Amy Grant

Item: A Christmas Album
Author: Lisa Reid

A Christmas Album

(1983)

Reviewed by Lisa Reid

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Reunion RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1998

adult contemporary ccm pop

A Christmas Album, the first of two Christmas albums released by Amy Grant, is a delightful mix of traditional hymns, old favorites, and new tunes written by Grant and others, most notably Michael W. Smith. The album opens with one of several excellent original songs, "Tennessee Christmas," which tells of Grant's desire to have a warm and wonderful Christmas at home with family and friends rather than a more exciting holiday in L.A. or Colorado:

Another tender Tennessee Christmas
The only Christmas for me
Where the love circles around us
Like the gifts around our tree
Well they say in L.A. it's a warm holiday
It's the only place to be
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.

"Heirlooms," another song original to A Christmas Album, tells the story of a woman who, upon looking through the mementos in her attic, realizes that her family, and her God, mean more to her than any heirlooms ever could. Of the other originals, Michael W. Smith fans will recognize the contemporary Christmas classic "Emmanuel" from one of his early albums.

Warm renditions of traditional hymns can also be found here: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Little Town," which is treated to a new, memorable melody. Grant also tackles such holiday favorites as "Sleigh Ride" and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)," and though one might argue that Nat King Cole's voice is more elegant or resonant, Grant holds her own.

Though A Christmas Album has been around for 15 years, adults and children alike look forward to hearing it each year, because it represents Grant's early work at its best: creative and well-done, but simply produced. The most apt description of this album comes from its liner notes: "This collection of songs--some old and some new --is an attempt to capture and share a part of our Christmas with you. Most of all, this is a celebration for all time because God loved us enough to send us His Son."

4.5 tocks