Once Upon a Christmas (Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton album)

Last updated

Once Upon a Christmas
Once-upon-a-christmas.png
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 29, 1984
RecordedAugust 1984
Studio
Genre
Length35:25
Label RCA Victor
Producer
Kenny Rogers chronology
What About Me?
(1984)
Once Upon a Christmas
(1984)
Duets
(1984)
YearNominee / workAwardResult
1985Once Upon a ChristmasTop Selling AlbumWon

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated December 15, 1984. It peaked at number 12 on the chart dated January 12, 1985. The album has spent a total of 35 weeks on the chart as of December 2019. The album also peaked at number 31 on both the Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart. The album also saw success in European countries, peaking at number 33 on the Norwegian Albums chart, number 37 on the Dutch Albums chart, and number 40 on the Swedish Albums chart.

The album received Gold and Platinum certifications from the RIAA on December 3, 1984, and was certified 2× Platinum on October 25, 1989, for shipment of 2 million copies. The album received Gold and Platinum certifications from Music Canada on December 1, 1984. The album was certified 3× Platinum on November 14, 1985, and 4× Platinum on January 21, 1987. It was certified 5× Platinum on April 13, 1988, for shipments of 500,000 copies.

Reissues

In 1997, the album was reissued on the BMG Special Products label with an altered track listing. The song order was slightly rearranged and Rogers' two solos were omitted ("The Christmas Song" and "Silent Night"). However, Parton's 1982 recording of "Hard Candy Christmas" from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas was added.

Track listing

Once Upon a Christmas track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Believe in Santa Claus"Dolly Parton3:30
2."Medley: Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride" (Dolly Parton solo)
  • Dick Smith
  • Felix Bernard
  • Mitchel Parish
  • Leroy Anderson
3:43
3."Christmas Without You"
  • Parton
  • Steve Goldstein
3:55
4."The Christmas Song" (Kenny Rogers solo)
3:23
5."A Christmas to Remember"Parton3:41
6."With Bells On"Parton2:42
7."Silent Night" (Kenny Rogers solo)3:18
8."The Greatest Gift of All"John Jarvis3:46
9."White Christmas" (Dolly Parton solo) Irving Berlin 3:06
10."Once Upon a Christmas"Parton4:21
Total length:35:25
1997 reissue track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Believe in Santa Claus"Parton3:30
2."Medley: Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride" (Dolly Parton solo)
  • Smith
  • Bernard
  • Parish
  • Anderson
3:43
3."With Bells On"Parton2:42
4."Christmas Without You"
  • Parton
  • Goldstein
3:55
5."White Christmas" (Dolly Parton solo)Berlin3:06
6."A Christmas to Remember"Parton3:41
7."Hard Candy Christmas" (Dolly Parton solo) Carol Hall 3:39
8."The Greatest Gift of All"Jarvis3:46
9."Once Upon a Christmas"Parton4:21
Total length:32:23

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

Performance

Production

Other personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [24] 5× Platinum500,000^
United States (RIAA) [25] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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