This Christmas, Aretha
| This Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 14, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | June–August 2008 | |||
| Studios |
| |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 51:00 | |||
| Label | DMI | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Aretha Franklin chronology | ||||
| ||||
This Christmas is the first Christmas album and thirty-sixth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. Produced by Franklin and Tena Clark, it was originally released on October 14, 2008, as a Borders exclusive, consisting of eleven cover versions of Christmas standards and carols. In 2009, the album was reissued by DMI Records. This Christmas peaked at number 102 on the US Billboard 200.[3][4]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   [5] |
| AllMusic | [2] |
| MSN Music |  [6] |
| The Toronto Star | [7] |
Allmusic editor Andy Kellman wrote:
"the disc is filled mostly with the spiritual and relatively serious side of holiday material. The likes of "Silent Night," "Ave Maria," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and "Angels We Have Heard on High" are given the kind of treatment only Aretha could grant .... It's not all reverence and reflection: best of all is a reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" that can only be termed "personalized".[2]
Track listing
Credits taken from the album's liner notes.[1]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Angels We Have Heard on High" | James Chadwick | Tena Clark | 5:26 |
| 2. | "This Christmas" (with Edward Franklin) |
| Clark | 5:23 |
| 3. | "My Grown-Up Christmas List" | Clark | 5:15 | |
| 4. | "The Lord Will Make a Way" | Traditional | Aretha Franklin | 5:43 |
| 5. | "Silent Night" | Clark | 5:06 | |
| 6. | "Ave Maria" | Clark | 4:57 | |
| 7. | "Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without the One You Love)" | Clark | 3:53 | |
| 8. | "14 Angels" | Engelbert Humperdinck | Franklin | 2:08 |
| 9. | "One Night With the King" | Jeannie Tenney | Franklin | 6:09 |
| 10. | "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" | Clark | 5:24 | |
| 11. | "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" | Clement C. Moore | Franklin | 1:52 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[1]
Vocalists
- Aretha Franklin – lead vocals (1, 4–7, 10), vocals (2, 3, 8, 9, 11)
- Edward Franklin – vocals (2)
- Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (4)
- Shelly Ponder – backing vocals (4)
- Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (4, 7), BGV contractor (7)
- Brenda White-King – backing vocals (4, 7)
- Lisa Fischer – backing vocals (7)
- Vaneese Thomas – backing vocals (7)
- The Fire Choir (Tracks 1, 5, 6 & 10)
- Bridgette Bryant
- Alvin Chea
- Lynne Fiddmont
- Wendy Fraser
- Dorian Holley
- Clydene Jackson
- Susie Stevens-Logan
- Carmen Twillie (also choir arrangements and conductor)
- Oren Waters
- Gerald White
- Terry Wood (also choir contractor)
Musicians
- Timothy Heinz – keyboards (1, 6, 10)
- James "Big Jim" Wright – keyboards (2, 3, 7)
- Richard Gibbs – acoustic piano (4, 9)
- Darryl Houston – organ (4, 9)
- Aretha Franklin – acoustic piano (5, 8)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1, 2, 6, 7, 10)
- Matt Dahlgren – guitar (4, 9)
- Teddy Richards-White – guitar (4)
- Nathan East – bass (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
- Charles "Volley" Craig – bass (4, 8, 9)
- Ricky Lawson – drums (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
- Arthur Marbury – drums (4, 8, 9)
- Luis Conte – percussion (2, 3, 7)
- Michito Sanchez – percussion (7)
- Brandon Fields – saxophone (7)
- Onita Sanders – harp (8)
- Music arrangements
- Bill Meyers – orchestral arrangements and conductor
- Suzie Katayama – orchestra contractor
- Timothy Heinz – rhythm arrangements (1, 6, 10)
- James "Big Jim" Wright – rhythm arrangements (2, 3, 7)
- Aretha Franklin – arrangements (4, 8)
- H. B. Barnum – conductor (4, 8, 9)
Production and Technical
- Ken Batchelor – A&R
- Tena Clark – producer (1–3, 5–7, 10, 11)
- Aretha Franklin – producer (4, 8, 9)
- Les Cooper – recording (1–3, 5–7, 10, 11)
- Todd Fairall – recording (4, 8, 9)
- Michael J. Powell – engineer (4, 8, 9), consultant (4, 8, 9)
- Al Schmitt – mixing, string recording
- Don Goodrick – assistant engineer
- George Gumbs – assistant engineer
- Tony Rizzo – assistant engineer
- Ed Woolley – assistant engineer
- Steve Genewick – Pro Tools editing
- Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Ojai, California)
- Ivy Skoff – production coordinator
- Ruth Bowen – product manager
- Diana Barnes – art direction, design
- Timothy White – photography
- Mia Morgan – styling
- Katherine Bocci – gown designs
- Renee Garnes – make-up
- Carlton Northern – hair
- Travolta Williams – hair
Charts
| Chart (2009–2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[3] | 102 |
| US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[8] | 22 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Franklin, Aretha. "This Christmas, Aretha" (Album Notes). DMI Records. 2008.
- 1 2 3 4 Kellman, Andy. This Christmas, Aretha at AllMusic
- 1 2 "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
- ↑ "Aretha Franklin's remixed 'Silent Night'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ Nero, Mark Edward. "A Beautiful Thing". About.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- ↑ MSN Music review
- ↑ Infantry, Ashante (November 18, 2008). "Aretha Franklin: This Christmas". The Toronto Star. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
