The Christmas Album

by Neil Diamond

Overview

While Neil Diamond's The Christmas Album is designed almost exclusively for his adult contemporary constituency, the vocalist still manages to light up most of the obviousness of these standards with his trademark gritty soul and flair for inflection. Opening with the grandeur of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel/We Three Kings of Orient Are" and "Silent Night," the album is awash in rich reds and golds almost immediately. But Diamond has fun with "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," loosening up with a harmonica solo and a busy, up-tempo arrangement, and "Jingle Bell Rock" does just that with a 1950s doo wop vibe. These moves count as big risks on an album that otherwise tries on every possible Christmas album cliche: children's choirs and histrionic adult ones, crashing cymbals, and tasteful piano that's as warm as a fireplace in December. Thankfully, even when the choirs threaten to outdo him, Diamond keeps the focus on his famous singing voice. A stirring a capella version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is a good example of this, and one of The Christmas Album's standouts. ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	09/25/2015
Label:	Capitol / Capitol Music Group
UPC:	0602537832507
Rank:	125931

Tracks

1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel/We Three Kings of Orient Are
2. Silent Night
3. The Little Drummer Boy
4. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
5. The Christmas Song
6. Morning Has Broken
7. Happy Xmas (War is Over)
8. White Christmas
9. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
10. Jingle Bell Rock
11. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
12. Silver Bells
13. You Make it Feel Llike Christmas
14. O Holy Night

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Neil Diamond   Primary Artist
Gavyn Wright   Primary Artist
Jimmy Johnson   Guest Artist,Bass
Herb Pedersen   Guest Artist
Brian Mann   Guest Artist
Ambrosian Singers   Guest Artist,Choir/Chorus
Julia Waters   Vocals (Background)
Nathaniel Kunkel   Drums
Raven Kane   Vocals (Background)
Donny Gerrard   Vocals (Background)
Robbie Buchanan   Piano,Keyboards
Plas Johnson   Soloist
Oren Waters   Vocals (Background)
David Campbell   Conductor
Gene Morford   Vocals
Ladd Thomas   Organ
Louis Gutierrez   Soloist
Josef Powell   Vocals (Background)
John McCarthy   Director
Jerry Whitman   Vocals
Robert Prizeman   Director
Jon Joyce   Vocals
Jim Haas   Vocals
Alan Lindgren   Piano
Donald Taylor   Director
Bob Magnusson   Bass (Upright)
Mike Fisher   Percussion
Maxine Waters   Vocals (Background)
M.B. Gordy   Percussion
L.A. Mass Choir   Choir/Chorus
Marcie Parker   Director
Andrew Gold   Guitar (Acoustic)
Bob Glaub   Bass
Bob Mann   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Russ Kunkel   Drums
Warren Ham   Harmonica
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Dean Parks   Guitar,Mandolin,Guitar (Electric)
Leland Sklar   Bass
Peter Asher   Drums,Percussion,Tambourine

Technical Credits

Peter Asher   Programming,Track Arrangement,Producer
Nathaniel Kunkel   Assistant
Mel Torme   Composer
Frank Wolf   Engineer,Mixing
Chad Blinman   Assistant
Jay Livingston   Composer
Joseph Carleton Beal   Composer
Katherine K. Davis   Composer
Neil Diamond   Composer,Adaptation,Liner Notes
139th Street Quartet   Arranger
Harry Simeone   Composer
Ivy Skoff   Production Coordination
David Campbell   Arranger,Adaptation,Choir Arrangement,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements
Robert Wells   Composer
Alex Marcou   Assistant
Jim Boothe   Composer
Pete Neushul   Adaptation,Group Member
Jim Kline   Adaptation,Group Member
Dan Jordan   Adaptation,Group Member
Jan Weinberg   Design
Marnie Riley   Assistant
Gil Morales   Assistant
Eugene Adebari   Cover Photo
Adolphe Adam   Composer
Ray Evans   Composer
Yoko Ono   Composer
George Marino   Mastering
Henry Onorati   Composer
Alan Lindgren   Arranger,Adaptation,Orchestral Arrangements
Brett Swain   Assistant
Haven Gillespie   Composer
John Sullivan Dwight   Composer
David Kirschner   Art Direction
Joe Beal   Composer
Frank Lindgren   Choir Arrangement
James Livington   Composer
Traditional   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Felix Mendelssohn   Composer
Eleanor Farjeon   Composer
Charles Wesley   Composer
Eric Rudd   Assistant
Doug Anderson   Adaptation,Group Member
Cat Stevens   Composer
Franz Gruber   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Sam Cooke   Project Coordinator