The Gift of Christmas (En Vogue album)

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The Gift of Christmas
EV gift of Xmas.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 8, 2002
Recorded2002
Genre
Length41:24
Label Discretion
Producer
En Vogue chronology
Masterpiece Theatre
(2000)
The Gift of Christmas
(2002)
Soul Flower
(2004)

The Gift of Christmas is fifth studio album and the Christmas album by American female recording group En Vogue, released on October 8, 2002 by Discretion Enterprises following their departure from Elektra Records. Produced and arranged by long time collaborators Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, featuring additional production by Timothy Eaton, it is the group's first Christmas album and their only record to feature vocals from Amanda Cole who remained two years with the group. The Gift of Christmas features original Christmas tunes as well as cover versions of classic holiday songs.

Contents

Background

In 2000, En Vogue released their fourth studio album Masterpiece Theatre , their second project as a trio following the departure of original member Dawn Robinson in 1997. A commercial disappointment, the album debuted and peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 67 on the Billboard 200. This marked En Vogue's lowest peak for an album by then and was a considerable drop from their previous effort EV3 (1997). [1] "Riddle," the album's only single, also failed to impact, resulting in the release of no further singles after Elektra Records refused to release the album’s second single, "Love U Crazay"." [2] Instead, En Vogue were soon dropped from Elektra after the weak commercial performance of the project. [3]

In 2001, Amanda Cole was added as a performing member to the band, but soon after original member Maxine Jones announced her desire to spend more time with her young daughter and departed, leaving them as a trio again. [3] Around the same time, produced Timothy Eaton approached the band when he was interested in doing a Christmas album with them through Discretion Records. [3] While Eaton and David Sterling served as executive producers on the album, En Vogue reteamed with their founders, production duo Foster & McElroy, to record the album, featuring four original songs and eight cover versions of Christmas standards and carols. In 2017, when asked about its creation process, Cindy Herron commented that "the album was sort of, I don't want to say it was an experiment, but in a way it was." [3]

Track listing

The Gift of Christmas Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Oh Christmas Tree Greeting"
  • Traditional
0:46
2."I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
  • Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
2:22
3."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  • Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
3:07
4."Jingle Bells" (Euro Mix)
  • Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
2:52
5."Snowy Nights"
  • Denzil Foster
  • Thomas McElroy
  • En Vogue
  • Tony Woods
  • Foster & McElroy
3:16
6."My Christmas"
  • Denzil Foster
  • Thomas McElroy
  • En Vogue
  • Foster & McElroy
3:37
7."Merry Christmas Baby"
  • Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
4:14
8."This Christmas"
  • Denzil Foster
  • Thomas McElroy
  • En Vogue
  • Foster & McElroy
3:37
9."That's What Christmas Means to Me"
  • Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
2:32
10."With My Honey"
  • Denzil Foster
  • Thomas McElroy
  • En Vogue
  • Foster & McElroy
3:46
11."Oh Holy Night"
  • Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
3:12
12."What Child Is This?" (Prayer)
  • Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
1:37
13."What Child Is This?" (Vocal) 
  • Foster & McElroy
2:14
The Gift of Christmas Bonus track edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Jingle Bells" (Rock Version)Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
3:00
15."Jingle Bells" (Instrumental Version)Traditional
  • Foster & McElroy
2:52

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">En Vogue</span> American R&B/pop vocal group

En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single "Hold On", taken from their 1990 debut album Born to Sing. The group's 1992 follow-up album Funky Divas reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and included their second US number two hit "My Lovin' " as well as the US top 10 hits "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Free Your Mind".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foster & McElroy</span> American production team

Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy are an American R&B record production and songwriting duo, releasing recordings under the names Foster & McElroy and Fmob. They have written and produced songs for musicians such as Club Nouveau, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Alexander O'Neal, Regina Belle, and Swing Out Sister. Their music has been sampled in hit songs by the Luniz, Puff Daddy, Ashanti, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Jessica Simpson, and others. Foster & McElroy are best known as the founders of the group En Vogue, listed by Billboard as one of the Top 10 Girl Groups of All Time. In addition to producing music for various television shows, they are also credited for songs in numerous movie soundtracks including The Great White Hype, Lean on Me, and Who's That Girl.

<i>Funky Divas</i> 1992 studio album by En Vogue

Funky Divas is the second studio album by American recording group En Vogue, released by Atlantic Records division East West on March 24, 1992, in the United States. Conceived after the success of their Grammy Award–nominated debut album Born to Sing (1990), En Vogue reteamed with their founders Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy to work on the entire album. As with Born to Sing, the pair borrowed from contemporary R&B, new jack swing, and hip hop, while also incorporating classic soul, blues and doo-wop elements, particularly on its on two Sparkle cover versions, as well as, in the case of "Free Your Mind," heavy metal sounds. The album became the quartet's second album to earn a Grammy Award nomination in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category, while winning the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and the Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Ellis</span> American R&B singer

Terry Lynn Ellis is an American singer. She is best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue which formed in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxine Jones</span> American singer

Maxine Jones, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman, best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She sang lead vocals on the group's signature singles "My Lovin' " and "Don't Let Go (Love)", both of which garnered international success and sold over a million copies. Throughout her career, Jones has sold over 20 million records with En Vogue. Her work has earned her several awards and nominations, including two American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, four MTV Video Music Awards, and four Soul Train Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Herron</span> American singer and actress

Cynthia Ann Herron, professionally known as Cindy Herron and sometimes credited as Cindy Herron–Braggs is an American singer and actress. Herron is best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She sang lead vocals on the group's first single "Hold On", which garnered mainstream success and sold over a million copies. Despite being absent from the group during certain periods, Herron and fellow group member Terry Ellis are the only original members to appear on all of the group's album releases to date. In the 1980s, Herron began her career as an actress, making her debut appearance in Up and Coming as "Valerie".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhona Bennett</span> American singer and actress

Rhona Lynn Bennett, also known as Miss R&B, is an American singer and actress best known for her recurring role as Nicole on The Jamie Foxx Show. She is currently a member of contemporary R&B female group En Vogue. Bennett began her career doing voiceovers and industrial films before moving into professional theatre and television. Before joining the cast of The Jamie Foxx Show, Rhona was a castmember of the Disney Channel's variety show The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority. She also appeared as Loquatia on the short-lived UPN television sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space during the 1996–97 season.

<i>Born to Sing</i> (En Vogue album) 1990 studio album by En Vogue

Born to Sing is the debut studio album by American vocal group En Vogue. It was released by Atlantic Records on April 3, 1990, in the United States. Conceived after their contribution to band founders Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy's 1988 compilation project FM2 for Atlantic, it was chiefly produced by Foster and McElroy, with additional contribution coming from Hughie Prince, Don Raye, and former The Independents members Marvin Yancy and Chuck Jackson. Musically, Born to Sing contains a range of contemporary genres, blending a mix of soft hip hop soul, pop, contemporary early-1990s R&B, rap, and new jack swing.

<i>Soul Flower</i> 2004 studio album by En Vogue

Soul Flower is the sixth studio album by the American recording group En Vogue. Released through 33rd Street and Funkigirl Records and distributed by Bayside Entertainment on February 24, 2004 in the United States, the album marked the band's debut with the label as well as their first full-length release to feature vocals by new band member Rhona Bennett who had joined remaining founding members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron the year before following the departure of Amanda Cole, resulting into the partial re-recording of several songs on Soul Flower that Cole had originally lent her voice to.

<i>Electric Café</i> (En Vogue album) 2018 studio album by En Vogue

Electric Café is the seventh studio album by American female vocal group En Vogue. It was released worldwide on April 6, 2018. Their first studio album in fourteen years, it marked their first full-length release through eOne Music and their own label, En Vogue Records. Material for Electric Café was originally conceived between 2014 and 2018. The trio reteamed with their founders Foster & McElroy to work on the majority of the album, with additional contribution coming from musicians Raphael Saadiq, Dem Jointz, Taura Stinson, Kid Monroe, Ne-Yo, and Curtis "Sauce" Wilson. Rapper Snoop Dogg appears as a guest vocalist. Musically, Electric Café contains a range of genres, blending a mix of neo soul, pop, and contemporary R&B with electronic dance music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold On (En Vogue song)</span> 1990 single by En Vogue

"Hold On" is a song by American girl group En Vogue, released in early 1990 as the first single from their debut album, Born to Sing (1990). It was produced by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, and written by the former two and all members of the group. It peaked at number five in the UK and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. In addition, the song reached number-one on both the Billboard Dance Club Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. En Vogue performed "Hold On" at the 2008 BET Awards with Alicia Keys. In 2017, it was ranked number four on Spin magazine's ranking of "The 30 Best '90s R&B Songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lies (En Vogue song)</span> 1990 single by En Vogue

"Lies" is a song from American R&B/pop group En Vogue. It is the second single from their debut hit album, Born to Sing. Written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, it became the group's second single to top the Billboard R&B singles chart. It peaked at number thirty-eight and was also their second US Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Don't Love You</span> 1993 single by En Vogue

"Love Don't Love You" is a song by American R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue, released as the final single from their second album, Funky Divas (1992). It was released in 1993 and became the group's fifth consecutive top-40 single from the album in the United States. The song is led by Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riddle (song)</span> 2000 single by En Vogue

"Riddle" is a song recorded by American R&B group En Vogue. It was written by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, along with band members Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, and Terry Ellis, for their fourth studio album Masterpiece Theater (2000), while production was helmed by Foster & McElroy. An angry mid-tempo song about a sneaking, cheating lover, "Riddle" is built around a clapping game motif, and interpolates the band's 1992 song "My Lovin' ." Lyrically, it has the protagonist revealing her feelings about discovering that her love interest is having an affair with someone else over the course of the week.

<i>Remix to Sing</i> 1991 EP by En Vogue

Remix to Sing is a 1991 EP by American female vocal group En Vogue. It is their first remix album which was released on November 26, 1991, by East West Records. The EP features remixes of songs from their platinum debut album Born to Sing. Also included are the three hit singles; "Hold On", "You Don't Have to Worry" and "Lies" which all peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaway Love (En Vogue song)</span> 1993 single by En Vogue

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<i>Masterpiece Theatre</i> (En Vogue album) 2000 studio album by En Vogue

Masterpiece Theatre is the fourth studio album by American recording group En Vogue, released worldwide by Elektra Records on May 23, 2000. It marked the band's debut with Elektra, as well as their only release following their departure from longtime label Eastwest Records. Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones worked exclusively with regular collaborators Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy on the album who made heavy use of samples from classical music and traditional pop music to construct songs for Masterpiece Theatre, with its title alluding to the same-titled American drama anthology television series, best known for presenting adaptations of a mix of contemporary and classic novels and biographies.

<i>The Very Best of En Vogue</i> 2001 greatest hits album by En Vogue

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<i>Life, Love & Pain</i> 1986 studio album by Club Nouveau

Life, Love & Pain is the debut album by R&B group Club Nouveau. It was released in late 1986 with production by Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy and Jay King. The album reached number one on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and number six on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. Led by the hit single, a cover of the Bill Withers classic "Lean on Me", which went to number one on both Hot 100 and Dance charts and number two on the R&B chart, this was the only album that Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy would contribute to, as the duo left the group to form its own production team and focus on working with other acts, notably En Vogue and Tony! Toni! Toné!. Twelve-inch singles from the album were handled by then-WB subsidiary Tommy Boy Records.

<i>My Gift to You</i> (Alexander ONeal album) 1988 studio album by Alexander ONeal

My Gift to You is the first and only Christmas album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal, released on November 11, 1988, by Tabu Records.

References

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  2. O'Keefe, Meghan (July 31, 2013). "Bach & Roll: 10 Modern Songs Written By Classical Composers". VH1. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Harrison, Quentin (March 23, 2017). "INTERVIEW: En Vogue's Cindy Herron-Braggs, Forever a Funky Diva". Albumism. Retrieved February 10, 2018.