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A Merry Little Christmas (2000)

Where the lyrics of A Merry Little Christmas take you, and where it was really made.

It was Linda Ronstadt's last album under a Elektra/Asylum contract that had lasted 27 years, and the track order was a point she disagreed with the label on.

Key places

Tucson recording sessions (2000)

Recording site Jim Brady Recording Studios — Credits list Jim Brady Recording Studios in Tucson as a recording location for part of the album's tracks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Nashville recording sessions (2000)

Recording site Nashville — The album was recorded at OceanWay Studios in Nashville in August 2000 for several of its tracks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Capitol Studios session (2000)

Recording site Capitol Studios — Capitol Studios in Los Angeles is listed as a recording location for track 3 of the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• A Merry Little Christmas: Christmas album by American singer, songwriter and producer Linda Ronstadt
• Released in 2000
• Final release under Ronstadt's recording contract with the Elektra/Asylum Records label
• Ronstadt had recorded for Elektra/Asylum since 1973, twenty-seven years up to this disc
• Cover art designed by Kosh

Background

• John Boylan returned as Linda's producer for this disc
• Highlight: Ronstadt's duet with the late Rosemary Clooney on "White Christmas"
• Ronstadt and Elektra disagreed over the final playing order
• The label wanted the album to open with "Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire"
• Ronstadt preferred ordering the songs from ancient to modern, arranged chronologically

Recording

• Credited engineers include Greg Burns, Jeff Rodenkirch, Jenny Rosato, Jim Brady, Mark DeBuck and Rouble Kapoor
• George Massenburg credited as producer, recording engineer and mixer
• Mastering by Glenn Meadows at Masterfonics
• Recording locations listed include Jim Brady Recording Studios, Ocean Way Recording and Alice Y. Holsclaw Recital Hall at the University of Arizona
• Mixing at Georkel Recording

Cover

• Cover art designed by Kosh

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Born July 15, 1946 in Tucson, Arizona; American singer across rock, folk, pop, country, and soul.
• In the mid-1960s joined the folk-rock trio the Stone Poneys as lead singer, releasing three albums in 1967–68.
• Solo debut Hand Sown ... Home Grown (1969), described as the first alternative country record by a female recording artist.
• Became the first female "arena class" rock star; top-grossing concert artist of the decade.
• Voted Top Female Pop Singer of the 1970s; "You're No Good" reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Worked with producer Nelson Riddle on the Great American Songbook trilogy What's New, Lush Life, and For Sentimental Reasons.
• Recorded Canciones de Mi Padre (1987), the best-selling non-English-language album in US music history.
• Retired in 2011 after losing the ability to sing; later diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014; Kennedy Center Honoree in 2019.

Formation

• At age 14 formed a folk trio with her brother Peter and sister Gretchen.
• Moved to Los Angeles in 1964 to form a band with Bobby Kimmel.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Final release under Ronstadt's Elektra/Asylum contract, which began in 1973
• Closes a 27-year run with the label up to this disc
• Ronstadt insisted on a chronological order, from ancient to modern, instead of the label's preferred opening track
• Among the highlights is Ronstadt's duet with the late Rosemary Clooney on "White Christmas"
• Clooney is credited with vocals on the third track in the personnel list
• Ronstadt sings lead throughout, backed by piano, celesta, guitar, bass, drums, percussion and harp
• The album was released in 2000 and recorded across several studios in Tucson, Nashville and Los Angeles

Records

• Track listing of 14 songs: The Christmas Song (4:24), I'll Be Home for Christmas (4:15), White Christmas (4:22), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (3:55), River (4:10), O come, O come, Emmanuel (3:29), Xicochi, Xicochi (2:17), I Wonder as I Wander (3:20), Away in a Manger (2:08), Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming (2:10), Welsh Carol (3:57), Past Three O'Clock (0:41), O magnum mysterium (3:19), Silent Night (3:06)
• Songwriting credits include Mel Tormé, Bob Wells, Irving Berlin, Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane, Joni Mitchell and Josef Mohr
• Traditional pieces appear alongside newer songs, reflecting the chronological order

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Ronstadt and Elektra differed on the final playing order; the label wanted the album to open with "Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire".
• Ronstadt chose a scheme that started with ancient pieces and moved toward modern songs.
• The album's highlight duet with the late Rosemary Clooney was on "White Christmas".
• Engineer and producer George Massenburg is credited on the recording, mixing and production roles.
• Recording credits list Jim Brady Recording Studios as one of the recording locations.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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