Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas
Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas, also known as simply Chicago Christmas, is the twenty-fifth studio album, the fourth collection of Christmas songs, and thirty-seventh album overall by the American rock band, Chicago.[1][2] The album was released on October 11, 2019.[3] The project grew out of a plan to record a few new bonus tracks for a re-release of one of the band's prior holiday albums.[4] Unlike previous Christmas albums, Chicago Christmas features primarily original material, written by members of the band.[5] The only non-original songs on the album are "What the World Needs Now Is Love", "Sleigh Ride (2019)", and "Here We Come a Caroling".[5] Chicago Christmas reached number one on the Billboard Holiday Albums Sales Chart.[4]
| Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 11, 2019 | |||
| Genre | Rock, Christmas music | |||
| Length | 43:40 | |||
| Label | Rhino | |||
| Producer | Lee Loughnane | |||
| Chicago chronology | ||||
| ||||
Chicago Christmas reflects several personnel changes in the band's lineup since their previous studio release from 2014, Chicago XXXVI: Now. This is their first studio album since the departure of singer-bassist Jason Scheff, who left the group in 2016. He was replaced first by Jeff Coffey, who was subsequently succeeded in 2018 by singer Neil Donell and bassist Brett Simons. It's also the first album since Chicago 19 not to feature longtime drummer Tris Imboden, who departed in 2018. Chicago percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr. took over as drummer, with his previous position being filled by Ramon Yslas. Additionally, this is the first Chicago album not to feature saxophonist Walter Parazaider who retired in 2017 and was replaced by Ray Herrmann.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "(Because) It's Christmastime" | Robert Lamm, Billy Hinsche | 3:20 |
| 2. | "All Over the World" | Neil Donell, Don Breithaupt | 4:18 |
| 3. | "Bring My Baby Back" | Lee Loughnane, John Durrill | 4:03 |
| 4. | "Merry Christmas, I Love You (R&B Version)" | Loughnane, Durrill | 4:13 |
| 5. | "What the World Needs Now Is Love" | Hal David, Burt Bacharach | 3:30 |
| 6. | "All Is Right" | Michael James Burns, Ramon Yslas | 4:02 |
| 7. | "Sleigh Ride (2019)" | Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish | 3:16 |
| 8. | "I'd Do It All Again (Christmas Moon)" | Lou Pardini, Lamm | 4:58 |
| 9. | "I'm Your Santa Claus" | James Pankow, Lilli Pankow | 4:48 |
| 10. | "Here We Come a Caroling" | Traditional | 3:05 |
| 11. | "Merry Christmas, I Love You (Ballad Version)" | Loughnane, Durrill | 4:07 |
| Total length: | 43:00 | ||
Personnel
Adapted from the album liner notes.[6]
Chicago
- Neil Donell – lead & backing vocals
- Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead & backing vocals, horn arrangements
- Lou Pardini – keyboards, lead & backing vocals
- Keith Howland – guitar, backing vocals
- Brett Simons – bass, backing vocals
- Lee Loughnane – trumpet, backing vocals
- James Pankow – trombone, backing vocals, horn arrangements
- Ray Herrmann – saxophone, flute, clarinet, backing vocals, horn arrangements
- Walfredo Reyes Jr. – drums, percussion
- Ramon Yslas – percussion
Additional musicians
- Nick Lane – horn arrangements
- Tim Jessup – string arrangements
Production
- Lee Loughnane – producer
- Tim Jessup – recording, mixing
- Scott Koopman – basic track recording
- Adam Ayan – mastering
- cover art by Matthew Pardini
References
- Marchese, Joe (August 16, 2019). "Because It's Christmastime: Chicago Releases New Christmas Album in October". Theseconddisc.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- Ratliff, Connor (December 23, 2019). "89 New Christmas Albums of 2019, Reviewed". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- Lifton, Dave (September 16, 2019). "Listen to Chicago's Version of 'Here We Come A Caroling': Exclusive Premiere". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- Graff, Gary (November 27, 2019). "Chicago on Why the Christmas Music Market Is 'More Open to New Material'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- Chicago Media (August 16, 2019). "The Legendary "Rock Band With Horns" Gets Into The Spirit Of The Holiday Season With An Album That Mixes Original Christmas Songs And Yuletide Favorites". Chicagotheband.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas (2019), liner notes