| Happy Christmas | ||||
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| Studio album by Jessica Simpson | ||||
| Released | November 22, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | October 2010 Hollywood, California Henson Studios Atlanta, Georgia Triangle Studios |
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| Genre | Christmas, pop | |||
| Length | 47:01 | |||
| Label | Primary Wave & EMI | |||
| Producer | Kuk Harrell, Aaron Pearce, C. "Tricky" Stewart, The-Dream | |||
| Jessica Simpson chronology | ||||
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Happy Christmas is the seventh studio album and second Christmas album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The album was released on November 22, 2010 by Primary Wave Records. Simpson made an appearance on The Early Show to promote the album.
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It was revealed that Simpson had parted ways with her record label, Epic Records, and signed a new record deal. Simpson was interviewed by E! News and PopSugar.com where she revealed that she is back in the studio, working on a new Christmas album. On September 15, 2010, it was announced that Simpson was working with the producers of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart in her next two albums. On October 12, 2010, Simpson announced via Twitter that she had completed recording this album. Simpson said that the concept of a new Christmas album came after PBS asked her if she would like to do a Christmas special. Simpson and PBS thought it would be a good idea to release an album along with a holiday special. The show premiered on television on December 4, 2010. The album was made available for streaming through Amazon.com.[1] She also appeared on The Early Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Live with Regis and Kelly, Access Hollywood and performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting.
Tricky Stewart told US Weekly about working with Simpson on the album: "We have actually have [talked about working together again]. I was so pleasantly surprised and happy with how everything came out! She is a gem just waiting to be rediscovered, so there is a definite possibility of us working together again in the future. She is fun and lighthearted but very serious about her singing. She is a little bit of an over-thinker sometimes because she puts so much pressure on herself. But, overall we had a great time making this record! We had to do it super fast — we started the negotiations and everything in October, which is really late for a Christmas album. But we got it done, it came out, and it's great — everyone loved it".[2]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [3] |
The album received a positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic stated, "compared to 2004’s brassy Rejoyce: The Christmas Album, Happy Christmas exists on a small stage: Simpson doesn’t belt songs out, doesn’t seem intent on wowing an audience with her pizzazz. [sic] [...]She may be intent on being all things to all people, but her eagerness to please suits the season and helps make Happy Christmas a better holiday soundtrack than Rejoyce."[4]
Jon Caramanica from New York Times stated, "A Western-swing-influenced medley of “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” sung by Jessica Simpson, and produced by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream? Someone’s been paying attention to one critic’s holiday wish list. Ms. Simpson, who began her career several lifetimes ago as a Christian singer, hasn’t sounded as focused in years as she does on the feverishly pleasing “Happy Christmas,” which is produced largely by Mr. Stewart and The-Dream, the synth-bliss R&B tastemakers, employing full restraint here. The bland bigness of holiday music suits Ms. Simpson’s overpowering voice well, but even when she’s testing it, she sounds sharp, whether on the multitracked delirium of “Carol of the Bells” or on an electric-blues version of “Merry Christmas Baby,” where she energetically over-emotes against a more laconic holiday messenger, Willie Nelson"[5]
The album sold 10,153 copies in its first week and debuted at number one hundred twenty-three on US Billboard 200, becoming Simpson's lowest peak in the US.[6] It also debuted at number nine on Billboard Independent Albums and number twenty three on Top Holiday Albums chart.[6]
Simpson and PBS announced that a Christmas musical special will air in the fall, in promotion with Simpson's new Christmas album. The special, entitled "Jessica Simpson: Happy Christmas" was available to watch on November 25, 2010 on Simpson's official website, and premiered on Saturday prime-time television on December 4th, 2010. The show features Simpson singing a collection of Christmas hits from Happy Christmas and her first holiday album Rejoyce: The Christmas Album. Simpson was also joined by special guests including sister Ashlee Simpson, Trey Lorenz, Willie Nelson, and Carly Simon. This is the second Christmas TV special featuring Simpson, the first being "Nick and Jessica's Family Christmas" with ex-husband Nick Lachey
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Only Wish" | Aaron Pearce, Christopher Stewart, Jessica Simpson | Aaron Pearce, Tricky Stewart | 3:53 |
| 2. | "Here Comes Santa Claus" / "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" | J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce* | 3:03 |
| 3. | "O Come O Come Emmanuel" | Pearce | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 4:20 |
| 4. | "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (duet with John Britt) | Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 4:39 |
| 5. | "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" | John Lennon, Yoko Ono | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Mary Did You Know" | Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Merry Christmas Baby" (duet with Willie Nelson) | Johnny Dudley Moore, Lou Baxter | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 4:57 |
| 8. | "Kiss Me for Christmas" | Terius Nash, Stewart, Simpson | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 4:57 |
| 9. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 4:04 |
| 10. | "Carol of the Bells" | Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovych | Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Aaron Pearce*, Kuk Harrell* | 3:14 |
(*) Denotes co-producer
Credits for Happy Christmas adapted from Allmusic.[7]
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| Chart (2010) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[6] | 123 |
| US Top Holiday Albums[6] | 23 |
| US Independent Albums[6] | 9 |
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Canada[8] | November 22, 2010 | EMI Primary Wave Music |
| Germany[9] | ||
| United Kingdom[10] | ||
| United States |
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