A Christmas Album

Amy Grant

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 1983
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sparrow
• ASIN: B000V7HFM8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,463 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Amy Grant's first Christmas album is not only one of the best recordings of her career, it's easily one of the best contemporary Christmas collections available. Grant's Christian beliefs have been incorporated into her music for years, and maybe it's the artistic translation of the depth of her faith that makes these songs so inspiring. "Emmanuel" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" have Grant's vocals soaring, especially on the sustained chorus of the latter. Her country roots show nicely in "Tennessee Christmas," while "Sleigh Ride" is as fun as it is romantic. "Heirlooms" is particularly poignant--maybe not to the point of "hand me a tissue," but it's powerful all the same. A must for fans, and a good holiday addition for those looking for a Christmas record that comes without the cobwebs. --Steve Gdula

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While many recording artists secular and religious leave their normal musical style on record store shelves when setting out to record a Christmas album, Amy Grant stays true to herself and her listeners. Since Amy swept up Grammy and Dove Awards this year her fans have eagerly awaited her next release. Although a season LP, A Christmas Album (Myrrh) offers completely new material for Amy.

From the instrumentation to the backup vocals, Brown Bannister's production on A Christmas Album is tight. Amy's vocals are lively and full of "umph." Side one opens with the countrified ballad "Tennessee Christmas," written by Amy and husband Gary Chapman. Later, a three-song extravaganza follows a well-harmonized version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." First comes "Preiset Dem Koing! (Praise to the King), a hopping keyboard instrumental written by Shane Keister. Following that, Michael W. Smiths "Emmanuel" stunningly begins with eight synthesized bass beats, building up to the rock chorus based on Isaiah 9:6. The beat then segues to a new innovative rock version of "Little Town."

Side two contains fresh renditions of "Sleigh Ride" and "The Christmas Song." Amy, Smith, and Keister share the credit on the uptempo pop tune "Love Has Come." The entire project flows from one song to another, making an inspiring seasonal disc. Now this is a Christmas album! -- Vicki Sterud (c) 1983 CCM Communications, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The classic "Christmas Album" by Amy Grant from 1983, November 23, 2003

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: A Christmas Album (Audio CD)

The idea that Amy Grant could put out a great Christmas album is hardly surprising, but the fact that she had a hand in writing four of the songs on this classic 1983 collection should raise some eyebrows. The scope of "A Christmas Album" is laid out in the first three tracks: "Tennessee Christmas," the first of the songs co-written by Grant, the traditional Mendelssohn hymn "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and a German carol "Preiset Dem König!" This album was released when Grant was pretty much at her height as a contemporary Christian singer, having won a Grammy for gospel singing the previous year, and that may well explain this rather ambitious album. But you would have to believe that Grant was going to be able to record anything she wants, which makes the eleven tracks she selected all the more interesting.

The other original songs are "Christmas Hymn," "Love Has Come," and "Heirlooms," which blend in just as well with the contemporary Christmas classics "Sleigh Ride" and "The Christmas Song." But the definitive song on this Christmas album is the last track, when Grant pulls out all the stops for an impressive medley of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and "Angels We Have Heard on High," supported by the Hollywood Presbyterian Choir. Having more sedate Christmas songs preceding this finale only makes it a more powerful conclusion to the album. I did a quick check through my Christmas albums and Amy Grant's "A Christmas Album" has more original songs, songs that I have never heard, or songs that do not appear on any other holiday, of any holiday album that I have. If you have not picked up this Christmas album in the twenty years since it was first released, then now would be a good time to add this classic to your music library.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amy Grant's first classic "Christmas Album", November 26, 2003

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: Christmas Album (Audio CD)

The idea that Amy Grant could put out a great Christmas album is hardly surprising, but the fact that she had a hand in writing four of the songs on this classic 1983 collection should raise some eyebrows. The scope of "A Christmas Album" is laid out in the first three tracks: "Tennessee Christmas," the first of the songs co-written by Grant, the traditional Mendelssohn hymn "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and a German carol "Preiset Dem König!" This album was released when Grant was pretty much at her height as a contemporary Christian singer, having won a Grammy for gospel singing the previous year, and that may well explain this rather ambitious album. But you would have to believe that Grant was going to be able to record anything she wants, which makes the eleven tracks she selected all the more interesting.

The other original songs are "Christmas Hymn," "Love Has Come," and "Heirlooms," which blend in just as well with the contemporary Christmas classics "Sleigh Ride" and "The Christmas Song." But the definitive song on this Christmas album is the last track, when Grant pulls out all the stops for an impressive medley of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and "Angels We Have Heard on High," supported by the Hollywood Presbyterian Choir. Having more sedate Christmas songs preceding this finale only makes it a more powerful conclusion to the album. I did a quick check through my Christmas albums and Amy Grant's "A Christmas Album" has more original songs, songs that I have never heard, or songs that do not appear on any other holiday, of any holiday album that I have. If you have not picked up this Christmas album in the twenty years since it was first released, then now would be a good time to add this classic to your music library.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this Christmas Album!, January 9, 2007

By	Katie Riddle "katie riddle" (Yorba Linda, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Christmas Album (Audio CD)

I grew up listening to this album and I never get tired of it year after year. It's always the first one I play when Christmastime rolls around.