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Merry Christmas, Baby (album)

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Merry Christmas, Baby, is the first Christmas album by Rod Stewart and his 27th studio album overall, released on 30 October 2012.[1] The album has proved to be a top 10 success in many countries including the UK, US, Canada and Australia. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in November 2012 with over 1,000,000 copies sold in the US.[2]

Merry Christmas, Baby
Studio album by
Rod Stewart
Released30 October 2012
GenreChristmas, soul, jazz
Length46:04
LabelVerve
ProducerDavid Foster, Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar
Rod Stewart chronology
Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V
(2010) 		Merry Christmas, Baby
(2012) 		Time
(2013)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic53/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
BBC Music(positive)[5]
The Guardian     [6]
The Independent     [7]
NME3/10[8]
Slant Magazine     [9]

Merry Christmas, Baby received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 53, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 6 reviews.

Commercial performance

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Merry Christmas, Baby debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart, with first week sales of 117,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan,[10] and spent a total of eight weeks in the top 10.[11] With total U.S. sales of 858,000 copies in 2012 according to SoundScan, Merry Christmas, Baby was the best-selling Christmas/holiday album of the year.[12] The album was also the year's fifteenth best-selling album in the U.S. according to Billboard and the ninth best-selling physical album in the U.S. according to the Nielsen Company's 2012 Music Industry Report.[13][14]

In the UK, the album debuted at No. 2 on the Official Albums Chart and has so far spent six weeks in the top 10.[15] It sold 421,000 copies in the UK in 2012[16] and its current UK sales stand at 636,000.[17]

In Canada, the album spent eight weeks in the top ten of the Canadian Albums Chart, with three consecutive weeks at the No. 1 spot. It was the ninth best-selling album in Canada in 2012 according to year-end sales data from Nielsen SoundScan Canada with sales of 135,000.[18]

Worldwide, the album achieved total 2012 sales of 2.6 million according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, making it the seventh best-selling album of the year.[19]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane4:31
2."Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie2:48
3."Winter Wonderland" (featuring Michael Bublé)Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith2:26
4."White Christmas"Irving Berlin3:49
5."Merry Christmas, Baby" (featuring CeeLo Green & Trombone Shorty)Johnny Moore, Lou Baxter3:53
6."Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (featuring Dave Koz)Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne2:51
7."What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (featuring Ella Fitzgerald & Chris Botti)Frank Loesser3:43
8."Blue Christmas"Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson3:30
9."Red-Suited Super Man" (featuring Trombone Shorty)Rod Stewart, David Foster, Amy Foster3:11
10."When You Wish upon a Star"Leigh Harline, Ned Washington3:47
11."We Three Kings" (featuring Mary J. Blige)John Henry Hopkins Jr.3:27
12."Silent Night"Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr4:24
13."Auld Lang Syne"Traditional, Robert Burns3:45
Total length:46:04
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."What Child Is This?"Traditional, William Chatterton Dix4:17
15."The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"Mel Tormé, Robert Wells3:39
16."Silver Bells"Jay Livingston, Ray Evans3:25
Total length:57:25
Note
  • "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" uses a vocal sample of the Ella Fitzgerald recording of the same name[21]

Personnel

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Main

  • Rod Stewart – lead vocals, musical arrangements (11–13)
  • Jochem van der Saag – synthesizer programming (1–12)
  • David Foster – acoustic piano (1–3, 6–8, 10), keyboards (5, 9, 11–12), string arrangements (1, 3–4, 9–13), horn arrangements (2, 5–6, 8–9), musical arrangements (11–13)
  • Kevin Savigar – keyboards (13), programming (13), musical arrangements (13)

Guest Musicians

Additional Vocalists

  • Bridget Cady – backing vocals (5, 9)
  • Mabvuto Carpenter – choir vocals (13)
  • Angela Fisher – choir vocals (13), Gospel Choir contractor
  • Kimberly Johnson – backing vocals (5, 9), choir vocals, choir contractor (13)
  • Krystal Johnson – choir vocals (13)
  • Bobbi Page – vocal contractor (12)
  • Page LA Children's Choir – backing vocals (12)
  • Dieyelle Reed – backing vocals (5, 9), choir vocals (13)
  • Will Wheaton – choir vocals (13)
  • Gospel Choir – Keith Allen, Bridget Cady, Bryan Terrell Clark, David Daughtry, Melanie Fontana, Holly Palmer, Dieyelle Reed, Brandon Winbush and Lucy Woodward

Additional Instrumentalists

  • Chris Walden – orchestra conductor (1, 3, 4, 8–13), trumpet (2, 6, 7), horn arrangements (2, 6, 7), string arrangements (3, 8, 9), trombone (7)
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor (1, 3, 4, 8–13)
  • Dean Parks – guitar (1, 2, 3, 5–9, 11, 12), guitar solo (4, 10)
  • Emerson Swinford – guitar (13)
  • Chuck Berghofer – bass (1, 2, 6–8, 10)
  • Peter Erskine – drums (1, 2, 7, 10)
  • Matt O'Connor – percussion (2, 3, 5, 6, 9), additional percussion (11)
  • Jeff Driskel – saxophone (2, 6, 7)
  • Jimmy Roberts – saxophone solo (9)
  • Tim McFatter – tenor saxophone (5, 9)
  • Dan Oestreicher – baritone saxophone (5, 9)
  • Bob McChesney – trombone (2, 6)
  • William Ross – string arrangements (1, 4, 10–13)
  • J'Anna Jacoby – violin (13)

Production

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  • Producers – Rod Stewart (Tracks 1–13); David Foster (Tracks 1–12); Kevin Savigar (Track 13).
  • A&R – Jay Landers
  • A&R Coordinator – Katherine Frangetis-Tempesta
  • Recorded by Don Murray, Jochem van der Saag and Jorge Vito.
  • Additional Recording – Jack Miele
  • Engineers – Jochem van der Saag and Jorge Vito
  • Recorded at Chartmaker Studios, Henson Recording Studios, The Village Recorder, Satinwood Studio and Studio City Sound (Los Angeles, CA); Garage Studios (Palm Beach, FL); Echo Beach Studios (Jupiter, FL); Fudge Recording Studio (New Orleans, LA).
  • Orchestra recorded by Jonathan Allen and Steve Price at Abbey Road Studios (London, England) and Angel Recording Studios (Islington, England).
  • Choir recorded by Tom Weir at Studio City Sound.
  • Mixed by Jochem van der Saag at Blue Studios (Malibu, CA).
  • Mastered by Vlado Meller at Vlado Meller Mastering (Charleston, SC).
  • Art Direction and Design – Jullian Pepole Studio
  • Photography – Penny Lancaster
  • Management – Arnold Stiefel

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[52] 3× Platinum 240,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[53] Platinum 15,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[55] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] 2× Platinum 636,000[17]
United States (RIAA)[2] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Awards and recognition

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In February 2013, the album was nominated for a Canadian Juno Award in the International Album of the Year category.[57]

References

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  1. ^ "Rod Stewart - Merry Christmas, Baby CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Rod Stewart and the Monkees Get RIAA Certificates in November". vintagevinylnews.com. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Critic Reviews for Merry Christmas, Baby". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Rod Stewart - Merry Christmas, Baby". AllMusic. All Media Network. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  5. ^ Diver, Mike. "BBC - Music - Review of Rod Stewart - Merry Christmas, Baby".
  6. ^ Simpson, Dave (13 December 2012). "Rod Stewart: Merry Christmas, Baby – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  7. ^ Montgomery, Hugh (22 December 2012). "Album: Rod Stewart, Merry Christmas, Baby (Decca)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  8. ^ Montgomery, Hugh (13 December 2012). "Rod Stewart - 'Merry Christmas, Baby'". NME. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  9. ^ Scheiman, Ted (30 October 2012). "Rod Stewart Merry Christmas, Baby". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  10. ^ Caulfield, Keith (29 November 2012). "Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart Aiming for No. 1 on Next Week's Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  12. ^ Grein, Paul (3 January 2013). "Chart Watch Extra: Top Albums of 2012". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  13. ^ Caulfield, Keith. "Adele's '21' 2012's Best Selling Album; Gotye Has Top Song". Billboard.
  14. ^ "The Nielsen Company & Billboard's 2012 Music Industry Report". MarketWatch.
  15. ^ "Official UK Albums Top 100 - 15th December 2012 | Official Albums Chart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  16. ^ a b Lane, Dan (2 January 2013). "The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Albums of 2012 Revealed!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  17. ^ a b Copsey, Rob (14 December 2018). "The Official Top 20 biggest Christmas albums of the century". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  18. ^ Bliss, Karen. "Adele, Gotye Top SoundScan Year-End Charts in Canada". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  19. ^ "Record Industry in Numbers: The recorded music market in 2012" (PDF). 9 April 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2013.
  20. ^ Merry Christmas, Baby (booklet). Rod Stewart. Verve Records. 2012. 0602537103683.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Idelson, Karen (10 January 2013). "Audionamix mixes Old, New with Tech Wizardry". Variety.
  22. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  23. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  26. ^ "Canadian Albums: 15 December 2012 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  27. ^ "Top Stranih [Top Foreign]" (in Croatian). Top Foreign Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  28. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  30. ^ "Officialcharts.de – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  31. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2012. 51. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  32. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 50, 2012". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  33. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien.
  34. ^ "Charts.nz – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  36. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  37. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  38. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  39. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  40. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  42. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  43. ^ "Merry Christmas, Baby – Rod Stewart: Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  44. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2012". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  45. ^ "Year-end Charts – Albums 2012". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  46. ^ "Årslista Album - År 2012" (in Swedish). Hitlistan.se. Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  47. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums - 2012 Year End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  48. ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  49. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  50. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  51. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  52. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Music Canada. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  53. ^ "The Irish Charts - 2012 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  54. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  55. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2013 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  56. ^ "British album certifications – Rod Stewart – Merry Christmas, Baby". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  57. ^ "2013 Juno Award Nominees". CARAS. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
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