The Music of Christmas

The Music of Christmas is the first Christmas album by American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman. It was released on September 26, 1995.

The Music of Christmas
Studio album by Steven Curtis Chapman
Released	September 26, 1995
Genre	Christmas music, contemporary Christian music, rock, pop
Length	60:52
Label	Sparrow
Producer	Brown Bannister and Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman chronology
Heaven in the Real World (1994) The Music of Christmas (1995) Signs of Life (1996)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Jesus Freak Hideout	(not rated)[2]

Track listing

All songs written and/or arranged by Steven Curtis Chapman, except where noted.

1. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/The Music Of Christmas"(Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelson, Chapman) – 6:43
2. "Christmas Is All In The Heart" (feat. CeCe Winans) – 5:15
3. "Angels We Have Heard on High" (Edward Shippen Barnes) – 5:39
4. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (John Mason Neale, Henry Sloane Coffin) – 3:28
5. "Our God Is With Us" (Chapman, Michael W. Smith) – 6:43
6. Interlude: "The Music Of Christmas" (Handel, Wesley, Mendelson, Barnes, Chapman, Buchanan) – 4:46
7. "This Baby" (William C. Dix, Chapman) – 4:35
8. "Silent Night/Away in a Manger/O Holy Night" (Franz Gruber, James R. Murray, Adolphe Adam, Chapman) – 6:03
9. "Carol of the Bells" (Mykola Leontovych, arranged by Chapman) – 3:44
10. "O Come All Ye Faithful" (John Francis Wade, Chapman) – 4:18
11. "Going Home For Christmas" (Chapman, James Isaac Elliot) – 5:25
12. "Precious Promise" – 4:12

Personnel

• Steven Curtis Chapman – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 2, 6, 7–12), hi-strung guitar (1, 9, 10), background vocals (3, 7, 11), gut-string guitar (6, 8, 9), E-coustic guitar (9), dobro (9), hammered dulcimer (9), mandolin (9, 11), 12-string guitar (10, 11), Roland VG synth guitar (12)
• Gordon Kennedy – electric guitar (1, 3, 7, 11), background vocals (1, 5, 10), acoustic guitar (5)
• Jerry McPherson – electric guitar (1, 2, 7, 10)
• Randy Pearce – electric guitar (3)
• Dann Huff – electric guitar (5)
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar (11)
• Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 11), programming (6)
• Shane Keister – piano (1, 4, 11), keyboards (2, 7, 10)
• Scott Sheriff – keyboards (8)
• Blair Masters – programming (9)
• Leland Sklar – bass guitar (1, 3, 5, 7, 11)
• Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass guitar (2, 10)
• Steve Brewster – drums (1, 3, 5, 7, 11), programming (3, 7)
• Paul Leim – drums (2, 10)
• Terry McMillan – jingle bells (7)
• London Session Orchestra – strings (1, 3–6, 8–10, 12)
• Gavyn Wright – concertmaster
• Ronn Huff – string arrangements (1, 3–6, 8–10, 12, choral arrangement (4, 8)
• Don Hart – string arrangements (2, 10)
• Nashville String Machine – strings (2), additional strings (10)
• Max Carl – background vocals (1, 5, 7, 10)
• Bob Carlisle – background vocals (1, 5, 10)
• Lisa Cochran – background vocals (1, 5, 10)
• Robin Johnson – background vocals (1, 5, 10)
• Michael Mellett – background vocals (1, 5, 10)
• The Belmont Church Choir – choir (1)
• The Kids Connection Choir – kids choir (1)
• CeCe Winans – guest vocals (2)
• Bill Champlin – background vocals (3)
• Tommy Funderburk – background vocals (3, 7, 11)
• The American Boychoir – boychoir (4, 8), intro choir (7)
• Alan Arak – additional intro vocals (7)
• Robert Carpenter – additional intro vocals (7)
• Charles Eversole – additional intro vocals (7)
• Barry Phillips – additional intro vocals (7)
• Herb Chapman Jr. – guest vocals (8)
• Herb Chapman Sr. – guest vocals (8)
• Terry Wood – background vocals (11)

Production

• Steven Curtis Chapman – producer
• Brown Bannister – producer, additional engineering
• Peter York – executive producer
• Dan Raines – executive producer
• Traci Sterling Bishir – production coordinator
• Steve Bishir – track and overdub engineering
• Jeff Balding – tracking ("Christmas is All in the Heart" and "O Come All Ye Faithful")
• The Dugout Studio, Nashville, Tennessee – tracking location, overdub recording location
• Mole End Studio, Franklin, Tennessee – overdub recording location
• Quad Studios, Nashville, Tennessee – overdub recording location
• Omni Sound, Nashville, Tennessee – overdub recording location
• Devonshire Studio, North Hollywood, California – overdub recording location
• Ocean Studio, Burbank, California – overdub recording location
• Sound on Sound Recording, New York City – overdub recording location
• Steve Bishir – recording engineer for the London Session Orchestra and Nashville String Machine
• The Bennett House, Franklin, Tennessee – recording location for the London Session Orchestra and Nashville String Machine
• Guy Defazio – additional engineering
• Martin Woodlee – additional engineering, assistant engineer
• Patrick Kelly – additional engineering
• Joey Grimstead – assistant engineer
• Aaron Swihart – assistant engineer
• Bill Schnee – mixing
• Schnee Studio, North Hollywood, California – mixing location
• John Hendrickson – mix assistant
• Doug Sax – mastering
• The Mastering Lab, Hollywood, California – mastering location
• Karen Phillpott – art direction
• Franke Design – cover
• East-West Design, Nashville, Tennessee – design
• David Maisel – photography
• Johnny Villanueva – hair and make-up
• Jamie Kearney – stylist

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1995	200	61
	Top Contemporary Christian	2

Certifications

Country	Sales	Certifications (sales thresholds)
United States (RIAA)	500,000	Gold

References

1. The Music of Christmas at AllMusic
2. "Steven Curtis Chapman, "The Music of Christmas" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved May 6, 2014.