This Is Christmas (Luther Vandross album)

This Is Christmas
This Is Christmas
Studio album by Luther Vandross
Released	October 18, 1995
Recorded	October 1994–July 1995
Studio	Various Camel Island Studios (Los Angeles); Clinton Recording Studios; The Hit Factory; Power Station; Sterling Sound (New York City); ;
Genre	R&B; soul; christmas;
Length	48:21
Label	Epic
Producer	Luther Vandross (also exec.); Nat Adderley Jr.; Marcus Miller;
Luther Vandross chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Cash Box	(favorable)^[2]
Entertainment Weekly	B−^[3]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[4]
Rolling Stone	(mixed)^[4]

This Is Christmas is a Christmas album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released on October 18, 1995, by Epic Records. Produced by Vandross along with Nat Adderley Jr. and Marcus Miller, the album received mixed to negative reviews from music critics and peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard 200 and number 4 on both Billboard's Top Holiday Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Being a steady seller throughout the Christmas season, it was eventually certified platinum in 2002 by the RIAA.^[5]

In November and December 1995 the album lent its title to a syndicated television special which was hosted by Vandross and featured songs from the album, as well as performances by special guests.

In 2002 Sony Music released six of the album's tracks, along with two spiritual tracks from the same era, on the compilation album, Home for Christmas.

Expanded Version[edit]

In October 2012 Sony rearranged, expanded, and repackaged the entire album under the new title, The Classic Christmas Album. The additional tracks were odd songs Vandross had recorded for other Christmas releases:

"The Christmas Song" was previously released on A Very Special Christmas 2 (1992).
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live) (duet with Chaka Khan) was recorded at the 1998 Soul Train Christmas Starfest and was previously unreleased.
"May Christmas Bring You Happiness" and "At Christmas Time" were previously released on Funky Christmas (1976).

Track listing[edit]

*This Is Christmas* – Standard edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"With a Christmas Heart"	Luther Vandross Skip Anderson	4:04
2.	"This Is Christmas"	Vandross Reed Vertelney	4:45
3.	"The Mistletoe Jam (Everybody Kiss Somebody)"	Vandross Ivan Hampden Jr.	4:45
4.	"Every Year, Every Christmas"	Vandross Richard Marx	5:06
5.	"My Favorite Things"	Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II	5:58
6.	"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"	Hugh Martin Ralph Blane	5:05
7.	"I Listen to the Bells" (duet with Darlene Love)	Vandross Fonzi Thornton	6:07
8.	"Please Come Home for Christmas"	Vandross Anderson	3:37
9.	"A Kiss for Christmas"	Vandross Hampden	4:12
10.	"O Come, All Ye Faithful"	John Francis Wade Frederick Oakeley	4:19

*The Classic Christmas Album* – Reissue
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Christmas Song"	Mel Tormé Bob Wells	4:30
2.	"My Favorite Things"	Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II	5:58
3.	"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"	Hugh Martin Ralph Blane	5:05
4.	"The Mistletoe Jam (Everybody Kiss Somebody)"	Luther Vandross Ivan Hampden Jr.	4:45
5.	"With a Christmas Heart"	Vandross Skip Anderson	4:04
6.	"I Listen to the Bells" (duet with Darlene Love)	Vandross Fonzi Thornton	6:07
7.	"A Kiss for Christmas"	Vandross Hampden	4:12
8.	"Every Year, Every Christmas"	Vandross Richard Marx	5:06
9.	"This Is Christmas"	Vandross Reed Vertelney	4:45
10.	"Please Come Home for Christmas"	Vandross Anderson	3:37
11.	"O Come, All Ye Faithful"	Wade Oakeley	4:19
12.	"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live) (duet with Chaka Khan)	Hugh Martin Ralph Blane	5:11
13.	"May Christmas Bring You Happiness"	Vandross	4:27
14.	"At Christmas Time"	Vandross	5:03

Notes

"The Christmas Song" was previously released on the album A Very Special Christmas 2 (1992)
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live) (duet with Chaka Khan) was recorded at the 1998 Soul Train Christmas Starfest and was previously unreleased
"May Christmas Bring You Happiness" and "At Christmas Time" was previously released on the album Funky Christmas (1976)

Personnel[edit]

Luther Vandross – lead vocals, backing vocals, arrangements (2, 3, 4, 7, 9), vocal arrangements (2, 3, 7, 8, 9), spoken vocals (3)
John Anderson – acoustic piano (1, 8), synthesizers (1, 8), drums (1, 7-9), arrangements (1-4, 7-9), keyboards (2, 3, 7, 9), Fender Rhodes (4)
Jason Miles – synthesizer sound programming (1-4, 7-9),
drum programming (1-4, 7-9)
Reed Vertelney – keyboards (2), drum programming (2), arrangements (2)
Ivan Hampden Jr. – keyboards (3), drums (3, 5, 6, 9, 10), arrangements (3, 9)
Nat Adderley Jr. – acoustic piano (4, 5, 6, 10), string arrangements (4), keyboards (5, 6), arrangements (5, 6)
Eric Caudieux – synthesizer sound programming (5, 6)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (2-5, 7-10)
Phil Hamilton – guitar (5, 6)
Marcus Miller – bass (3, 4, 10), keyboards (10), Hammond B3 organ (10), arrangements (10), choir conductor (10)
Luico Hopper – bass (5, 6)
Eluriel "Tinker" Barfield – bass (7)
Erroll "Crusher" Bennett – percussion (5)
Steve Kroon – percussion (6)

Dick Oatts – tenor saxophone solo (5, 6)
Clarence Clemons – tenor saxophone solo (7)
Richard Marx – arrangements (4)
Earl McIntyre – horn orchestration (5, 6)
Peter Dimitriades – string concertmaster (6)
Alfred Brown – string contractor (6)
John Clayton – string arrangements and conductor (10)
Emile Charlap – orchestra contractor (10)
Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
Robin Clark – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
Milt Grayson – backing vocals (2)
Cissy Houston – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 9)
Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8, 9), vocal contractor,
vocal arrangements (7)
Brenda White-King – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 9)
Darlene Love – backing vocals (3), lead vocals (7)
Kevin Owens – backing vocals (7)

Choir on "O' Come All Ye Faithful"

Tawatha Agee, Katreese Barns, Vivian Cherry, Robin Clark, Ada Dyer, Genobia Jeter, Yvonne Lewis, Paulette McWilliams, Kevin Owens
Tamira C. Sanders, Valerie Simpson, Fonzi Thornton (choir contractor)

Production

Luther Vandross – producer (1-4, 7-9), executive producer
Nat Adderley Jr. – producer (5, 6)
Marcus Miller – producer (10)
Ray Bardani – audio recording (1-4, 7-9), lead vocal recording (5, 6, 9), mixing
Paul Brown – audio recording (5, 6)
Stan Wallace – audio recording (5, 6)
Dan Wojnar – audio recording (9)
Joe Ferla – orchestra recording (9)
David Ward – additional recording, sound designer (10)
Tony Duino-Black – assistant engineer
Paul Falcone – assistant engineer
Robert Friedrich – assistant engineer

Carl Glanville – assistant engineer
Geraldo Lopez – assistant engineer
Aya Takemura – assistant engineer
Max Risenhoover – digital editing (1-5, 7-10)
Eric Caudieux – digital editing (2, 5, 7)
Ted Jensen – mastering
Marsha Burns – project coordinator
George Corsillo – design
Patti Manzone – design
Alberto Tolot – photography
Jeff Jones – hair, makeup

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1995)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[6]	28
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)^[6]	4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[7]	4

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1996)	Position
US Billboard 200^[6]	175
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[8]	81

Certifications[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[5]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

^ link
^ Robertson IV, Gil L. (December 9, 1995). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
^ link
^ ^a ^b Decurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; Miller, Jim; George-Warren, Holly (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. ISBN 9780679737285.
^ ^a ^b "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – This Is Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.

[1] ^ link

[2] Robertson IV, Gil L. (December 9, 1995). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 10, 2022.

[3] ^ link

[books.google.com-4] Decurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; Miller, Jim; George-Warren, Holly (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. ISBN 9780679737285.

[riaa-5] "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – This Is Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America.

[bb200-6] "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-21.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Luther_Vandross-7] "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-21.

[year-end2-8] "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.

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v t e Luther Vandross
Discography Tours
Studio albums	Never Too Much Forever, for Always, for Love Busy Body The Night I Fell in Love Give Me the Reason Any Love Power of Love Never Let Me Go Songs This Is Christmas Your Secret Love I Know Luther Vandross Dance with My Father
Compilation albums	The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love One Night with You: The Best of Love, Volume 2 Love Is on the Way Always & Forever: The Classics Greatest Hits Super Hits Smooth Love The Ultimate Luther Vandross Stop to Love The Very Best of Love The Essential Luther Vandross Artist Collection: Luther Vandross Love, Luther Lovesongs
Live albums	Live Radio City Music Hall 2003
Singles	"Never Too Much" "Don't You Know That?" "If This World Were Mine" "Bad Boy"/"Having a Party" "Since I Lost My Baby" "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" "I'll Let You Slide" "Superstar"/"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (Medley) "Til My Baby Comes Home" "It's Over Now" "Wait for Love" "Give Me the Reason" "Stop to Love" "There's Nothing Better Than Love" "I Really Didn't Mean It" "So Amazing" "Any Love" "She Won't Talk to Me" "For You to Love" "Here and Now" "Treat You Right" "Power of Love/Love Power" "Don't Want to Be a Fool" "The Rush" "Sometimes It's Only Love" "The Best Things in Life Are Free" "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" "Heaven Knows" "Never Let Me Go" "Endless Love" "Always and Forever" "Love the One You're With" / "Going in Circles" "Every Year, Every Christmas" "Your Secret Love" "I Can Make It Better" "Nights in Harlem" "I Know" "Take You Out" "Can Heaven Wait" "I'd Rather" "Dance with My Father" "Think About You" "Buy Me a Rose" "The Closer I Get to You" "One Shining Moment" "Shine"
Other songs	"A House Is Not a Home" "Any Day Now"
Tribute albums	Forever, for Always, for Luther So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II
Related articles	Luther (album) This Close to You Change (band) Luther Burger