Ray Stevens Christmas: Through a Different Window
Ray Stevens Christmas: Through a Different Window was the thirty-first studio album of Ray Stevens, released in 1997, as well as his first album of Christmas music. The title of the album perfectly fits the descriptions of all the songs, which satirize various subjects, including political correctness ("Guilt for Christmas" and "Nightmare Before Christmas"), holiday stereotypes ("Home for the Holidays"), Christmas parties thrown by corporate offices ("The Annual Office Christmas Party"), letters sent by families that discuss accomplishments that they made during the past year ("Xerox Xmas Letter") and children who claim to have behaved well while speaking to Santa Claus ("Bad Little Boy"). Two of the selections satirize classic Christmas songs: "I Won't Be Home for Christmas" and "The Little Drummer Boy-Next Door." The final track, "Santa Claus Is Watching You," is a re-recording of Stevens' 1962 hit of the same name; this marks the third time that Stevens recorded this song, as he recorded it for a second time for his album I Have Returned.
The front of the album cover shows Stevens with a Santa hat on his head and peaking through a window. A Christmas tree stands on the inside of the window.
This album was re-released by Stevens' own label of Clyde Records in 2004.
Track listing
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"Guilt for Christmas" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
3:03 |
| 2. |
"I Won't Be Home for Christmas" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr., Glenn Fortner, Sonny Fortner |
3:16 |
| 3. |
"Greatest Little Christmas Ever Wuz" |
Ray Stevens |
2:19 |
| 4. |
"Home for the Holidays" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
3:07 |
| 5. |
"Redneck Christmas" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
2:13 |
| 6. |
"Xerox Xmas Letter" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
2:54 |
| 7. |
"Nightmare Before Christmas" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
3:30 |
| 8. |
"The Annual Office Christmas Party" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
3:07 |
| 9. |
"The Little Drummer Boy-Next Door" |
Paul Alter, Ray Stevens, C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
3:02 |
| 10. |
"Bad Little Boy" |
C.W. Kalb, Jr. |
3:15 |
| 11. |
"Santa Claus Is Watching You" |
Ray Stevens |
3:10 |
Album credits
- Arranged and Produced by: Ray Stevens
- Keyboards: Ray Stevens
- Bass: Duncan Mullins
- Drums: Tommy Wells
- Guitars & Mandolin: Jerry Kimbrough
- Banjo: John Clausi
- Dobro: Sonny Garrish
- Trumpet: George Tidwell
- Trombone: Barry Green
- Tenor Sax: Denis Solee
- Strings: Carl Gorodetzky, David Davidson, Conni Ellisor, Pamela Sixfin, Lee Larrison, Alan Umstead
- Background Singers: Lisa Silver, Wendy Johnson, Mark Ivey, Louis Nunley
- Recorded at: Ray Stevens Sound Studio, Nashville, TN
- Engineer: Clark Hagan
- Mastered by: Glenn Meadows at Masterfonics
- Photographer: Morrison/Wulffraat
- Album Concept: Ray Stevens
- Graphic Design: Paul Tosh Design, SylvesterDESIGN
Chart performance
Album
| Chart (1997) |
Peak
position |
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums |
69 |