| This Is Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 18, 1995 | |||
| Recorded | October 1994–July 1995 | |||
| Studio | Various
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:21 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Luther Vandross chronology | ||||
| ||||
| 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
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
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "With a Christmas Heart" |
| 4:04 |
| 2. | "This Is Christmas" |
| 4:45 |
| 3. | "The Mistletoe Jam (Everybody Kiss Somebody)" |
| 4:45 |
| 4. | "Every Year, Every Christmas" |
| 5:06 |
| 5. | "My Favorite Things" | 5:58 | |
| 6. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | 5:05 | |
| 7. | "I Listen to the Bells" (duet with Darlene Love) |
| 6:07 |
| 8. | "Please Come Home for Christmas" |
| 3:37 |
| 9. | "A Kiss for Christmas" |
| 4:12 |
| 10. | "O Come, All Ye Faithful" | 4:19 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Christmas Song" | 4:30 | |
| 2. | "My Favorite Things" |
| 5:58 |
| 3. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" |
| 5:05 |
| 4. | "The Mistletoe Jam (Everybody Kiss Somebody)" |
| 4:45 |
| 5. | "With a Christmas Heart" |
| 4:04 |
| 6. | "I Listen to the Bells" (duet with Darlene Love) |
| 6:07 |
| 7. | "A Kiss for Christmas" |
| 4:12 |
| 8. | "Every Year, Every Christmas" |
| 5:06 |
| 9. | "This Is Christmas" |
| 4:45 |
| 10. | "Please Come Home for Christmas" |
| 3:37 |
| 11. | "O Come, All Ye Faithful" |
| 4:19 |
| 12. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live) (duet with Chaka Khan) |
| 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
|
|
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
|
|
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[5] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ 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.
This page was last edited on 25 February 2024, at 21:43