This Is Christmas
Studio album by
Luther Vandross
ReleasedOctober 18, 1995 (1995-10-18)
RecordedOctober 1994–July 1995
Studio
Various
Genre
Length48:21
LabelEpic
Producer
Luther Vandross chronology
Songs
(1994)		 This Is Christmas
(1995)		 Your Secret Love
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Cash Box(favorable)[2]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[3]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[4]

This Is Christmas is a Christmas album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released on October 18, 1995, by Epic Records. Produced by Vandross along with Nat Adderley Jr. and Marcus Miller, the album received mixed to negative reviews from music critics and peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard 200 and number 4 on both Billboard's Top Holiday Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Being a steady seller throughout the Christmas season, it was eventually certified platinum in 2002 by the RIAA.[5]

In November and December 1995 the album lent its title to a syndicated television special which was hosted by Vandross and featured songs from the album, as well as performances by special guests.

In 2002 Sony Music released six of the album's tracks, along with two spiritual tracks from the same era, on the compilation album, Home for Christmas.

Expanded Version

In October 2012 Sony rearranged, expanded, and repackaged the entire album under the new title, The Classic Christmas Album. The additional tracks were odd songs Vandross had recorded for other Christmas releases:

  • "The Christmas Song" was previously released on A Very Special Christmas 2 (1992).
  • "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live) (duet with Chaka Khan) was recorded at the 1998 Soul Train Christmas Starfest and was previously unreleased.
  • "May Christmas Bring You Happiness" and "At Christmas Time" were previously released on Funky Christmas (1976).

Track listing

This Is Christmas – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."With a Christmas Heart"
4:04
2."This Is Christmas"
4:45
3."The Mistletoe Jam (Everybody Kiss Somebody)"
4:45
4."Every Year, Every Christmas"
5:06
5."My Favorite Things"
5:58
6."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
5:05
7."I Listen to the Bells" (duet with Darlene Love)
6:07
8."Please Come Home for Christmas"
  • Vandross
  • Anderson
3:37
9."A Kiss for Christmas"
  • Vandross
  • Hampden
4:12
10."O Come, All Ye Faithful"
4:19
The Classic Christmas Album – Reissue
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Christmas Song"
4:30
2."My Favorite Things"
  • Richard Rodgers
  • Oscar Hammerstein II
5:58
3."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  • Hugh Martin
  • Ralph Blane
5:05
4."The Mistletoe Jam (Everybody Kiss Somebody)"
4:45
5."With a Christmas Heart"
  • Vandross
  • Skip Anderson
4:04
6."I Listen to the Bells" (duet with Darlene Love)
  • Vandross
  • Fonzi Thornton
6:07
7."A Kiss for Christmas"
  • Vandross
  • Hampden
4:12
8."Every Year, Every Christmas"
5:06
9."This Is Christmas"
  • Vandross
  • Reed Vertelney
4:45
10."Please Come Home for Christmas"
  • Vandross
  • Anderson
3:37
11."O Come, All Ye Faithful"
  • Wade
  • Oakeley
4:19
12."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live) (duet with Chaka Khan)
  • Hugh Martin
  • Ralph Blane
5:11
13."May Christmas Bring You Happiness"Vandross4:27
14."At Christmas Time"Vandross5:03

Notes

  • "The Christmas Song" was previously released on the album A Very Special Christmas 2 (1992)
  • "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live) (duet with Chaka Khan) was recorded at the 1998 Soul Train Christmas Starfest and was previously unreleased
  • "May Christmas Bring You Happiness" and "At Christmas Time" was previously released on the album Funky Christmas (1976)

Personnel

Choir on "O' Come All Ye Faithful"

  • Tawatha Agee, Katreese Barns, Vivian Cherry, Robin Clark, Ada Dyer, Genobia Jeter, Yvonne Lewis, Paulette McWilliams, Kevin Owens
    Tamira C. Sanders, Valerie Simpson, Fonzi Thornton (choir contractor)
Production

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[5] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ link
  2. ↑ Robertson IV, Gil L. (December 9, 1995). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  3. ↑ link
  4. 1 2 Decurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; Miller, Jim; George-Warren, Holly (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. ISBN 9780679737285.
  5. 1 2 "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – This Is Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America.
  6. 1 2 3 "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  7. ↑ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
  8. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
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