Joy to the World (Connie Smith album)

Joy to the World is the twenty seventh studio album by American country music artist, Connie Smith. The album was released in October 1975 on Columbia Records and was produced by George Richey. It was Smith's first and only album of Holiday music released.

Joy to the World contained ten tracks of Holiday-themed music. All of the album's tracks were cover versions of spiritual Christmas tunes, as Smith primarily focused on recording more Gospel music at Columbia Records. The album included versions "What Child Is This," "O Holy Night," "Go Tell It on the Mountain," and "Away in a Manger."^[1] The album was recorded at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, shortly before its release in 1975. The album was issued on a 12-inch LP record, with five songs on each side of the record.^[2] Unlike any of Smith's previous albums, Joy to the World did not chart the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart. In addition, the record did not spawn any singles.

Track listing

Side one

1. "What Child Is This?" – (William Chatterton Dix)
2. "O Holy Night" – (Adolphe Adam, Placide Cappeau)
3. "Go Tell It on the Mountain" – (John W. Work)
4. "The First Noel" – (Davies Gilbert, William B. Sandys)
5. "Little Drummer Boy" – (Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone)

Side two

1. "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" – (Robert MacGimsey)
2. "Away in a Manger" – (James R. Murray)
3. "Silent Night" – (Fraz Xaver Gruber)
4. "Joy to the World" – (Isaac Watts)
5. "O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)" – (John Francis Wade)

Personnel

• Tommy Allsup – guitar
• Carol Cooper – guitar
• Dorothy Delenoibus – background vocals
• Ray Edenton – guitar
• Lloyd Green – steel guitar
• Holladay Sisters – background vocals
• The Jordanaires – background vocals
• Shane Keister – organ, vibes
• Kenny Malone – drums
• Grady Martin – guitar
• Bob Moore – bass
• Laverna Moore – background vocals
• Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
• Connie Smith – lead vocals
• Chip Young – guitar

References