A Christmas Album
Artist: Amy Grant
Label: Reunion Records, 1983
Time: 11 tracks / 37:36
A Christmas Album, the first of two Christmas albums released by Amy Grant, is a delightful mix of traditional hymns, old favorites, and new tunes written by Grant and others, most notably Michael W. Smith. The album opens with one of several excellent original songs, "Tennessee Christmas," which tells of Grant's desire to have a warm and wonderful Christmas at home with family and friends rather than a more exciting holiday in L.A. or Colorado:
Another tender Tennessee Christmas"Heirlooms," another song original to A Christmas Album, tells the story of a woman who, upon looking through the mementos in her attic, realizes that her family, and her God, mean more to her than any heirlooms ever could. Of the other originals, Michael W. Smith fans will recognize the contemporary Christmas classic "Emmanuel" from one of his early albums.
The only Christmas for me
Where the love circles around us
Like the gifts around our tree
Well they say in L.A. it's a warm holiday
It's the only place to be
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
Warm renditions of traditional hymns can also be found here: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Little Town," which is treated to a new, memorable melody. Grant also tackles such holiday favorites as "Sleigh Ride" and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)," and though one might argue that Nat King Cole's voice is more elegant or resonant, Grant holds her own.
Though A Christmas Album has been around for 15 years, adults and children alike look forward to hearing it each year, because it represents Grant's early work at its best: creative and well-done, but simply produced. The most apt description of this album comes from its liner notes: "This collection of songs--some old and some new --is an attempt to capture and share a part of our Christmas with you. Most of all, this is a celebration for all time because God loved us enough to send us His Son."
by Lisa Reid (11/3/98)
Amy Grant's A Christmas Album was the first Christmas album I ever bought for myself, and has proven itself a favorite for over a decade in my home. I can still remember the first time I heard it, and how it provided such a nice departure from the endless repetitions of albums like John Denver's Christmas record I grew up with, because it offered something that sounded new, contemporary, and full of joy.
Now that the album is fifteen years old, it doesn't sound so contemporary anymore (even Michael W. Smith would probably blush a bit at his keyboard parts), but it still captures a sense of real joy that can be found in the Christmas season. Most importantly, it also honors Jesus with some pleasantly played versions of classic carols.
A combination of all the good things about this album, coupled with Amy Grant's vast popularity has made this one of the best selling Christmas album of all time among Christians. When it's time to get out the cookies, string the popcorn, and hang that advent calendar, Amy Grant has a warm place in my family's traditions, too. She may be a pop star when pop music isn't always cool, but I'm not embarrassed to admit that my family and I will be enjoying this soon-to-be-classic for years of Christmases to come.
By Steven Stuart Baldwin (11/11/98)
