Christmas (Kenny Rogers album)

Christmas is the twelfth studio album and the first Christmas album by Kenny Rogers released in 1981.

Christmas
Studio album by Kenny Rogers
Released	1981
Recorded	1981
Genre	Seasonal
Length	33:37
Label	Liberty
Producer	Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers chronology
Share Your Love (1981) Christmas (1981) Love Will Turn You Around (1982)
Rogers' Christmas chronology
Christmas (1981) Once Upon a Christmas (1984)
Alternative cover
1995 re-release cover titled Christmas Wishes from Kenny Rogers

Overview

The album features several songs that were already well known at the time including "White Christmas," "When A Child is Born," "Carol of the Bells" and "My Favorite Things." Several original Christmas songs are also included, which have also now become well-known via this album.

Christmas was also the origin of Kenny's first holiday single, "Kentucky Home Made Christmas."

The album peaked at #10 on the U.S. Country charts and #34 on the overall U.S. charts.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Christmas Everyday"	Peter McCann	3:44
2.	"Kentucky Homemade Christmas"	Bill Caswell, Kin Vassy	4:16
3.	"Carol of the Bells"	Mykola Leontovych, Peter Wilhousky	2:44
4.	"Kids"	Mac Davis	2:44
5.	"Sweet Little Jesus Boy"	Bob MacGimsey	3:04
6.	"Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year"	Peter McCann	2:44
7.	"White Christmas"	Irving Berlin	2:50
8.	"My Favorite Things"	Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers	3:02
9.	"O Holy Night"	Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight	4:39
10.	"When a Child Is Born"	Fred Jay, Zacar	3:50

Personnel

• Kenny Rogers – lead vocals, backing vocals (3, 6), vocal arrangements
• Gene Page – arrangements
• Barnaby Finch – acoustic piano
• Lincoln Mayorga – acoustic piano
• John Hobbs – keyboards
• Clarence McDonald – Fender Rhodes
• Kin Vassy – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
• Ira Newborn – guitar
• David T. Walker – guitar
• Nathan East – bass guitar
• David Hungate – bass guitar
• Jerry Scheff – bass guitar
• Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums
• Gary Coleman – percussion
• Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
• Cindy Fee – backing vocals
• Terry Williams – backing vocals
• Jon Joyce – backing vocals (3, 6)
• Maxi Anderson – backing vocals (5)
• Marlena Jeter – backing vocals (5)
• Gwenchie Machu – backing vocals (5)
• Juance Charmaine O’Neal – backing vocals (6)

Production

• Producer – Kenny Rogers
• Assistant Producer – Brenda Harvey-Richie
• Engineers – Reginald Dozier (Tracks 1, 3–6, 8 & 9); Al Schmitt (Tracks 2 & 7); John Arrias (Track 10).
• Second Engineer (Track 10) – Stephen Schmitt
• Mixed by Reggie Dozier
• Art Direction and Design – Bill Burks
• Photography – Tom Gibson and Reid Miles

Re-releases

Christmas Wishes from Kenny Rogers

The album was reissued in 1995 with an alternate track list along with a title change to Christmas Wishes from Kenny Rogers in some regions (including the United Kingdom and United States). However in other countries, the title remained Christmas.

Alternate track list

1. "White Christmas" [2:47]
2. "Carol of the Bells" [2:43]
3. "O Holy Night" [4:38]
4. "Christmas Everyday" [3:42]
5. "Kids" (CD Only) [2:42]
6. "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" [4:14]
7. "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year" [2:43]
8. "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" [3:03]
9. "When a Child Is Born" [3:49]
10. "My Favorite Things" (CD Only) [2:59]

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	34
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)	10
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)	27

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Platinum	100,000^
United States (RIAA)	2× Platinum	2,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

• Allmusic