
| Label | Planetshakers Ministries International, Venture3Media | |||
| Producer | Joth Hunt | |||
| Planetshakers chronology | ||||
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| Planetshakers Christmas albums chronology | ||||
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It's Christmas Live is the first live Christmas album from Australian worship band Planetshakers.[8] Planetshakers Ministries International and Venture3Media released the album on 27 November 2020.[9] This live album is the studio version It's Christmas was released last year.[10] This album was recorded live in front of a packed auditorium at Planetshakers Church before the pandemic lockdowns, the full production recording and companion video was produced, directed and mixed by Joth Hunt at Planetshakers Studios.[11] The album is led by Hunt and worship leaders Rudy Nikkerud, Chelsi Nikkerud, Natalie Ruiz, Joe Vatucicila, Rachel Vatucicila, Kemara Fuimaono and Steve Sowden.[12] The recording also features a 59-voice choir and multiple drum, guitar, bass and keyboard musicians.[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Worship leader(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Angels We Have Heard On High (Live)" | Joth Hunt | Joth Hunt / Kemara Fuimaono | 3:11 |
| 2. | "Joy To The World (Live)" | George Frederic Handel / Isaac Watts / Joth Hunt | Rudy Nikkerud | 2:43 |
| 3. | "It's Christmas (Live)" | Joth Hunt / Samantha Evans | Joth Hunt / Natalie Ruiz | 3:33 |
| 4. | "The First Noel (Live)" | Joth Hunt / Rachel Vatucicila | Kemara Fuimaono / Rachel Vatucicila | 3:04 |
| 5. | "Silent Night (Live)" | Franz Xaver Gruber / John Freeman Young / Joseph Mohr / Joth Hunt | Chelsi Nikkerud / Joth Hunt | 3:44 |
| 6. | "All Glory (Live)" | Joth Hunt | Joth Hunt | 5:06 |
| 7. | "Hark (Live)" | Charles Wesley / Felix Mendelssohn / Joth Hunt | Chelsi Nikkerud | 3:13 |
| 8. | "O Holy Night (Live)" | Adolphe Charles Adam / John S. Dwight / Joth Hunt | Joth Hunt | 7:15 |
| 9. | "Light Of The World (Live)" | Joth Hunt | Rudy Nikkerud / Joe Vatucicila | 3:20 |
| 10. | "The Prayer (Live)" | David Foster / Carole Bayer Sager / Alberto Testa / Tony Renis | Natalie Ruiz / Steve Sowden | 4:03 |
| 11. | "O Come All Ye Faithful (Live)" | Joth Hunt / C. Frederick Oakeley / John Francis Wade | Joth Hunt / Chelsi Nikkerud / Natalie Ruiz | 4:27 |
| Total length: | 44:00 | |||
References
- "Planetshakers Release Full-Length Christmas Album". CCM Magazine. CCM News. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- "Planetshakers Band To Release First Full-Length Christmas Album". TheChristianBeat. TheChristianBeat. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- "Planetshakers Band Releases First Full-Length Christmas Album "It's Christmas"". Hallels. Hallels. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- Vaughn, Jaime (19 December 2019). "Planetshakers 'It's Christmas'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- Allwright, Rob (22 August 2020). "Music Review: It's Christmas by Planetshakers". One Man In The Middle. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- "It's Christmas – Planetshakers | All Music". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "It's Christmas – Planetshakers | Credits | All Music". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- Iain Moss. "Planetshakers Celebrates It's Christmas Live Releasing Nov. 27". Jesus Wired. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- "PLANETSHAKERS RELEASE 'IT'S CHRISTMAS LIVE'". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- Jessie Clarks. "Planetshakers 'It's Christmas Live' Releasing November 27". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- Tony Cummings. "Planetshakers: Celebrating Jesus as they celebrate Christmas". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- Hoganson Media. "PLANETSHAKERS CELEBRATES IT'S CHRISTMAS LIVE RELEASING NOV. 27". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- CCM News. "Planetshakers Releases 'It's Christmas Live' + Companion Video". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2021.