Christmas – Real 80s CCM

Prism – Green – 1988

Usually I bash Chris Harris and Mark Heimermann and their Prism projects but not this time. As I’ve been processing CCM artist’s Christmas albums this week more and more of them sounded like the record company recorded a bunch of Christmas carol arrangements and then invited a CCM artist in to sing them. None of these albums had a feel of the artist and quite frankly the arrangements sound like any album I could buy at Walmart for 99¢ in December. But not this album. Chris and Mark actually sat down and wrote some excellent arrangements for these tracks and did some great vocals. I have no idea who else was involved with this project but it is great as far as Christmas albums go. Many of these tracks will go on my Christmas playlist this year.

1 – Joy To The World – 3:41
2 – O Holy Night – 4:05
3 – Snowdrift / Silent Night – 5:09
4 – White Christmas – 4:22
5 – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – 2:01
6 – Away In A Manager – 4:33
7 – O Come All Ye Faithful – 4:52
8 – The First Noel – 3:25
9 – Angels We Have Heard On High – 3:16
10 – Only Love (Will Last Forever) – 4:09

Steve Green – Joy To The World – 1987

Here’s a collection of Christmas tracks that the record company put together for Steve Green to sing. I say this because this is about the 3rd CCM artist Christmas album I’ve listened to that had nothing contemporary about it and doesn’t seem to have that touch from the artist. That said it’s an okay album but it won’t go on my Christmas playlist.

Tracklist
1 – Joy To The World – 2:25
2 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Angels We Have Heard On High – 2:41
3 – Angels From The Realms Of Glory / O Come, All Ye Faithful – 3:06
4 – Silent Night, Holy Night – 3:19
5 – The Birthday Of A King / O Holy Night – 4:24
6 – Jesus Is Born – 3:24
7 – Messiah Medley – 3:16
8 – Rest – 4:09
9 – Adorar Al Niño (Go And Worship Jesus) – 2:08
10 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel / Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne – 4:21

Credits
Arranged By [Percussion Arrangement] – Don Hart
Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangements] – Greg Nelson, Phil Naish
Arranged By [String Arrangement] – Don Hart
Arranged By [String and Vocal Arrangements] – Alan Moore
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangement] – Don Hart
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangement], Conductor – David T. Clydesdale
Arranged By, Orchestrated By, Conductor – David T. Clydesdale
Art Direction – Barbara Catanzaro-Hearn
Bass – Craig Nelson
Contractor [Background Vocalists] – Beverly Darnall
Contractor [Orchestra] – Carl Gorodetzky, The Nashville String Machine
Design – Jackson Design
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer – Brent King
Engineer [Assistant] – Bill Whittington, David Murphy
Engineer, Mixed By – Bob Clark
Guitar – Jon Goin, Mark Casstevens
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Percussion – Farrell Morris
Photography By – Steven A. Heller
Piano [Acoustic], Harpsichord – David Huntsinger
Producer – Greg Nelson
Sleeve Notes – Steve Green

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Word Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios
Recorded At – Downstage Studio
Mixed At – Great Circle Sound
Published By – LCS Songs
Published By – Pamela Kay Music
Published By – Beckengus Music
Published By – River Oaks Music
Published By – New Wings Music
Published By – Greg Nelson Music

Michael W. Smith – Christmas – 1989

Okay just right off the bat I’m going to clarify that this album is in no way contemporary. It is 100% classical or whatever you want to call this genre. If you like Michael’s piano playing you MIGHT like this album but quite frankly it doesn’t fit in as CCM music in any way shape or form. It is Michael W. Smith so we thought we would upload it anyway but I can guarantee that after the work needed to upload this album I will likely never listen to it again.

Tracklist
1 – Overture/O Come All Ye Faithful – 5:38
2 – Lux Venit – 3:28
3 – Anthem For Christmas – 3:11
4 – First Snowfall – 2:44
5 – Christ The Messiah – 3:59
6 – No Eye Had Seen – 2:53
7 – All Is Well – 4:08
8 – Memoirs: A Trilogy – 4:28
9 – Gloria – 5:03
10 – Silent Night – 1:33

Credits
Arranged By [Choral Arangements] – Ronn Huff
Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra] – Ronn Huff
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Brent King, Danny Garcia, Scott Macminn
Engineer [Assistant] – Bryan Lenox, Joe Kraus, Steve Charles
Engineer, Mixed By – Billy Whittington
Executive Producer – Michael Blanton, Terry Hemmings
Featuring – The Nashville Festival Orchestra, Nashville String Machine
Mastered By – Ron Lewter
Producer – Michael W. Smith, Ronn Huff
Producer [Orchestra & Choir] – Mark Laycock
Recorded By [Orchestra] – Brent King

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records, Inc.
Copyright © – Reunion Records, Inc.
Made By – Discovery Systems
Published By – O’Ryan Music, Inc.
Published By – Tapestry, Inc.
Published By – Age To Age Music, Inc.
Published By – Annie Merle Music
Published By – Gaither Music Company
Published By – Emily Boothe, Inc.
Recorded At – War Memorial Auditorium
Recorded At – Martinsound
Recorded At – Sigma Sound Studios
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Recorded At – Deer Valley Studio, Franklin, TN
Mixed At – Deer Valley Studio, Franklin, TN
Edited At – Digital Associates
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

Truth – Your Heart Is Where Christmas Is Found – 1989

A very very expanded version of Truth plays some Christmas tracks in medley and full length versions. They included some non traditional songs whch gives the album a very rounded appeal for a Chrsitmas album.

Tracklist
1 – Celebration Of Joy – 3:35
2 – Caroler’s Song – 3:29
3 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas / We Wish You A Merry Christmas – 4:26
4 – Your Heart Is Where Christmas Is Found – 4:00
5 – O Come, All Ye Faithful – 5:03
6 – Silver Bells / Carol Of The Bells – 3:55
7 – The Way He Came – 4:16
8 – Sleigh Ride – 3:08
9 – Carol Medley – 4:11
10 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel / Emmanuel – 4:51

Credits
Arranged By – David Maddux, David Clydesdale, Don Hart, Steven V. Taylor
Art Direction – Katherine DeVault Design
Bass – Gary Lunn
Directed By [Director] – Roger Breland
Drums – Mark Hammond
Executive-Producer – Dan Cleary
Guitar – Jon Goin
Keyboards – David Huntsinger
Orchestra – Nashville String Machine
Performer [TRUTH Is] – Alicia Williamson, Amy Thomas, Andy Chrisman, Brian Smith, Christi Bovee, Cynthia Snelling, Dana Cappillino, Ellen Schoppert, Gina Walker, Glen George, Roger Breland*, Kevin Rizzo, Kirk Sullivan, Lanny Cox, Mark Bovee, Mark Childers, Mark Harris, Marty Magehee, Mike Cole, Mike Thomas, Mike Walker, Sharon Childers, Steve Schoppert, Tim Ranson
Photography By – Jim DeVault Photography
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Steven V. Taylor
Recorded By, Mixed By – Mike Psanos

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Benson Company, Inc.
Copyright © – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Mixed At – Great Circle Sound
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Distributed By – Mitchell Family Books, Inc.
Published By – John T. Benson Publishing Co., Inc.
Published By – TRC Music
Published By – Paragon Music Corp.
Published By – EMI Feist Catalog, Inc.
Published By – Word Music, Inc.
Published By – Paramount Music
Published By – Mills Music, Inc.

First Call – An Evening In December – 1985

A selection of Christmas songs from First Call featuring David Maddux done in A Cappella. Nothing outstanding here except for the fact that it was done A Cappella.

Tracklist
1 – An Evening In December – 4:53
2 – Christmas Medley – 4:15
3 – Starlight – 3:06
4 – How Great Our Joy! – 1:45
5 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel – 3:05
6 – The First Noel – 2:33
7 – One Small Child – 3:02
8 – When Jesus Was A Tiny Baby – 3:07
9 – Lo! How A Rose E’re Blooming – 1:16
10 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 3:43
11 – The New Twelve Days Of Christmas/We Wish You A Merry Christmas – 5:02

Credits
Arranged By – D. Maddux
Art Direction, Illustration – McConnell Graphics
Co-producer – David Maddux
Engineer [Sound] – Lynn Fuston, Tom Harding
Engineer, Mixed By – Ed Seay
Executive-Producer – Don Cason, Neal Joseph
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Performer – David Maddux, First Call
Performer [First Call Is] – Bonnie Keen, Marty McCall, Melodie Tunney
Producer – Steven V. Taylor

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Treasure Isle Recorders
Mastered At – Mastermix
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Epic
Distributed By – Epic

Chuck Girard – Heart Of Christmas – 2001

Here’s a collection of Christmas favourites by Chuck Girard many of which have updated arrangements. Of interest is Jingle Bells with Christian lyrics and a more modern version of Oh Holy Night. There is also a traditional version of Oh Holy Night.

Tracklist
1 – Jingle Bells – 3:15
2 – We Three Kings – 4:42
3 – What Child Is This – 4:21
4 – Silent Night – 6:37
5 – Oh Holy Night – 5:02
6 – Heart Of Christmas – 4:23
7 – The First Noel – 4:33
8 – Mary’s Boy Child – 5:19
9 – Away In A Manger / Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem – 4:36
10 – In The Bleak Mid-Winter – 4:26
11 – Oh Holy Night – 5:24

Credits
Co-producer, Arranged By – Karen Girard
Producer, Arranged By – Chuck Girard

Larry Norman – Christmastime, The Day That A Child Appeared – 2003

In 2003 Larry’s brother put out a posthumous Larry Christmas album. It includes two tracks Larry had previously released, “Christmastime” and “The Day That A Child Appeared”. The rest of the tracks are “new” with Charles and his band Softcore providing backing on the long lost tracks. The guitars are strong on this bluesy collection of classic Christmas songs. The CD was re-released in 2015 so those who missed it the first time around. I would also credit Charles with a great album cover that resembles a well worn record sleeve, nice touch.

Tracklist
1 – Christmastime – 4:07
2 – The First Noel – 3:31
3 – Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem – 4:10
4 – Do You See What I See – 3:22
5 – O Holy Night – 4:05
6 – Jingle Bell Rock – 2:08
7 – Medley – Carol Of The Bells – Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies – 3:10
8 – Let There Be Peace On Earth – 3:59
9 – Angels We Have Heard On High – 3:02
10 – Christmastime Is Here – 2:44
11 – The Day That A Child Appeared – 2:34
12 – Auld Lang Syne – 4:06

Credits
Backing Vocals – Kristin Blix
Bass – Silver Sorensen
Chorus – Charles Normal (tracks: 12), Karson Swedberg (tracks: 12), Kristin Blix (tracks: 12), Kristy Beth* (tracks: 12), Larry Norman (tracks: 12), Margaret Norman (tracks: 12), Michael Norman (tracks: 12)
Drums – Jason Carter
Engineer – Charles Normal
Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Backing Vocals – Charles Normal
Mixed By – Charles Normal, Jason Carter, Larry Norman
Producer – Charles Normal
Saw [Musical Saw] – Michael Manning
Slide Guitar – Mark Lemhouse
Vocals – Larry Norman

Companies, etc.
Licensed Through – Harry Fox
Copyright (c) – Solid Rock
Published By – Copyright Control

Russ Taff – A Christmas Song – 1992

Russ Taff gives us his version of several traditional Christmas tracks both Christian and secular. Included is his version of “What A Wonderful World” which is not really a traditional Christmas song but works well on this album and others have used it on their Christmas albums.

1 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 4:34
2 – Angels We Have Heard On High – 2:57
3 – The Christmas Song – 2:19
4 – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – 4:01
5 – I’ll Be Home For Christmas – 4:01
6 – Let It Snow, Let It Snow – 2:39
7 – White Christmas – 3:51
8 – What Child Is This? – 2:41
9 – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – 4:07
10 – What A Wonderful World – 2:27

Credits
Bass – Byron House
Conductor [Strings Conducted By] – John Darnall
Drums, Bells [Sleigh Bells] – John Hammond
Executive-Producer – John Huie
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Piano, Vibraphone [Vibes] – Matt Rollings
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Recorded By, Mixed By – James Hollihan, Jr.
Recorded By [Strings Recorded By] – Lynn Fuston
Saxophone – Mark Douthit
Strings – The Nashville String Machine
Trumpet – Mike Haynes

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright (c) – The Sparrow Corporation
Produced For – Russ Taff Productions
Recorded At – Interociter Studio, Nashville, TN
Mixed At – Interociter Studio, Nashville, TN
Mastered At – Mastermix
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Imperials – Christmas With The Imperials – 1980

This 1980 release from the Imperials features a selection of traditional Christmas Carols sung in a traditional style. Sorry no Rock & Roll here.

Tracklist
1 – Child Of Love – 3:52
2 – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – 2:51
3 – Mary’s Boy Child – 2:41
4 – Immanual – 3:30
5 – O Come All Ye Faithful – 2:02
6 – Christmas Praise – 2:49
7 – Silent Night – 2:47
8 – What Child Is This? – 2:38
9 – O Little Town Of Bethlehem – 2:22
10 – O Holy Night – 3:57

Modest Attraction – Modest Christmas – 1994

Modest Attraction are Simeon Liljegren and Christian Liljegren from Borderline, Mick Nordström from Jerusalem, and Stephan Mohlin. They had a demo and an album before this “Christmas” EP. Normally we don’t post 90’s bands but we couldn’t resist this Christmas album. The first 2 tracks are Christmas songs. One of them an original and one a cover of a legendary Larry Norman song. The last 2 tracks I am assuming were a gift to their fans.

Tracklist
1 – Modest Christmas – 3:15
2 – Christmas Time – 5:02
3 – Feed Your Fire (Live) – 4:11
4 – Give You My Song (Live) – 8:03

Credits
Band [Modest Attraction Is], Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Simeon Liljegren
Band [Modest Attraction Is], Drums, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Mick Nordström
Band [Modest Attraction Is], Guitar [All Guitars], Backing Vocals – Stephan Mohlin
Band [Modest Attraction Is], Lead Vocals – Christian Liljegren
Co-producer – The Rest Of The Band
Engineer [Assisted By] – Olle Kristensson, Stephan Mohlin
Engineer [Engineered By] – Mick Nordström
Mastered By – Mick Nordström, Peter Dahl
Organ, Bass – Niklas Jonsson
Producer [Produced By] – Mick Nordström

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Viva Records AB
Copyright (c) – Viva Records AB
Recorded At – Stable Hill Studios
Mixed At – Stable Hill Studios
Mastered At – Cutting Room
Pressed By – CD-Linja OY
Published By – Cantio Music
Published By – Glenwood Music Corp.
Published By – Straw Bed Publ Co
Published By – New Generation