Home for Christmas (Susan Boyle album)

Home for Christmas
Studio album by Susan Boyle
Released	25 October 2013
Recorded	2013
Genre	Christmas
Length	38:22
Label	Syco Sony Music
Producer	Cliff Masterson Steve Anderson
Susan Boyle chronology
Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage (2012) Home for Christmas (2013) Hope (2014)
Singles from Home for Christmas
"O Come, All Ye Faithful" Released: 6 December 2013

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
UltimateGuitar.com	[2]
Renowned for Sound	[3]
ABC News Entertainment	[4]

Home for Christmas is the fifth studio album and second Christmas album by Scottish singer Susan Boyle. It was released on 25 October 2013 in Australia, on 29 October in the United States, and on 25 November 2013 in the United Kingdom. The album is a Christmas holiday album featuring a posthumous duet with Elvis Presley who died in 1977 and two duets with Johnny Mathis and The Overtones. The album also features an original song, "Miracle Hymn", written for Boyle's debut acting role in the film The Christmas Candle . ^[5]

Background

Boyle was granted permission to use recordings of Elvis Presley from Graceland Estates singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful". The single was released on 6 December 2013 in Ireland and on 8 December in the United Kingdom, as a charity single for Save The Children U.K. and for the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation in the U.S. ^{[6] [7] [8]} It is the second time Boyle has covered "O Come, All Ye Faithful". She first covered the song for her second album, The Gift (2010).

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"O Come, All Ye Faithful" (duet with Elvis Presley)	Traditional/Arranged by Elvis Presley	Felton Jarvis (Elvis Presley's vocals & original instrumental track), [9] Cliff Masterson, Steve Anderson	2:54
2.	"The Lord's Prayer"	Albert Hay Malotte	Masterson, Anderson	3:45
3.	"The Little Drummer Boy" (featuring The Overtones)	Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati, Katherine Davis	Masterson, Anderson	3:35
4.	"I'll Be Home for Christmas"	Buck Ram, Walter Kent, Kim Gannon	Masterson, Anderson	3:08
5.	"When a Child Is Born" (featuring Johnny Mathis)	Zacar, Fred Jay	Masterson, Anderson	3:17
6.	"The Christmas Song"	Mel Tormé, Robert Wells	Masterson, Anderson	2:36
7.	"I Believe in Father Christmas"	Sergei Prokofiev, Peter Sinfield, Greg Lake	Masterson, Anderson	3:29
8.	"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"	Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin	Masterson, Anderson	2:50
9.	"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"	Traditional/Arranged by Cliff Masterson/Steve Anderson	Masterson, Anderson	3:45
10.	"The Christmas Waltz"	Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn	Masterson, Anderson	2:35
11.	"In the Bleak Midwinter"	Traditional/Arranged by Masterson/Anderson	Masterson, Anderson	3:31
12.	"Miracle Hymn"	Luke Atencio, Candace Lee	Masterson, Anderson, Amory Leader	2:57

Notes

• "O Come, All Ye Faithful" uses samples from the 1971 Elvis Presley recording of the same name ^[10] from the album Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas ^{[11] [12]}

Personnel

Unless otherwise indicated, information is also taken from Allmusic ^[13]

• Susan Boyle - vocals (tracks 6, ^[14] 8, ^[15] 10, 12, lead on tracks 1–5, 7, 9, 11) ^[16]
• Dishan Abrahams - bass guitar (tracks 5, 7)
• Steve Anderson - musical arrangement (tracks 2–3, 5, 7, 9-11), music programming (1, 3, 5, 7, 10), drums (3, 5, 7), bass guitar (3), ^[17] piano (10), ^[18] keyboards (3, 11)
• Graham Archer - recording engineer (track 3)
• Steven Blake - bagpipes (track 3)
• Kevin Burleigh - recording engineer (track 7) ^[19]
• Carmel Thomas Youth Singers - choir vocals (track 1) ^[20]
• Chris Hill - bass played by (tracks 4, ^[21] 6, 8)
• Ginger Holliday - sampled ^[22] background vocals (track 1)
• The Imperials - sampled background vocals (track 1)
• Jake Jackson - recording engineer (track 12), audio mixing (12) ^[23]
• Rob Johnston - choir director (tracks 2, 4–5, 7, 9, 11)
• Charlie Kenny - drums (tracks 4, 6, 8)
• Sean Kenny - recording engineer (tracks 2-11)
• Millie Kirkham - background vocals (track 1)
• Adam Looker - assistant recording engineer (tracks 2–3, 12)
• Andrew Lucas - choir director (tracks 2, 9, 11)
• Lorne MacDougall - bagpipes (track 3)
• Avril Mackintosh - recording engineer (tracks 3-12), Pro Tools engineer (1)
• Cliff Masterson - musical arrangement (tracks 2-11), music programming (1-3, 7, 9), orchestra conductor (2), ^[24] piano (2, 5–8), keyboards (3, 11), drums (3, 7), bass guitar (3), organ played by (9) ^[25]
• Johnny Mathis - guest vocals, lead vocals (track 5) ^[26]
• Michael McGoldrick - uilleann pipes (track 7)
• Charlie McKerron - fiddle (track 7)
• Fred Molin - recording engineer (track 5)
• Jimmy Nielson - assistant recording engineer (tracks 2-12)
• James Nisbet - guitar (tracks 4–5, 7, 10)
• The Overtones - guest vocals, background vocals (track 3)
• Elvis Presley - sampled lead vocals (track 1)
• Temple Riser - sampled background vocals (track 1)
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - strings performed by (tracks 2, 5, 7, 11)
• RSVP Voices - choir vocals (tracks 2, 4–5, 7, 9, 11)
• Donald Shaw - accordion (track 7), recording engineer (7)
• St. Albans Cathedral Boys Choir - background vocals (tracks 2, 9, 11)
• Mitch Stevens - background vocals (track 7)
• Gary Thomas - recording engineer (tracks 2-12)
• Tom Trapp - musical arrangement (track 12)
• Jeremy Wheatley - audio mixing (tracks 2-12)
• Zone 1 Brass - brass performed by (track 1)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2013−14) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) [27] 13 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [28] 36 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [29] 118 Canadian Albums (Billboard) [30] 17 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [31] 32 Greek Albums (IFPI) [32] 64 Irish Albums (IRMA) [33] 20 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [34] 3 Scottish Albums (OCC) [35] 4 UK Albums (OCC) [36] 9 US Billboard 200 [37] 17 US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard) [38] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) [39] 99 UK Albums (OCC) [40] 74 Chart (2014) Position US Billboard 200 [41] 100

Certifications

Sales certifications for Home for Christmas

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [42]	Platinum	15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [43]	Gold	100,000^
United States	—	208,000 [44]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Australia [45]	25 October 2013	CD, digital download	Syco Music, Sony Music
United States [46]	29 October 2013		Syco Music, Columbia
United Kingdom [47]	25 November 2013		Syco Music, Sony Music

References

1. Erlwine, Steven Thomas. "Home for Christmas Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
2. UG Team. "Home For Christmas Review". UltimateGuitar.com. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
3. Elms, Danielle. "Album Review-Susan Boyle-Home For Christmas". Renowned For Sound. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
4. Raible, Allan. "Reviews: Latest from Kelly Clarkson, Arcade Fire, Susan Boyle and More". ABC News. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
5. "Syco/Columbia Records to Release Home For Christmas". PRNewswire. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
6. "O Come, All Ye Faithful (With Elvis Presley) - Single by Susan Boyle". iTunes . 6 December 2013.
7. "Susan Boyle | Latest News | Susan's Charity Christmas Single 'O Come All Ye Faithful' is OUT NOW!". Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
8. "Susan Boyle Launches Charity Christmas Single". Save the Children. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
9. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions". Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. 16–17 May 1971. http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/710516.html
10. "Susan Boyle Records Christmas Duet with Elvis". Irish Central. 10 September 2013. http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/susan-boyle-records-christmas-duet-with-elvis-223106031-237775401
11. "Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas - A Review". Elvis Today Blog. 17 December 2011. http://www.elvistodayblog.com/2011/12/elvis-sings-wonderful-world-of.html?m=1
12. Presley, Elvis. "Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas (Vinyl, LP, Album)". RCA Victor. 20 October 1971. https://www.discogs.com/Elvis-Presley-Elvis-Sings-The-Wonderful-World-Of-Christmas/release/2475391
13. Boyle, Susan. "I'll Be Home for Christmas". Allmusic/Syco Music. 29 October 2013. http://www.allmusic.com/album/home-for-christmas-mw0002583480
14. The Christmas Song. Susan Boyle. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
15. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Susan Boyle. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
16. In the Bleak Midwinter. Susan Boyle. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
17. Little Drummer Boy. Susan Boyle. 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
18. The Christmas Waltz. Susan Boyle. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
19. I Believe in Father Christmas. Susan Boyle. 7 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
20. Susan Boyle and Elvis Presley. "O Come, All Ye Faithful". Dr.DK: Musik. 2013. http://www.dr.dk/musik/titel/o%2bcome%252c%2ball%2bye%2bfaithful/9008787-1-1
21. I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only In My Dreams). Susan Boyle. 11 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
22. O Come, All Ye Faithful. Elvis Presley. 4 March 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
23. Miracle Hymn. Susan Boyle. 7 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
24. The Lord's Prayer. Susan Boyle. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
25. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Susan Boyle. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
26. When a Child Is Born. Susan Boyle. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2021– via YouTube.
27. "Australiancharts.com – Susan Boyle – Home For Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
28. "Ultratop.be – Susan Boyle – Home For Christmas" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
29. "Ultratop.be – Susan Boyle – Home For Christmas" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
30. "Susan Boyle Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
31. "Dutchcharts.nl – Susan Boyle – Home For Christmas" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
32. "Official IFPI Charts - Top-75 Albums Sales Chart - Εβδομάδα: 47/2014" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
33. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 48, 2013". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
34. "Charts.nz – Susan Boyle – Home For Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
35. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
36. "Susan Boyle | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
37. "Susan Boyle Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
38. "Susan Boyle Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
39. "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2013". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
40. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2013". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
41. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
42. "New Zealand album certifications – Susan Boyle – Home for Christmas". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
43. "British album certifications – Susan Boyle – Home For Christmas". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 11 June 2021.
44. Grein, Paul (3 January 2014). "Chart Watch: The Top 10 Christmas Albums of 2013". Yahoo! Music . Yahoo–HuffPost Entertainment Network. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
45. "Home for Christmas by Susan Boyle". iTunes . 28 October 2013.
46. "Home For Christmas". Amazon.com. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
47. "Home For Christmas". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2013.