It's a Wonderful Christmas
It's a Wonderful Christmas is an album by Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith. Released in October 2007, this epic album is Smith's third album of Christmas music and features four choirs and a 65-piece orchestra.[1] About half the album is instrumental pieces, including "What Child is This", "Audrey's Gift", and "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Vocal numbers such as "The Promise" and "Christmas Angels" reflect Smith's trademark personal touch and evoke his previous Christmas albums, Christmas (1989) and Christmastime (1998). Smith utilizes the full sound of the orchestra and choirs to produce an album that exudes a "mastery of the adult contemporary sound" and adds "so richly to the Christmas songbook."[1]
| It's a Wonderful Christmas | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 16, 2007 | |||
| Genre | Holiday, pop, instrumental | |||
| Length | 39:46 | |||
| Label | Reunion/Sparrow | |||
| Producer | Michael W. Smith, David Hamilton | |||
| Michael W. Smith chronology | ||||
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| Singles from It's a Wonderful Christmas | ||||
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Track listing
All tracks are written by Michael W. Smith, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Christmas Angels" | 3:50 | |
| 2. | "It's a Wonderful Christmas" | Michael W. Smith, David Hamilton | 5:05 |
| 3. | "The Promise" | 5:05 | |
| 4. | "Song for the King" | 4:19 | |
| 5. | "Christmas Day" (featuring Mandisa) | 3:20 | |
| 6. | "A Highland Carol" | 2:18 | |
| 7. | "Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah" | 3:40 | |
| 8. | "What Child Is This?" | Traditional | 4:48 |
| 9. | "Son of God" | 2:53 | |
| 10. | "Audrey’s Gift" | 1:49 | |
| 11. | "All Year Long" | 2:39 | |
| Total length: | 39:46 | ||
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About |   [2] |
| AllMusic | [1] |
| Billboard | Mixed[3] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [4] |
It's a Wonderful Christmas sold 12,759 copies in its first week, 6,000 of them digital. The album has since sold 39,000 copies.[5]
The album was a critical success, receiving 4 stars out of 5 with every critic. However, Billboard gave the album mixed reviews.
In 2008, the album won a Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year at the 39th GMA Dove Awards.[6]
Personnel
- Sam Bacco – Scottish snare drum and bass drum (6)
- Steven Beers – The Nashville Choir and Children's Choir recording assistant
- Blackbird Studios, Nashville, Tennessee – recording location, New Cumberland Choir and Highland bagpipes for rhythm section
- Michael Blanton – executive producer
- Michelle Box – A&R production
- Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tennessee – The Nashville Choir and Children's Choir recording location
- Ronnie Brookshire – rhythm section recording engineer
- Jeff Cain – digital editor
- Brian Calhoon – mixing engineer
- Lori Casteel – music preparation
- Mike Casteel – music preparation
- Children's Choir (1, 5)
- The Choristers of Reigate St. Mary's – boys choir (3, 9)
- Dominic Christie – boys choir recording assistant
- Allen Clark – photography
- Skip Cleavinger – Highland bagpipes and penny whistle (6), low whistle (8)
- John Coates – The Nashville Choir director
- David Davidson – violin solo "Song for the King"
- Deer Valley Studios, Franklin, Tennessee – vocal recording location
- Dave Dillbeck – vocal recording engineer, digital editor
- Ric Domenico – music preparation
- Andrew Dudman – orchestra and additional piano recording engineer
- Humberto Gatica – orchestra, boys choir and additional piano recording engineer
- Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee – mastering location
- Kathy Goodrich – Children's Choir assistant director
- James Gregory – bass guitar (1, 5)
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
- Ronn Huff – "Christmas Day" orchestra arrangement
- David Hamilton – string conductor, orchestra arrangement (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11), choir arrangement (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), synthesizer (1, 5), Hammond B3 organ (5), celeste (5), piano (11), rhythm track arrangement (11), producer, digital editor
- Sandy Hamilton – Children's Choir director
- Ken Johnson – production manager
- Bonnie Keen – backing vocals (11)
- Derik Lee – Mandisa's vocal recording engineer
- Legacy Recording Studios, New York City, New York – Mandisa's vocal recording location
- Paul Leim – drums (1, 5, 11)
- Melissa Leonelli – librarian, production assistant
- Adam Lester – electric guitars (1, 5)
- The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
- Mandisa – "Christmas Day" vocals
- Perry Montague-Mason – concertmaster
- Charlotte Matthews – orchestra contractor
- Carl Marsh – orchestra arrangement (1, 5)
- Scrap Marshall – boys choir recording assistant
- Jason McArthur – A&R coordination
- Stephanie McBrayer – art direction, stylist
- Andrew Mendelson – mastering
- Marie Morris – Children's Choir assistant director
- The Nashville Choir – choir (1, 3, 7, 9)
- Craig Nelson – upright bass (11)
- New Cumberland Choir – choir (3, 7, 9)
- Paragon Studios, Franklin, Tennessee – vocal, additional piano recording location, mixing location
- Fred Paragano – additional piano recording engineer
- Tim Parker – art direction
- Mark Petaccia – rhythm section recording assistant
- Jeff Pitzer – "Song for the King" violin solo recording engineer
- Eberhard Ramm – music preparation
- Lowell Reynolds – New Cumberland Choir and Highland bagpipes recording assistant
- Doug Sarrett – The Nashville Choir and Children's Choir recording engineer
- David Schober – additional piano recording engineer
- Studio One, Abbey Road Studios, London, England – recording location for orchestra, boys choir and additional piano
- Michael W. Smith – vocals (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), piano (1–5, 8, 9, 10), arrangements, producer, executive producer
- Greg Thomas – New Cumberland Choir contractor
- John Tobin – Reigate St. Mary's choir master
- Michealle Vanderpoolhair – hair and make-up
- Bill Whittington – New Cumberland Choir and Highland bagpipes recording engineer
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 54 |
| US Billboard Top Christian Albums | 2 |
| US Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums | 15 |
| US Billboard Top Holiday Albums | 2 |
References
- "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- Jones, Kim. "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- Summerford, Lauren. "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- "Nominations Announced for 39th GMA Dove Awards". Retrieved December 11, 2011.
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