MercyMe, It's Christmas!

MercyMe, It's Christmas is the second Christmas album by MercyMe, released on October 9, 2015, through Fair Trade Services. The album was produced by Brown Bannister and Ben Shive.[1]

MercyMe, It's Christmas
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 9, 2015 (2015-10-09)
StudioThe Beehive (Nashville, Tennessee); Townsend Sound Studios (Franklin, Tennessee).
GenreContemporary Christian music, pop rock, Christmas
Length41:18
LabelFair Trade
Producer
MercyMe chronology
Welcome to the New
(2014)
MercyMe, It's Christmas
(2015)
Lifer
(2017)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
365 Days of Inspiring Media     [2]
CCM Magazine     [3]
Cross Rhythms          [4]
The Front Row Report          [5]
Jesus Freak Hideout     [6]
New Release Today     [7]

Awarding the album four stars at CCM Magazine, Andy Argyrakis states, "there’s basically something for everyone on one of this season’s most inviting."[3] Christopher Smith, rating the album four stars from Jesus Freak Hideout, writes, "MercyMe, It's Christmas! is a huge success and sets a high bar for the rest of the Christmas releases this year. Though you might not be ready for it, it is a spectacular addition to any Christmas music collection."[6] Giving the album four and a half stars for New Release Today, Caitlin Lassiter says, "It's Christmas is certainly a success as far as Christmas records go and is sure to be the soundtrack to many holiday festivities in homes around the country this season."[7]

Allocating the album a nine out of ten for Cross Rhythms, Brendan O'Regan writes, "Mind you they might also be moved to dance by the pacey numbers."[4] Joshua Andre, indicating in a four star review by 365 Days of Inspiring Media, says, "MercyMe have crafted a fine effort".[2] Assigning the album nine stars out of ten at The Front Row Report, Reggie Edwards responds, "MercyMe have outdone themselves".[5] Sarah Baylor, signaling in a 4.8 out of five review from The Christian Beat, replies, "MercyMe has managed to create a brilliant Christmas album that contains their own unique, spirit-filled sound."[8]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Newborn"Traditional; Brown Bannister, Ben Shive, MercyMe5:30
2."Christmastime Again"Bannister, Shive, MercyMe3:12
3."Sleigh Ride"Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish3:20
4."I'll Be Home for Christmas"Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, Buck Ram3:50
5."Hold on Christmas"Bannister, Shive, MercyMe3:45
6."A Holly Jolly Christmas"Johnny Marks3:23
7."Go Tell It on the Mountain"Traditional2:14
8."Do You Hear What I Hear?"Noël Regney, Gloria Shayne4:13
9."Our Lullaby"Bannister, Shive, MercyMe3:05
10."Joy"Traditional; Bannister, Shive, MercyMe5:08
11."O Come, O Come"Traditional3:38
Total length:41:18

Personnel

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MercyMe

  • Bart Millard – lead vocals, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Barry Graul – guitars, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Mike Scheuchzer – guitars, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Nathan Cochran – bass, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Robby Shaffer – drums, arrangements

Additional Musicians

  • Ben Shive – acoustic piano, keyboards, Hammond B3 organ, programming, arrangements, horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Mark Douthit – saxophones
  • Barry Green – trombone
  • Mike Haynes – trumpet
  • Keith Smith – trumpet, arrangements
  • Carol Neuen-Rabinowitz – cello
  • Monisa Angell – viola
  • Kristin Wilkinson – viola
  • David Angell – violin
  • Janet Darnall – violin
  • David Davidson – violin
  • Brown Bannister – arrangements

Production

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  • Brown Bannister – producer, overdub recording
  • Ben Shive – producer, overdub recording
  • Buckley Miller – engineer
  • Joe Pisapia – engineer
  • Crystal Burks – assistant engineer
  • Aaron Chafin – assistant engineer
  • Jordan Logue – assistant engineer
  • Shane D. Wilson – mixing
  • Lani Crump – mix coordinator
  • Kyle Cummings – digital editing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).
  • Brody Harper – art direction, design
  • Dana Salsedo – art direction
  • Eric Brown – photography

Chart performance

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Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[9] 38
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[10] 1
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[11] 1

References

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  1. ^ "MercyMe, It's Christmas - MercyMe : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Andre, Joshua (October 13, 2015). "Music Reviews: MercyMe – Mercy Me, It's Christmas!". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Argyrakis, Andy (October 31, 2015). "MercyMe - It's Christmas!". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b O'Regan, Brendan (January 4, 2015). "Review: It's Christmas - MercyMe". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Edwards, Reggie (October 11, 2015). "MercyMe: It's Christmas! review". The Front Row Report. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Smith, Christopher (October 10, 2015). "MercyMe, "MercyMe, It's Christmas!" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Lassiter, Caitlin (October 10, 2015). "Christmas Music Done Right". New Release Today. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Baylor, Sarah (November 8, 2015). ""MercyMe It's Christmas!": An Unprecedented Holiday Album". The Christian Beat. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "MercyMe Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  10. ^ "MercyMe Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  11. ^ "MercyMe – Chart history". Billboard.