A Philly Special Christmas Special Explained

A Philly Special Christmas Special
Type:studio
Artist:The Philly Specials (Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce and Jordan Mailata)
Cover:A Philly Special Christmas Special Cover.png
Border:yes
Released:December 1, 2023
Recorded:May–July 2023
Studio:Elm Street Studio in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Genre:Christmas music
Label:Vera Y Records
Producer:Charlie Hall
Prev Title:A Philly Special Christmas
Prev Year:2022

A Philly Special Christmas Special is the second studio album released by The Philly Specials, a vocal trio composed of Philadelphia Eagles offensive linemen Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce, and Jordan Mailata. A sequel to A Philly Special Christmas, the album consist of covers of classic Christmas songs, and was released by Vera Y Records on December 1, 2023. It features appearances by Amos Lee, Patti LaBelle, The Philly Special Children's Choir, Waxahatchee, Howie Roseman, Jordan Davis, Travis Kelce, and The Silver Ages. Proceeds from the album are donated to the Children's Crisis Treatment Center and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.[1]

Production

The album was recorded at Elm Street Studios in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, between May and July 2023.[2] The album artwork was designed by Hannah Westerman, based on Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip.[2] [3] [4]

Promotion

On November 23, an animated stop motion video was released, featuring the singers "attempting to rally their friends together for a holiday performance", and includes snippets of songs from the album.[5]

Release

The album was released on December 1, 2023, and was available through digital download and vinyl. A double album named A Philly Special Christmas Special (The Deluxe Album 2022 & 2023), which combined A Philly Special Christmas Special with its prequel A Philly Special Christmas, was also made available on vinyl only.[6]

Commercial performance

The album sold 28,000 copies in the US in its first week, with nearly 17,500 sold on vinyl.[6] It debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at No. 25.[7] The deluxe album sold nearly 20,000 copies and debuted at No. 55 on the Billboard 200.[6]

Personnel

Recorded and engineered at
Instrumentation
Featured vocals
Artwork

Notes and References

  1. News: The Eagles name Children's Crisis Treatment Center and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as beneficiaries of their new Christmas album . Hopkins . Earl . The Philadelphia Inquirer . October 24, 2023 . December 25, 2023.
  2. News: The Birds are singing again: Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson have a new Eagles' Christmas album . DeLuca . Dan . The Philadelphia Inquirer . September 5, 2023 . December 25, 2023.
  3. News: All the songs from the Eagles' new Christmas album reviewed. Yes, even the newest ones. . DeLuca . Dan . The Philadelphia Inquirer . December 1, 2023 . December 25, 2023.
  4. Web site: A Philly Special Christmas . A Philly Special Christmas Special Official Website . December 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231224142126/https://phillyspecialchristmas.com/ . December 24, 2023 . live.
  5. News: A Philly Special Christmas Special animation to premiere on YouTube Thanksgiving night . Newbill . Taleisha . CBS News . November 23, 2023 . December 28, 2023.
  6. Philadelphia Eagles' 'A Philly Special Christmas Special' Charity Album Scores Big on Billboard Charts . Caulfield . Keith . Billboard . December 11, 2023 . December 25, 2023.
  7. Billboard 200: Week of December 16, 2023 . . December 25, 2023.