Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album

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Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album
Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album cover
Studio album by Chicago
Released Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album:
August 25, 1998
What's It Gonna Be, Santa?:
October 14, 2003
Recorded 1998 and 2003
Genre Rock, Adult Contemporary
Length Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album:
50:50
What's It Gonna Be, Santa?:
74:33
Label Rhino
Producer Roy Bittan
(1998 recordings)
and Phil Ramone
(2003 recordings)
Professional reviews
Chicago chronology
The Heart of Chicago 1967-1998 Volume II
(1998)		 Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album
(1998)
What's It Gonna Be, Santa?
(2003)		 Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert
(1999)

Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album is an album of Christmas songs by American rock band Chicago and was initially released in 1998 on the band's Chicago Records imprint.

Produced by Roy Bittan, the album - featuring Chicago's interpretations of well-known Christmas classics plus one original tune (co-penned by Lee Loughnane) - was very well received upon its original August 1998 release, charting at #47 in the US and going gold.

The album cover for 2003's What's It Gonna Be, Santa?
The album cover for 2003's What's It Gonna Be, Santa?

However, once Chicago entered into their long-term partnership with Rhino Records in 2002, that label re-issued Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album later that year. In addition, it was decided to record six further songs - with Hot Streets and Chicago 13 producer Phil Ramone - and re-issue the whole package under a new design, title and sequencing, entitled What's It Gonna Be, Santa? in 2003, deleting its predecessor in the process. It has been reported that the band had initially considered recording an entirely new holiday effort, but didn't due to cost factors.

Guitarist Keith Howland sung his first lead vocal on the title track. This later release managed to reach #102 in the US.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album

  1. "The Little Drummer Boy" (Katherine Davis/Henry Onorati/Harry Simeone) – 4:05
  2. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Traditional) – 3:23
  3. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane) – 4:02
  4. "The Christmas Song" (Mel Tormé/Robert Wells) – 3:39
  5. "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Traditional) – 4:46
  6. "Child's Prayer" (Lee Loughnane/John Durrill) – 3:24
  7. "Feliz Navidad" (Jose Feliciano) – 4:17
  8. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Haven Gillespie/Fred Coots) – 3:56
  9. "Christmas Time Is Here" (Lee Mendelson/Vince Guaraldi) – 3:49
  10. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (Sammy Cahn/Julie Styne) – 3:29
  11. "What Child Is This?" (Traditional) – 4:41
  12. "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) – 2:28
  13. "Silent Night" (Traditional) – 3:18
  14. "One Little Candle" (Larry Mysels, Joseph Maloy Roach) – 1:26

Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album (Chicago 3035) reached #47 in the US during a chart stay of 7 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.

Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album has since been deleted in deference for What's It Gonna Be, Santa?.

[edit] What's It Gonna Be, Santa?

  1. "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard/Dick Smith) – 4:19
  2. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (Sammy Cahn/Julie Styne) – 3:29
  3. "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" (Traditional) – 3:35
  4. "The Little Drummer Boy" (Katherine Davis/Henry Onorati/Harry Simeone) – 4:05
  5. "This Christmas" (Donny Hathaway/Nadine McKinnor) – 4:03
  6. "Feliz Navidad" (Jose Feliciano) – 4:17
  7. "Bethlehem" (Bill Champlin/Tamara Champlin) – 4:07
  8. "The Christmas Song" (Mel Tormé/Robert Wells) – 3:39
  9. "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Traditional) – 4:46
  10. "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Johnny Marks) – 3:44
  11. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane) – 4:02
  12. "Sleigh Ride" (Leroy Anderson/Mitchell Parish) – 3:55
  13. "Silent Night" (Traditional) – 3:18
  14. "What Child Is This?" (Traditional) – 4:41
  15. "Christmas Time Is Here" (Lee Mendelson/Vince Guaraldi) – 3:49
  16. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Traditional) – 3:23
  17. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Haven Gillespie/Fred Coots) – 3:56
  18. "Child's Prayer" (Lee Loughnane/John Durrill) – 3:24
  19. "One Little Candle" (Larry Mysels, Joseph Maloy Roach) – 1:24
  20. "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) – 2:28

What's It Gonna Be, Santa? (Rhino 73892) reached #102 in the US during a chart stay of 5 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.

[edit] Personnel

Additional personnel

  • Michael Amezcua - choir
  • Roy Bittan - organ, piano, accordion, keyboards, bells
  • Ryan Bittan - choir
  • Alex Brown - choir
  • Tamara Champlin - choir
  • Alvin Chea - choir
  • Gia Ciambotti - choir
  • Luis Conte - percussion
  • Johnny Durrill - synthesizer
  • Gary Falcone - choir
  • Clark Gable - choir
  • Ryan Kelly - conductor
  • Bobbi Page - choir
  • Tim Pierce - acoustic guitar
  • Carmen Twillie - background vocals, choir, choir director
  • Oren Waters - choir
  • Monalisa Young - choir
v • d • e
Chicago
Robert Lamm · James Pankow · Lee Loughnane · Walter Parazaider · Bill Champlin · Jason Scheff · Tris Imboden · Keith Howland
Terry Kath · Peter Cetera · Danny Seraphine · Laudir DeOliveira · Donnie Dacus · Chris Pinnick · Dawayne Bailey
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations