Christmas (Michael W. Smith album)

Christmas
Studio album by Michael W. Smith
Released	June 1, 1989
Recorded	1989
Genre	Holiday, CCM
Length	37:03
Label	Reunion
Producer	Michael W. Smith, Ronn Huff
Michael W. Smith chronology
i 2 (EYE) (1988) Christmas (1989) Go West Young Man (1990)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[2]

Christmas is a 1989 Michael W. Smith studio album and Smith's first Christmas album.

Track listing

1. "Overture/O Come All Ye Faithful" (John Francis Wade) – 5:38
2. "Lux Venit" (Beverly Darnall, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith) – 3:28
3. "Anthem for Christmas" (Gloria Gaither, M. Smith) – 3:11
4. "First Snowfall" (M. Smith) – 2:44
5. "Christ the Messiah" (Elizabeth L. Jones, M. Smith, Deborah D. Smith) – 3:59
6. "No Eye Had Seen" (Grant, M. Smith) – 2:53
7. "All is Well" (Wayne Kirkpatrick, M. Smith) – 4:08
8. "Memoirs: A Trilogy: The Voice/Good King Wenceslaus/Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (M. Smith, John Mason Neale, Felix Mendelssohn) – 4:28
9. "Gloria" (M. Smith, traditional) – 5:03
10. "Silent Night" (Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr) – 1:33

Personnel

• Mary Bates – background vocals
• Michael Blanton – executive producer
• Fred Bock – music director for Cathedral Choir
• Cathedral Choir – adult choir
• Steve Charles – assistant engineer
• Beverly Darnall – background vocals
• Mary Beth Felts – stylist
• Danny Garcia – additional engineering
• Carl Gorodetzky – concertmaster, contractor
• Amy Grant – vocals (6)
• Terry Hemmings – executive producer
• Rick Horton – editing
• Dann Huff – guitar (2, 9, uncredited)
• Ronn Huff – orchestral arrangements & conductor, choral arrangements, arrangements (1), producer
• Buddy Jackson – artwork, art direction, design, illustrations, cover illustration
• Elizabeth Carol Jones – production assistant
• Brent King – additional engineering, orchestra engineer
• Joe Kraus – assistant engineer
• Mark Laylock – orchestra & choir producer
• Paul Leim – drums (9)
• Bryan Lenox – percussion, assistant engineer
• Ron Lewter – mastering
• The American Boychoir – boychoir
• James Litton – choir conductor for The American Boychoir
• Scott MacMinn – additional engineering
• Ellen Musick – background vocals
• The Nashville String Machine – strings
• The Nashville Festival Orchestra – strings
• D.L. Rhodes – cover coordinator
• Michael W. Smith – percussion, piano, arrangements (2-10), keyboards, vocals, producer
• Leah Taylor – background vocals
• Mark Tucker – photography
• Nathan Wadley – vocals (7)
• Bill Whittington – engineer, mixing

Studios

• Recorded at War Memorial Auditorium and Digital Recorders (Nashville, TN); Martin Sound (Alhambra, CA); Sigma Sound Studio (Philadelphia, PA); Deer Valley Studio (Franklin, TN)
• Mixed at Deer Valley Studio (Franklin, TN)
• Edited at Digital Associates (Nashville, TN)
• Mastered at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA)

"All is Well"

"All is Well" features soloist Nathan Wadley.^[3] The song is also included in his compilation set The Wonder Years (1993). In 2014, Smith remade the song for his 2014 holiday album The Spirit of Christmas, this time sharing the vocals with country artist Carrie Underwood.^[4] Christian girl group Point of Grace recorded a version for their 2005 album Winter Wonderland.^[5] Clay Aiken recorded a cover version in 2006 for his Christmas EP All Is Well.^[6]

Notes

1. Christmas at AllMusic
2. "Michael W. Smith, "Michael W. Smith Christmas" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
3. Christmas (booklet). Reunion Records. 1989. p. 1.
4. Horton, Carrie (August 24, 2014). "Michael W. Smith Announces Christmas Album with Lots of Country Stars". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
5. "All Is Well - Point of Grace". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
6. "All is Well: Songs for Christmas [WalMart Exclusive] - Clay Aiken". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2015.