Christmas (Kenny Rogers album)
| Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Seasonal | |||
| Length | 33:37 | |||
| Label | Liberty | |||
| Producer | Kenny Rogers | |||
| Kenny Rogers chronology | ||||
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| Rogers' Christmas chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 1995 re-release cover titled Christmas Wishes from Kenny Rogers | ||||
Christmas is the twelfth studio album and the first Christmas album by Kenny Rogers released in 1981.
Overview
[edit]The album features several songs that were already well known at the time including "White Christmas," "When A Child is Born," "Carol of the Bells" and "My Favorite Things." Several original Christmas songs are also included, which have also now become well-known via this album.
Christmas was also the origin of Kenny's first holiday single, "Kentucky Home Made Christmas."
The album peaked at #10 on the U.S. Country charts and #34 on the overall U.S. charts.[1]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Christmas Everyday" | Peter McCann | 3:44 |
| 2. | "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" | Bill Caswell, Kin Vassy | 4:16 |
| 3. | "Carol of the Bells" | Mykola Leontovych, Peter Wilhousky | 2:44 |
| 4. | "Kids" | Mac Davis | 2:44 |
| 5. | "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" | Bob MacGimsey | 3:04 |
| 6. | "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year" | Peter McCann | 2:44 |
| 7. | "White Christmas" | Irving Berlin | 2:50 |
| 8. | "My Favorite Things" | Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers | 3:02 |
| 9. | "O Holy Night" | Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight | 4:39 |
| 10. | "When a Child Is Born" | Fred Jay, Zacar | 3:50 |
Personnel
[edit]- Kenny Rogers – lead vocals, backing vocals (3, 6), vocal arrangements
- Gene Page – arrangements
- Barnaby Finch – acoustic piano
- Lincoln Mayorga – acoustic piano
- John Hobbs – keyboards
- Clarence McDonald – Fender Rhodes
- Kin Vassy – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
- Ira Newborn – guitar
- David T. Walker – guitar
- Nathan East – bass guitar
- David Hungate – bass guitar
- Jerry Scheff – bass guitar
- Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums
- Gary Coleman – percussion
- Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
- Cindy Fee – backing vocals
- Terry Williams – backing vocals
- Jon Joyce – backing vocals (3, 6)
- Maxi Anderson – backing vocals (5)
- Marlena Jeter – backing vocals (5)
- Gwenchie Machu – backing vocals (5)
- Juance Charmaine O’Neal – backing vocals (6)
Production
[edit]- Producer – Kenny Rogers
- Assistant Producer – Brenda Harvey-Richie
- Engineers – Reginald Dozier (Tracks 1, 3–6, 8 & 9); Al Schmitt (Tracks 2 & 7); John Arrias (Track 10).
- Second Engineer (Track 10) – Stephen Schmitt
- Mixed by Reggie Dozier
- Art Direction and Design – Bill Burks
- Photography – Tom Gibson and Reid Miles
Re-releases
[edit]Christmas Wishes from Kenny Rogers
[edit]The album was reissued in 1995 with an alternate track list along with a title change to Christmas Wishes from Kenny Rogers in some regions (including the United Kingdom and United States). However in other countries, the title remained Christmas.
Alternate track list
[edit]- "White Christmas" [2:47]
- "Carol of the Bells" [2:43]
- "O Holy Night" [4:38]
- "Christmas Everyday" [3:42]
- "Kids" (CD Only) [2:42]
- "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" [4:14]
- "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year" [2:43]
- "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" [3:03]
- "When a Child Is Born" [3:49]
- "My Favorite Things" (CD Only) [2:59]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[2] | 34 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[3] | 10 |
| US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[4] | 27 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[5] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[6] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Kenny Rogers charted albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Kenny Rogers – Christmas". Music Canada.
- ^ "American album certifications – Kenny Rogers – Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America.