Maps of Music

Merry Christmas to You (1987)

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

This was Reba McEntire's first Christmas album, and its songs did not chart until ten and twelve years after release.

Key places

Nashville studios used for the recording (1987)

Recording site Sound Stage Studios — The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, at several studios. Sound Stage Studios is one of the studios named in the source for the recording. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Castle in Franklin (1987)

Recording site Sound Kitchen — The source lists The Castle in Franklin, Tennessee as a recording site for the album. The point is placed at the city centre, not at the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Merry Christmas to You is the thirteenth studio album by American country music singer Reba McEntire
• It is also her first Christmas album
• Most tracks are McEntire's renditions of very familiar traditional Christmas songs
• Released 27 November 1987 by MCA Nashville
• The track listing includes Away in a Manger, On This Day, O Holy Night, Silent Night, White Christmas and The Christmas Song
• Other tracks are The Christmas Guest, Happy Birthday Jesus (I'll Open This One for You), I'll Be Home for Christmas and A Christmas Letter

Background

• The album came in the middle of McEntire's long run of studio albums, as her thirteenth
• Its mix of traditional carols and seasonal standards made it a holiday release rather than a set of new songs
• Several tracks are credited to older songwriters, such as Irving Berlin for White Christmas and Mel Tormé and Bob Wells for The Christmas Song

Recording

• Recording took place in Nashville, Tennessee, at several studios
• Studios named in the source include Emerald Sound Studios, Sound Stage Studios, Back Stage Studio, Sixteenth Avenue Sound and Masterfonics
• The Castle in Franklin, Tennessee is also listed as a recording site

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

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born March 28, 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma; raised on a ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma.
• Third of four children of Clark and Jacqueline McEntire; her father was a three-time world steer roping champion.
• With her siblings she formed the trio the Singing McEntires, performing at local events and dance halls.
• Studied elementary education and music at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Career

• Country singer Red Steagall heard her at a 1974 rodeo and helped her sign with PolyGram/Mercury Records in 1975.
• Her breakout came with the 1984 MCA album My Kind of Country, which produced two number-one country singles.
• The album Whoever's in New England won a Grammy Award and topped the Billboard country albums chart.
• After a 1991 plane crash that killed eight band members, she released For My Broken Heart, her best-selling album.
• Sold more than 75 million records worldwide; 24 of her singles reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
• Starred in the sitcom Reba (six seasons) and in the NBC sitcom Happy's Place.

Members

• Solo artist; her siblings Pake and Susie were early members of the Singing McEntires.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released 27 November 1987 by MCA Nashville
• Thirteenth studio album and first Christmas album by Reba McEntire
• Track listing: Away in a Manger, On This Day, O Holy Night, The Christmas Guest, Silent Night, Happy Birthday Jesus (I'll Open This One for You), White Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmas, A Christmas Letter, The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
• Writer credits include Franz Gruber and Josef Mohr for Silent Night and Irving Berlin for White Christmas
• Writer credits include Mel Tormé and Bob Wells for The Christmas Song

Records

• Songs from the album would not chart until ten and twelve years after its release

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• It was McEntire's last album to carry her surname on the front cover until Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope in 2017
• Songs from the album did not enter the charts until ten and twelve years after release
• Silent Night is credited to Franz Gruber and Josef Mohr
• I'll Be Home for Christmas is credited to Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram
• The album was released in the same year as the start of the holiday season it was built for, as a seasonal collection of traditional songs

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

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