Maps of Music
The Christmas Album, Volume II (1994)
Where the lyrics of The Christmas Album, Volume II take you, and where it was really made.
This Christmas record was made at three studios, two of them in Los Angeles and one in London.
View on the mapKey places
Recorded at Arch Angel Studios (1994)
Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Discogs lists Arch Angel Studios as a recording location for this album. The point uses city-center coordinates for Los Angeles, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Recorded at Conway Studios in Hollywood (1994)
Recording site Conway Recording Studios — Discogs lists Conway Studios as a recording location for this album. The point uses the studio's own coordinates, at building level. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Recorded at Angel Studios in London (1994)
Recording site Angel Recording Studios — Discogs lists Angel Studios as a recording location for this album. The London studio is the matching candidate, shown at building level. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Album story
Overview
- The Christmas Album, Volume II: twenty-second studio album by Neil Diamond
- His second album to feature Christmas music
- Released in 1994 by Columbia Records
- Produced by Peter Asher
- Orchestral and choir arrangements by David Campbell
Background
- Released only two years after Diamond's previous Christmas album
- David Campbell also worked on the first Christmas album
- Campbell's arrangements also cover several of Diamond's other works
Recording
- Frank Wolf credited for recording and mixing
- Mastering by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab, Hollywood, California
- Additional engineers Bernie Becker and Julie Last
- Assistant engineers Kristin Cowie, Sean O'Dwyer, John Radzin and Marnie Riley
- Recording locations listed as Arch Angel Studios, Conway Studios and Angel Studios
- Musicians include Robbie Buchanan on piano and keyboards, and Bill Payne on Hammond B3 organ
Cover
- Art direction by David Kirschner
- Design by Gabrielle Raumberger and Dylan Tran
- Photography by Mauro Carerro, background photography by David Skernick
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Tracklist
| 1 | Joy to the World | 2:40 |
| 2 | Mary's Little Boy Child | 3:00 |
| 3 | Deck the Halls / We Wish You a Merry Christmas | 1:42 |
| 4 | Winter Wonderland | 2:45 |
| 5 | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas | 4:44 |
| 6 | I'll Be Home for Christmas | 3:43 |
| 7 | Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | 4:05 |
| 8 | Sleigh Ride | 2:42 |
| 9 | Candlelight Carol | 4:10 |
| 10 | Away in a Manger | 2:33 |
| 11 | O Come All Ye Faithful | 4:16 |
| 12 | O Little Town of Bethlehem | 3:36 |
| 13 | Angels We Have Heard on High | 3:18 |
| 14 | The First Noel | 3:34 |
| 15 | Hallelujah Chorus | 3:32 |
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
- Released in 1994 by Columbia Records
- Twenty-second studio album by Neil Diamond
- His second Christmas album, released two years after the previous one
- Produced by Peter Asher
- Arrangements by David Campbell, with orchestra and choir parts
- Musicians include Robbie Buchanan on piano and keyboards, Bill Payne on Hammond B3 organ, and Waddy Wachtel on guitar
- Choir credits include The Ambrosian Singers and The Angel Voices boys choir
- Children's backing vocals on track 7 by eleven credited children
Records
- Billboard Holiday Album chart: number 9
- Certified gold by the RIAA on December 6, 1994
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- David Campbell, who arranged the album, also worked on the first Christmas album.
- Recording locations listed in the Discogs credits are Arch Angel Studios, Conway Studios and Angel Studios.
- The Soul Children of Chicago sang the choir part on track 1.
- The 139th Street Quartet, a barbershop choir, performed on track 3.
- The album was mastered at The Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com
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