Maps of Music

The Christmas Album (1992)

Where the lyrics of The Christmas Album take you, and where it was really made.

Neil Diamond's first Christmas album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified Double Platinum in the United States.

Key places

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London (1992)

Recording site Abbey Road Studios — The source lists Abbey Road Studios among the places where this album was recorded. The page gives no session date for this studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Jubilee line to St John's Wood station, then about a 5-minute walk.

Recorded at Arch Angel Studios in Los Angeles (1992)

Recording site Arch Angel Studios — The source names Arch Angel Studios as one of the Los Angeles studios used for this album. The page does not state which tracks were cut there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Studio 55 in Los Angeles (1992)

Recording site Studio 55 — The source names Studio 55 as one of the Los Angeles studios used for this album. The page does not state which tracks were cut there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Conway Studios in Hollywood (1992)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — The source lists Conway Studios with Ocean Way Recording as Hollywood recording locations for this album. The page does not give session dates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood (1992)

Recording site Ocean Way Recording — The source lists Ocean Way Recording with Conway Studios as Hollywood recording locations for this album. The page does not give session dates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at The Hit Factory in New York City (1992)

Recording site The Hit Factory — The source lists The Hit Factory as a New York City recording location for this album. The page gives no session date for this studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Christmas Album is Neil Diamond's twentieth studio album
• It is his first album to feature Christmas music
• Released 22 September 1992 by Columbia Records
• Orchestral and choir arrangements by David Campbell
• Reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart, No. 50 on the UK album sales chart and No. 30 on the Australian chart
• Certified Double Platinum by the RIAA on 7 August 2001 for two million copies shipped in the United States since 1992

Background

• Produced by Peter Asher
• Neil Diamond wrote the liner notes himself
• Management credited to Sal Bonafidi, Sandy Gallin and Jim Morey
• Production coordinator Ivy Skoff; project coordinator Sam Cole
• A follow-up, The Christmas Album, Volume II, exists

Recording

• Recording and mixing by Frank Wolf
• London Symphony Orchestra performed, with Gavyn Wright as concertmaster
• Choirs include The Angel Voices Choir, The Ambrosian Singers, L.A. Mass Choir and the Lower School Chorus of Viewpoint School
• 139th Street Quartet sang as a barbershop quartet on track 9
• Session players include Robbie Buchanan on keyboards, Dean Parks on guitars, Russ Kunkel on drums and Jimmy Johnson on bass
• Mastering by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York City

Cover

• Cover photography by Eugine Adibari
• Art direction by David Kirschner
• Design by Jan Weinberg

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• American singer-songwriter born January 24, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York City, to a Jewish family.
• Began as a staff songwriter at Sunbeam Music Publishing and worked in the Brill Building in the 1960s.
• Wrote hits for others, including "I'm a Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" recorded by the Monkees.
• Solo breakthrough with "Sweet Caroline" (1969), followed by "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Song Sung Blue", both No. 1 on the Hot 100.
• Live album Hot August Night (1972) recorded at the Greek Theater, Los Angeles.
• Starred in the 1980 remake The Jazz Singer and won a Razzie for Worst Actor.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
• Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and stopped touring in 2018.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Billboard 200 album sales chart: No. 8
• UK album sales chart: No. 50
• Australian music chart: No. 30

Reappraisal

• Johnny Loftus: the album is designed almost exclusively for Diamond's adult contemporary audience
• Johnny Loftus: Diamond still lights up the obviousness of these standards with his trademark gritty soul and flair for inflection
• The review presents the record as a set of familiar standards that Diamond reworks with his own vocal style

Records

• RIAA Double Platinum certification on 7 August 2001 for two million copies shipped in the United States since 1992
• 25th best-selling Christmas/holiday album in the United States in the SoundScan era as of November 2014
• 1,910,000 copies sold according to SoundScan

Sources: es.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Diamond wrote the liner notes himself.
• Peter Asher produced the album and also programmed drums and percussion on track 3.
• Frank Wolf handled recording and mixing, and George Marino mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York City.
• A companion volume, The Christmas Album, Volume II, is listed as related to this album.
• By November 2014 the album was 25th among US Christmas/holiday albums in the SoundScan era, with 1,910,000 copies sold.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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