The Christmas Collection (Amy Grant album) explained

The Christmas Collection
Type:	greatest
Artist:	Amy Grant
Cover:	Amy Grant - The Christmas Collection.jpg
Border:	yes
Released:	September 30, 2008
Recorded:	July 1983–2008
Genre:	Gospel/Christian, Christmas
Length:	62:05
Label:	EMI/Sparrow
Producer:	Amy Grant, Michael Blanton
Prev Title:	Greatest Hits
Prev Year:	2007
Next Title:	Somewhere Down the Road
Next Year:	2010

The Christmas Collection is a Christmas compilation album released by American pop and Christian singer Amy Grant in 2008.

According to Amy Grant's official website,

Album information

The compilation includes fourteen previously released Christmas songs from Grant's three Christmas studio albums, A Christmas Album, Home for Christmas, and A Christmas to Remember, as well as four new songs.

Of the four new tracks, two are cover songs and two are original compositions. The two covers are "Jingle Bells" and "Count Your Blessings". The latter is taken from the 1954 jukebox musical film White Christmas, and even though Grant has stated she has not watched it yet, she recorded the song for its message. The version of "Jingle Bells" is a cover of the fast-paced arrangement written by Marty Paich and originally recorded by Barbra Streisand. The two new original compositions are "I Need a Silent Night", co-written with constant collaborator Chris Eaton ("Breath of Heaven"); and "Baby, It's Christmas", co-written with husband and fellow singer Vince Gill.

Track listing

The album contains a shortened version of "A Mighty Fortress / Angels We Have Heard on High". The intro of "Sleigh Ride" actually begins over the end of "Baby, It's Christmas", and continues non-stop in a successive flow.

Personnel

Music credits (Tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7)

Amy Grant – lead vocals
Michael Omartian – acoustic piano (3)
Blair Masters – keyboards (3)
Pete Wasner – keyboards (3)
John Hobbs – acoustic piano (5)
Tom Bukovac – guitars (1, 3)
Ilya Toshinsky – guitars (1, 3)
Vince Gill – guitars (5)
Craig Nelson – bass (1, 5)
Michael Rhodes – bass (3)
Paul Leim – drums (1, 5)
Chad Cromwell – drums (3)
Jack Gold – arrangements (1)
Marty Paich – arrangements (1)
Carl Marsh – orchestral arrangements (1, 7)
Shane Keister – orchestral arrangements (5)
Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor (1, 5, 7)
The London Session Orchestra – orchestra (1, 5, 7)
Mike Casteel – music preparation (1, 5, 7)
Eberhard Ramm – music preparation (1, 5, 7)
Tim Davis – backing vocals (1), BGV arrangements (1)
Lisa Cochran – backing vocals (1)
Mark Ivey – backing vocals (1)
Aimee Joy Weimer – backing vocals (1)
Corrina Gill – Bible verse recitation (3)

Production

Brown Bannister – producer (1-8, 10-14, 16, 17, 18)
Amy Grant – co-producer (1, 3, 5, 7), executive producer
Ronn Huff – co-producer (2, 11)
Michael Omartian – producer (9, 15)
Michael Blanton – executive producer
Doug Sax – mastering
Sangwook Nam – mastering assistant
Mastered at The Mastering Lab (Ojai, California).

Production and Technical credits (Tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7)

Steve Bishir – recording, mixing, orchestra recording
Matt Coles – recording assistant, mix assistant
Brown Bannister – additional engineer
Billy Whittington – additional engineer
Traci Sterling Bishir – production manager
Recorded at The Sound Kitchen (Franklin, Tennessee) and Townsend Sound Studios (Nashville, Tennessee).
Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studio One (London, UK).

Charts

Weekly charts

Year	Chart	Position
2008	The Billboard 200	41
	Billboard Comprehensive Albums	47
	Top Holiday Albums	5
	Top Christian Albums	2
	Top Christian and Gospel Albums	2