It's Christmas | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 23, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Genre | Christmas | |||
Length | 51:00 | |||
Label | Verve Forecast | |||
Producer | Ledisi, George Duke, Rex Rideout, Luther "Mano" Hanes | |||
Ledisi chronology | ||||
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Singles from It's Christmas | ||||
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It's Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ledisi, and her first Christmas album. Released by Verve Forecast on September 23, 2008, the album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs in addition to original material. [1] Ledisi worked with George Duke, Rex Rideout, and Luther "Mano" Hanes, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks, as well as producing Ledisi's interpretations of the covered material. "Give Love on Christmas Day" was released as a radio single from the album.
Critical response to the album's contemporary Christmas theme was positive. Some music critics complimented the "fiery gospel-soul" vocals and called the album a "more personal, more instinctual record." [2]
Throughout the album's development, Ledisi worked with Rex Rideout, with whom she collaborated on Lost & Found (2007) and Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire (2007). Together, they wrote one of the album's original songs, as well as producing most of the traditional tracks. [1] [3] In July 2008, Ledisi announced her plans to release a Christmas album. [4] In an interview with Billboard magazine, she confirmed to be working with American trumpeter Christian Scott, American blues musician Keb' Mo', and female quartet Perri. [4]
In addition, Ledisi recorded a cover of "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, as well as classics such as "Please Come Home for Christmas", "Silent Night", and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".
It's Christmas was released on September 23, 2008, by Verve Forecast; becoming her second album release on a major record label. [1] On December 7, 2008, the Gospel Music Channel aired a thirty-minute Christmas program titled Ledisi Christmas. The program featured Ledisi performing selected songs from It's Christmas in addition to her single "Alright".
It's Christmas was supported by the commercial single and cover version of "Give Love on Christmas Day", which peaked at number thirteen on the US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. An accompanying music video, directed Ron T. Young, was released on YouTube. [5] The song "This Christmas (Could Be the One)" peaked at number twelve on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while her cover version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" peaked at number thirteen on the chart. [6] In November 2009, It's Christmas was re-released as a double box album set along with her album Turn Me Loose . [7]
In The Washington Post , Geoffrey Himes wrote that "artists have a chance to make a more personal, more instinctual record. There's no better example than Ledisi's terrific new disc." [2] AllMusic editor Eric Schneider praised her rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", referring to it as a "graceful take". [1]
It's Christmas debuted and peaked at number five on the US Top Holiday Albums chart during the week of October 11, 2008. [8] The album remained on the charts for a total of five weeks. [8] During the week of November 1, 2008, the album debuted on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [8] During its fifth week on the chart, the album peaked at number twenty-eight. The album spent a total of fourteen weeks on the chart. [8]
Chart (2008) | Peak position |
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US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard) [9] | 5 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [10] | 28 |
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics. In 2007, ASCAP ranked it the third most performed Christmas song during the preceding five years that had been written by ASCAP members. In 2004 it finished at No. 76 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs rankings of the top tunes in North American cinema.
Snowflakes is the fourth studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on October 23, 2001, by Arista Records. Her first Christmas album, it is a follow-up to her 2000 studio album The Heat. Snowflakes consists of 11 tracks, featuring five R&B-led original songs co-penned with her former husband Keri Lewis and longtime collaborator Babyface, as well as several remixes and cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, one of which is a collaboration with Jamaican musician Shaggy. Throughout the creation process, Braxton also collaborated with L.A. Reid, Poke & Tone, Daryl Simmons and her younger sister Tamar Braxton.
American singer Mariah Carey has released 88 official singles, 22 promotional singles, and has made 30 guest appearances. Her self-titled debut album in 1990 yielded four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the first being "Vision of Love", a song credited with revolutionizing the usage of distinguished vocal stylings, predominantly the practice of melisma, and effectively influencing virtually every female R&B performer since the 1990s. Subsequent singles "Emotions" (1991) and Carey's cover of the Jackson 5 track "I'll Be There" (1992) continued the singer's streak of US number-one singles, with the latter becoming her fourth chart-topper in Canada and first in the Netherlands. With the release of Carey's third studio album, Music Box (1993), the singer's international popularity surged upon release of "Hero" and the album's third single, her cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without You", which became the singer's first number-one single in several countries across Europe.
Merry Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, and her first Christmas album. Released by Columbia Records on October 28, 1994, at the peak of the initial stretch of Carey's career, between Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995), the album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs in addition to original material. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks, as well as producing Carey's interpretations of the covered material. Three singles were released from the album, of which "All I Want for Christmas Is You" went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time and the best-selling Christmas ringtone in the United States.
This Is Christmas is the tenth studio album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released on October 18, 1995, by LV Records and Epic Records. The follow-up to Songs (1994), it marked the singer's first Christmas album. Produced by Vandross along with Nat Adderley Jr. and Marcus Miller, This Is Christmas consists of ten tracks, featuring seven original songs and three cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, including a duet with Darlene Love.
Ledisi Anibade Young, better known simply as Ledisi, is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, author, and actress. Her name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba.
Lost & Found is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Ledisi. It was released on August 28, 2007, by Verve Records.
Pieces of Me is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ledisi. It was released on June 14, 2011, by Verve Forecast Records.
American singer-songwriter Ledisi has released eleven studio albums, three live albums, one soundtrack album, one extended play, and thirty-six singles, including four as a featured artist.
A Mary Christmas is the eleventh studio album and first Christmas album by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was released on October 15, 2013, by Matriarch, Interscope and Verve Records. The album was primarily produced by David Foster, and features guest appearances from Barbra Streisand, Chris Botti, Jessie J, The Clark Sisters, and Marc Anthony.
The Truth is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Ledisi. It was released on March 11, 2014, by Verve Records.
Let Love Rule is the eighth studio album by American musician Ledisi. It was released in September 2017 under Verve Records. The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 60th Grammy Awards in January 2018.
The Wild Card is the ninth studio album by American singer and songwriter Ledisi. It was released on August 28, 2020, by Listen Back Entertainment, and distributed by BMG Rights Management. Her first independent album since Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue (2002) and the first project release on Listen Back Entertainment, Ledisi wrote and produced the album with Kal Banx, Ivan Barias, Phil Beaudreau, Jeff Gitelman, Robert Glasper, Cory Henry, Rex Rideout, SiR and various other collaborators. Sa-Roc and Cory Henry also appear as featured musicians.
"Alright" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Ledisi for her third studio album Lost & Found (2007). It was written by Ledisi, and produced by Rex Rideout with guitar played by musician Jubu Smith. Ledisi decided that she wanted a deeper and more personal song as the third single; the song was sent by Verve Forecast to contemporary hit radio in the United States on July 3, 2007. "Alright" is a soul song about dealing with personal and financial issues as well as acceptance. The single reached the top twenty on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.
"Pieces of Me" is a song by American singer and songwriter Ledisi for her sixth studio album, Pieces of Me (2011). The song was written by Ledisi, Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, with the latter two producing the song. The song's lyrics are about the meaning of being a woman.
"In the Morning" is a song by American singer and songwriter Ledisi for her third studio album, Lost & Found (2007). The song was written by Ledisi and Rex Rideout, with the latter producing the song. "In the Morning" was released the second single from Lost & Found on March 18, 2008, by Verve Forecast.
"I Need to Know" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Ledisi, for her eleventh studio album Good Life (2024). It was released to music outlets on January 12, 2023, by her independent record label Listen Back Entertainment. The song was written by Ledisi and longtime collaborator and producer Rex Rideout, the latter of which produced the song.
"I Blame You" is a song by American singer and songwriter Ledisi for her seventh studio album, The Truth (2014). The song was written by Ledisi, Chuck Harmony, and Claude Kelly, with the latter two producing the song. The song's lyrics are about "blaming" their partner for the happiness in their life.
"Goin' Thru Changes" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Ledisi for her fifth studio album Turn Me Loose (2009). The song was released as lead single from Turn Me Loose on July 7, 2009, by Verve Forecast.
"Higher Than This" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Ledisi for her fifth studio album Turn Me Loose (2009). The song was written by Ledisi in collaboration with production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and James "Big Jim" Wright. The song was released as the second single from Turn Me Loose on July 28, 2009, by Verve Forecast.