Happy Christmas (Jessica Simpson album)

Last updated
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas Jessica.png
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 22, 2010 (2010-11-22)
RecordedSeptember  — October 2010
Genre
Length47:01
Label
Producer
Jessica Simpson chronology
Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson
(2010)
Happy Christmas
(2010)
Singles from Happy Christmas
  1. "My Only Wish"
    Released: November 11, 2010

Happy Christmas is the seventh studio album and second Christmas album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson, released on November 22, 2010 by Primary Wave. Produced by Kuk Harrell, Aaron Pearce, C. "Tricky" Stewart and The-Dream, it was her first album released by Primary Wave and features cover versions of various Christmas standards in addition to original material.

Contents

Background

Simpson parted ways with her record label, Epic Records, and signed a new record deal. She was interviewed by E! News and PopSugar.com where she revealed that she had been working on a new Christmas album. On September 15, 2010, it was announced that Simpson was working with the producers of The-Dream and Tricky Stewart in her next two albums. On October 12, 2010, Simpson announced via Twitter that she had completed recording this album. Simpson said that the concept of a new Christmas album came after PBS asked her if she would like to do a Christmas special. Simpson and PBS thought it would be a good idea to release an album along with a holiday special. The show premiered on television on December 4, 2010. The album was made available for streaming through Amazon.com. [1] She also appeared on The Early Show , Late Night with Jimmy Fallon , Live with Regis and Kelly , Access Hollywood and performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting.

In an interview, Simpson said about that album: "This (album) is different because it's under my complete control, it's the first record that I'm putting out on eleveneleven Records which is my new record company. "I think it's great to have a spiritual record out there to be my first [on my new label] because that's how I got started in the business anyway". [2]

Tricky Stewart told US Weekly about working with Simpson on the album: "I was so pleasantly surprised and happy with how everything came out! She is a gem just waiting to be rediscovered, so there is a definite possibility of us working together again in the future. She is fun and lighthearted but very serious about her singing. She is a little bit of an over-thinker sometimes because she puts so much pressure on herself. But, overall we had a great time making this record! We had to do it super fast — we started the negotiations and everything in October, which is really late for a Christmas album. But we got it done, it came out, and it's great — everyone loved it". [3]

Promotion

Simpson appeared at The Early Show , the Late Show with David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kelly and at Macy's Thanksgiving Parade to promote the album.

Simpson and PBS announced that a Christmas musical special would air in the fall of 2010. The special, entitled Jessica Simpson: Happy Christmas was available to watch on November 25, 2010 on Simpson's official website and premiered on Saturday prime-time television on December 4, 2010. The show features Simpson singing a collection of Christmas hits from Happy Christmas and her first holiday album Rejoyce: The Christmas Album (2004). Simpson was also joined by special guests including her sister Ashlee Simpson, Trey Lorenz, Willie Nelson and Carly Simon. This was the second Christmas TV special featuring Simpson, the first being Nick and Jessica's Family Christmas with her ex-husband Nick Lachey.

Singles

"My Only Wish" was released as promotional single. It premiered at On Air with Ryan Seacrest and the Simpson website jessicasimpson.com, the November 11, 2010. The song was written by Aaron Pearce, Jessica Simpson and Christopher Stewart. "My Only Wish" is a love song, a good rhythm Christmas, featuring pop music and traditional rhythms, drum notes, and hard knocks and grooves. Background vocals are present throughout the chorus. The song received mixed reviews by music critics and was compared to "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (1994) by Mariah Carey. The song managed to reach the Top 50 most downloaded Christmas songs of iTunes in the United States. During the first week of the release of the album, the song could be downloaded for free on iTunes Store. The single did not have a music video.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

The album received positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic stated, "compared to 2004's brassy Rejoyce: The Christmas Album, Happy Christmas exists on a small stage: Simpson doesn't belt songs out, doesn't seem intent on wowing an audience with her pizzazz.[ sic ] [...]She may be intent on being all things to all people, but her eagerness to please suits the season and helps make Happy Christmas a better holiday soundtrack than Rejoyce." [5]

Jon Caramanica from New York Times stated, "A Western-swing-influenced medley of "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," sung by Jessica Simpson, and produced by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream? Someone's been paying attention to one critic's holiday wish list. Ms. Simpson, who began her career several lifetimes ago as a Christian singer, hasn't sounded as focused in years as she does on the feverishly pleasing "Happy Christmas," which is produced largely by Mr. Stewart and The-Dream, the synth-bliss R&B tastemakers, employing full restraint here. The bland bigness of holiday music suits Ms. Simpson's overpowering voice well, but even when she's testing it, she sounds sharp, whether on the multitracked delirium of "Carol of the Bells" or on an electric-blues version of "Merry Christmas Baby," where she energetically over-emotes against a more laconic holiday messenger, Willie Nelson" [6]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 123 on US Billboard 200, becoming Simpson's lowest peak in the United States. [7] It also debuted at number nine on US Billboard Independent Albums and number twenty three on Top Holiday Albums chart. [7] In its second week the album dropped to number 185 with sales of over 5,000. [8]

The album has sold 28,000 copies in the United States as of 2016. [9] [10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."My Only Wish"
3:53
2."Here Comes Santa Claus" / "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
3:03
3."O Come O Come Emmanuel"Pearce
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
4:20
4."I'll Be Home for Christmas" (duet with John Britt)
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
4:39
5."Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
3:43
6."Mary Did You Know"
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
3:27
7."Merry Christmas Baby" (duet with Willie Nelson )
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
4:57
8."Kiss Me for Christmas"
  • Nash
  • Stewart
  • Simpson
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
4:57
9."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
4:04
10."Carol of the Bells"
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
3:12
11."Jingle Bell Rock"
  • Joe Beal
  • Jim Boothe
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
2:57
12."Silent Night" Franz Xaver Gruber
  • Stewart
  • Nash
  • Pearce [b]
  • Harrell [b]
3:49
Total length:47:01

Notes

Personnel

Credits for Happy Christmas adapted from AllMusic. [11]

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [7] [12] 123
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard) [13] 23
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [14] 9

Release history

RegionDateLabel(s)Ref.
CanadaNovember 22, 2010 EMI [15]
Germany [16]
United Kingdom [17]
United States [18]

Related Research Articles

<i>In This Skin</i> Album by Jessica Simpson

In This Skin is the third studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 19, 2003, by Columbia Records. It was reissued on March 2, 2004, with three new songs. Simpson began taking more creative control of her music with the album, both musically and lyrically, co-writing 10 out of 14 tracks on the album, thus moving away from the teen pop styles of her previous two albums, Sweet Kisses (1999) and Irresistible (2001), as well as including elements of Middle Eastern music, dance, acoustic, and pop rock, while also lyrically talking about more mature subject matters. The album was a huge success in North America, reaching number two on the US Billboard 200 and being certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, In This Skin went on to become the thirty-fifth best selling album of 2004. It was ranked number 153 on the list of the top-selling albums of the 2000s by Billboard magazine. As of 2020, In This Skin has sold 7 million copies worldwide.

<i>One Wish: The Holiday Album</i> 2003 studio album by Whitney Houston

One Wish: The Holiday Album is the sixth studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released by Arista Records on November 18, 2003. Chiefly produced by Mervyn Warren, the album is a follow-up to her fifth studio album, Just Whitney (2002), as well as her first Christmas album. One Wish features cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, one of which is a duet with Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. The album also includes "Joy to the World" and "Who Would Imagine a King," both of which first appeared on The Preacher's Wife soundtrack (1996).

<i>ReJoyce: The Christmas Album</i> 2004 Christmas album by singer Jessica Simpson

ReJoyce: The Christmas Album is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. It was released by Columbia Records on November 23, 2004. The album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs and includes a duet with her sister, Ashlee Simpson, on the song "Little Drummer Boy". Additionally, it also includes a duet with Nick Lachey, Simpson's husband at the time, on "Baby, It's Cold Outside". The cover of Amy Grant's "Breath of Heaven " was notable, as Simpson has said that Amy Grant is one of her favorite recording artists and her role model. "O Holy Night" had an accompanying music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tricky Stewart</span> American record producer from Illinois

Christopher Alan "Tricky" Stewart is an American record producer, record executive, songwriter, and music publisher. In a career spanning over 30 years, Stewart has won 5 Grammys and is responsible for over 50 million records sold. He is noted for producing many hip hop, R&B and pop chart topping singles, often with The-Dream. Some of Stewart's record breaking singles are: Mýa's "Case of the Ex" (2000), Britney Spears' "Me Against the Music" (2003), Rihanna's "Umbrella" (2007), Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine" (2007), Beyoncé's "Single Ladies " (2008), Karina Pasian's "16 @ War" (2008), Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" (2008) and "Obsessed" (2009), Justin Bieber's "One Time" (2009) and "Baby" (2010), Ciara's "Ride" (2010), and Nicole Scherzinger's "Your Love" (2014).

<i>These Are Special Times</i> 1998 studio album by Celine Dion

These Are Special Times is the seventeenth studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, and her first English-language Christmas album. It was first released in Europe on 30 October 1998, by Columbia Records. In the United States, it was released on 3 November 1998 through Epic Records. The album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs and original material, including "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer". Dion worked with David Foster and Ric Wake, who produced most of the album. These Are Special Times was released after two of Dion's most successful albums, Falling into You (1996) and Let's Talk About Love (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Simpson discography</span>

American singer Jessica Simpson has released seven studio albums, four compilation albums, three video albums, nineteen singles, and fifteen music videos. Her debut album, Sweet Kisses (1999), was released through Columbia Records, reached number 25 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album sold 1.9 million copies in the US and produced three singles. Simpson's debut single, "I Wanna Love You Forever", reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2001, Simpson released her second studio effort, titled Irresistible, which failed to match the success of Sweet Kisses. Irresistible peaked at number 6 in the United States and has sold 755,000 copies. Her third studio album, In This Skin, was released in August 2003. Guided by the publicity of her reality TV show, Newlyweds, that album became the best-selling effort of her career, achieving a peak position of number 2 and triple platinum certification in the US. By 2009, In This Skin had sold 2.9 million copies in the US and produced four singles. In 2004, Simpson released her fourth studio and her first Christmas album, Rejoyce: The Christmas Album. It reached number 14 in the US and was certified gold by the RIAA. As of February 2009, Rejoyce has sold 669,000 copies in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Simpson</span> American singer (born 1980)

Jessica Ann Simpson is an American singer and actress. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1997, aged seventeen. Her debut studio album, Sweet Kisses (1999), sold two million copies in the United States and saw the commercial success of the single "I Wanna Love You Forever". Simpson adopted a more mature image for her second studio album, Irresistible (2001), and its title track became her second top 20 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In This Skin (2003), Simpson's third studio album, sold three million copies in the United States.

<i>A Public Affair</i> 2006 studio album by Jessica Simpson

A Public Affair is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RedZone Entertainment</span> Music-production entity

RedZone Entertainment is an Atlanta-based, music-production entity. Redzone's discography includes collaborations with many artists, producers, and composers of note, and is responsible for over 25 million records sold. RedZone Entertainment has produced acts such as P!nk, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Ciara, Sting, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber.

<i>Do You Know</i> (Jessica Simpson album) 2008 album by Jessica Simpson

Do You Know is the sixth studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson. The album was first released digitally on September 5, 2008 for the US iTunes Store and physically on September 9, 2008 in the United States, Canada and Russia through a joint-venture between Columbia Nashville and Epic Records. The album was her first effort in an attempt to cross over with country music. Songwriter Brett James produced the album along with John Shanks. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard Country Albums and at number four on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 65,000. It received mixed reviews from music critics.

Christopher Rojas is a multi-platinum composer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is also the co-founder of DigiTour Media.

<i>Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel</i> 2009 studio album by Mariah Carey

Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is the twelfth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on September 29, 2009, by Island Records. After promotion for her previous album, E=MC² (2008) ended, Carey began to work on a new album, producing songs with Terius "The-Dream" Nash and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, and revealed the album's title through Twitter. Carey said that Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel would have "big ballads", and that "each song is its own snapshot of a moment in a story".

<i>Love?</i> 2011 studio album by Jennifer Lopez

Love? is the seventh studio album by American singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on April 29, 2011, by Island Records. Produced during the pregnancy of her twins Emme and Max, Love? was cited by Lopez as her most personal album to date, taking inspiration from the birth of her twins and her own experiences with love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louboutins (song)</span> 2009 single by Jennifer Lopez

"Louboutins" is a song recorded by American entertainer Jennifer Lopez. Written and produced by Terius "The-Dream" Nash and C. "Tricky" Stewart, the record was recorded by fellow recording artist and label-mate Brandy Norwood, but was given to Lopez following Norwood's departure from Epic Records. Lopez originally released the song as the lead single from her seventh studio album, Love?; however, after Lopez herself moved record labels to Island Records, the new lead single, "On the Floor", was released and "Louboutins" was not included on the album. The song uses the luxury footwear brand Louboutin as metaphor for female empowerment, with the lyrics focusing on women who need to leave their bad relationships with their heads held high.

<i>Basic Instinct</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Ciara

Basic Instinct is the fourth studio album by American singer Ciara. It was released on December 10, 2010, by LaFace Records and Jive Records. Executive-produced by A&R agent Mark Pitts, Ciara, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, Basic Instinct returns Ciara to her urban roots with mid-tempo R&B cuts and bass-heavy pop and dance songs. Aside from production by Stewart and The-Dream, Ciara collaborated with production by Soundz, Infinity and T-Minus. Frequent collaborator and friend Ludacris makes a guest vocal appearance, as does labelmate and fellow Atlanta-native, Usher. After her previous album, Fantasy Ride, suffered numerous leaks and pushbacks, information about Basic Instinct was kept confidential until the first single was released and album was complete.

<i>Burlesque</i> (soundtrack) 2010 soundtrack album by Christina Aguilera and Cher

Burlesque: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the film of the same name, released by Screen Gems, Inc and RCA Records on November 19, 2010. The soundtrack consists of ten songs sung by the film's stars, American singers Christina Aguilera and Cher; Aguilera sang eight of the tracks, while Cher performed the remaining two. The album is inspired by jazz music style, in style with Aguilera's fifth studio album Back to Basics (2006), but contrasting to her then-recent release Bionic (2010), which was recorded concurrently with Burlesque. Burlesque served as Cher's first album since the release of Living Proof nine years earlier.

<i>Dance Again... the Hits</i> 2012 greatest hits album by Jennifer Lopez

Dance Again... the Hits is the first greatest hits album of American singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on July 20, 2012, by Epic Records, to coincide with the launch of her first world tour, the Dance Again World Tour. Lopez previously conceived plans for a greatest hits album in 2009, but instead opted to use the material recorded for her seventh studio album, Love? (2011), which was released by Island Records in May 2011 after her departure from Epic Records in 2010. As Lopez owed the label one last album to fulfill her contract, she began work on a new greatest hits album in November 2011. She later became unsure whether she wanted to go along with plans to release a greatest hits album or a new studio album, eventually deciding on the former.

"My Only Wish" is a holiday song written by Jessica Simpson, Aaron Pearce, and Christopher Stewart, recorded by American singer-songwriter Jessica Simpson. It was released by Primary Wave Records on November 22, 2010 as the promotional single from her seventh studio album, Happy Christmas. The track received mixed reviews from music critics, with some commentators criticizing the song's close similarity to past hit "All I Want for Christmas is You". It premiered at On Air with Ryan Seacrest and the official Jessica Simpson website, jessicasimpson.com, on November 11, 2010. Simpson also notably allowed the song's free distribution on iTunes for several months.

<i>Christmas in the Sand</i> 2012 studio album by Colbie Caillat

Christmas in the Sand is a Christmas album and the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat. The album was released on October 23, 2012 in the United States through Universal Republic Records. The album includes eight cover versions of popular holiday songs and four original songs written by Caillat along with other songwriters. Produced by Ken Caillat, the album features collaborations with Brad Paisley, Gavin DeGraw, Justin Young and Jason Reeves. The first single "Christmas in the Sand" was released through SoundCloud on October 15, 2012 and "Merry Christmas Baby" was released on October 16, 2012, which features country music artist Brad Paisley. The album also has a deluxe edition, that was released internationally and through Target for the United States version that includes three bonus tracks and new album artwork.

<i>Christmas</i> (Francesca Battistelli album) 2012 studio album by Francesca Battistelli

Christmas is the first Christmas album by American contemporary Christian music artist Francesca Battistelli. The album is her third release with Fervent Records, and her fourth album overall including her first independent release. The album was produced by Ian Eskelin, and was released on October 16, 2012. The album charted in the Top Five on the Billboard Holiday Albums chart and has received critical acclaim.

References

  1. "Jessica Simpson - Albums, Songs, Bio". Amazon. Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  2. Seacrest, Ryan (November 11, 2010). "WORLD PREMIERE: Jessica Simpson Debuts New Single "My Only Wish" [AUDIO]| Ryan Seacrest - The official music and entertainment news site of American Idol host and American Top 40 on air radio personality!". On Air with Ryan Seacrest . Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  3. "Producer: Jessica Simpson And Her Fiance Are "Super Duper Happy!"". US Weekly . December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  4. AllMusic review
  5. "Happy Christmas > Jessica Simpson". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  6. "Happy Christmas > Jessica Simpson". The New York Times . 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  7. 1 2 3 "Happy Christmas — Jessica Simpson". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  8. Kaufman, Gil (2010-12-08). "Black Eyed Peas Settle For #6 As Susan Boyle Rules Billboard - News". MTV. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  9. Ackerman, McCarton (September 25, 2013). "Jessica Simpson Music Comeback! Fashion Mogul Entrepreneur Tweets New Album Plans? (Report)". hollywoodtake.com. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  10. Billboard.com - Ask Billboard Archived 2012-07-24 at archive.today Billboard . Retrieved: June 6, 2012
  11. Jessica Simpson > Happy Christmas. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-11-21
  12. "Jessica Simpson Chart history", Billboard 200 for Jessica Simpson.
  13. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard.
  14. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  15. "Happy Christmas: Jessica Simpson: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon Music . November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  16. "Happy Christmas - Jessica Simpson: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon Music . November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  17. "Happy Christmas: Amazon.co.uk: CDs & Vinyl". Amazon Music . November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  18. "Happy Christmas by Jessica Simpson on Apple Music - iTunes". itunes.apple.com . November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2016.