It's a Wonderful Christmas
It's a Wonderful Christmas is an album by Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith. Released in October 2007, this epic album is Smith's third album of Christmas music and features four choirs and a 65-piece orchestra.[2] About half the album is instrumental pieces, including "What Child is This", "Audrey's Gift", and "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Vocal numbers such as "The Promise" and "Christmas Morning" reflect Smith's trademark personal touch and evoke his previous Christmas albums, Christmas (1989) and Christmastime (1998). Smith utilizes the full sound of the orchestra and choirs to produce an album that exudes a "mastery of the adult contemporary sound" and adds "so richly to the Christmas songbook."[2]
Track listing
- "Christmas Angels" (3:50)
- "It's a Wonderful Christmas" (5:05)
- "The Promise" (5:05)
- "Song for the King" (4:19)
- "Christmas Day" (3:20)
- "A Highland Carol" (2:18)
- "Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah" (3:40)
- "Son of God" (2:53)
- "What Child Is This" (4:48)
- "Audrey’s Gift" (1:49)
- "All Year Long" (2:39)
Track 5 features Mandisa.
Credits
- Music
- Michael W. Smith – vocals, piano, arranger, producer, executive producer
- The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
- David Hamilton – conductor, arranger, celeste, Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer, digital editing, executive producer, producer
- Ronn Huff – arranger
- Carl Marsh – arranger
- Adam Lester – guitar
- Skip Cleavinger – bagpipes, low whistle, penny whistle
- David Davidson – violin
- James Gregory – bass
- Craig Nelson – bass
- Sam Bacco – drums
- Paul Liem – drums
- Mandisa – vocals
- Bonnie Keen – vocals
- Children's Choir – children's chorus
- Choristers of Reigate St. Mary's – boy's choir
- Nashville Children's Choir – choir, chorus
- New Cumberland Choir – choir, chorus
- John Coates – choir director
- Kathy Goodrich – assistant choir director
- Marie Morris – assistant choir director
- Sandy Hamilton – children's choirmaster
- John Tobin – children's choirmaster
- Greg Thomas – choir master
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
- Charlotte Matthew – orchestra contractor
- Patti Thomas – choir contractor
- Perry Montague-Mason – concert master
- Production
- Michael Blanton – executive producer
- Ken Johnson – production coordination
- Melissa Leonelli – production assistant, librarian
- Lori Casteel – music preparation
- Mike Casteel – music preparation
- Ric Domenico – music preparation
- Eberhard Ramm – music preparation
- Ronnie Brookshire – recording
- Andrew Dudman – recording
- Humberto Gatica – recording
- Derik Lee – recording
- Fred Paragano – recording
- Jeff Pitzer – recording
- Doug Sarrett – recording
- Bill Whittington – recording
- Steven Beers – assistant engineer
- Dominic Christie – assistant engineer
- Scrap Marshall – assistant engineer
- Mark Petaccia – assistant engineer
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant engineer
- Jeff Cain – digital editing
- Dave Dillbeck – digital editing, recording
- David Schober – mixing
- Brian Calhoon – mixing assistant
- Andrew Mendelson – mastering
- Stephanie McBrayer – art direction, stylist
- Tim Parker – art direction
- Allen Clark – photography
- Michelle Box – A&R
- Jason McArthur – A&R
- Michealle Vanderpool – hair stylist, makeup
Reception
It's a Wonderful Christmas sold 12,759 copies in its first week, 6,000 of them digital. The album has since sold 39,000 copies.[5]
The album was a critical success, receiving 4 stars out of 5 with every critic. However, Billboard gave the album mixed reviews.
In 2008, the album won a Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year at the 39th GMA Dove Awards.[6]
Charts
References
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| Studio albums |
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| Instrumental Albums |
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| Christmas albums |
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| Live albums |
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| Compilation albums |
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| Songs |
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| Other |
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