All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan

by Kenny Chesney

Overview

An entry for the 2003 Christmas season was a natural move for Kenny Chesney after the blockbuster No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems made 2002 his banner year. But in typical Chesney fashion, his holiday album tries to be a little more easygoing than the usual Music City rehash of tried 'n' true yuletide chestnuts. The sunny south of the border vibe that lit up the video for No Shirt's title cut is alive and well on All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan; the album's own title track is a nice, swaying number that approximates the Cascades' "Rhythm of the Rain" into its breezy Buffett feel. Like Chesney's best material, it's a contemporary country number crossed effortlessly with pop, and it's just a little bit cheeky, too. "Don't worry baby," he sings. "We'll celebrate plenty/I'll buy you some shades and a brand new bikini." He seems truly honest when, in his liner notes, Chesney explains how as a kid he spent the season in his native east Tennessee, but now likes to head down to the Caribbean for the holidays. And he backs up that sentiment with the title track and a fun steel drum run through "Jingle Bells." However, the remainder of All I Want for Christmas leans more toward Nashville safe bets than easygoing St. Bart's. Fans likely won't mind; after all, Chesney's duets with Randy Owen (on the Alabama classic "Christmas in Dixie") and Willie Nelson ("Pretty Paper") are solid, and -- ever the softie -- he brings his mom and Aunt Sharon in for a touching take on "Silent Night." But filler like the needlessly electronicized "Silver Bells" or "The Angel at the Top of My Tree," which is basic pop-country dressed up in Christmas ribbons and bows, might have been replaced with more of the title track's temperate climes. Chesney and his pals sure look like they're having a great time in the back cover photo, lounging in the sun and sand with their Santa caps. But All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan could have spread the Coppertone around a little more, instead of relying on Nashville conventionalism. ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	10/03/2025
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0198029015614

Tracks

1. All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan
2. Jingle Bells
3. I'll Be Home for Christmas
4. Christmas In Dixie
5. Thank God For Kids
6. Silver Bells
7. Just A Kid
8. The Angel At The Top Of My Trees
9. Pretty Paper
10. Silent Night
11. O Little Town of Bethlehem

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kenny Chesney   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Randy Owen   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Willie Nelson   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Grigsby Twins   Primary Artist
Alex Bridge   Vocals (Background)
Holly Hardy   Vocals (Background)
Amy Rappaport   Vocals (Background)
Angela McMillen   Vocals (Background)
Cheryl Bevis   Vocals (Background)
Benjamin Bourassa   Vocals (Background)
Cole Weldon   Vocals (Background)
Daniel Meng   Vocals (Background)
Emily Bourassa   Vocals (Background)
Jason Schoultz   Vocals (Background)
Robert Waara   Vocals (Background)
The Nashville String Machine   Strings
Randy McCormick   Piano,Synthesizer,Organ (Hammond),Vocals (Background)
Nicholas Hoffman   Fiddle,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tim Hensley   Banjo,Vocals (Background)
Paul Overstreet   Vocals (Background)
Steve Patrick   Trumpet
Wyatt Beard   Vocals (Background)
Liana Manis   Vocals (Background)
Allison Stewart   Vocals (Background),Vocals
Kyle Stewart   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Shaun Silva   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mark Tamburino   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Karen Chandler   Vocals (Background)
Glen Rose   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Sharon Lynch   Vocals (Background)
Chip Davis   Vocals (Background)
Larry Paxton   Guitar (Bass),Bass (Upright)
Paul Leim   Drums,Cabasa,Shaker,Timbales,Percussion
Shannon Brown   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Gary Prim   Wurlitzer
Pat Buchanan   Guitar (Electric)
John Hobbs   Piano,Synthesizer,Organ (Hammond)
Wes Hightower   Vocals (Background)
Melonie Cannon   Vocals (Background)
John Jorgenson   Ukulele,Guitar (Electric)
Mark Casstevens   Ukulele
John D. Willis   Guitar (Acoustic),Gut String Guitar

Technical Credits

Teddy Gentry   Lyricist,Composer
Phillips Brooks   Composer,Lyricist
Jerry Leiber   Lyricist,Composer
Ray Evans   Composer,Lyricist
Norro Wilson   Arranger,Producer
Mike Stoller   Composer,Lyricist
Scott Kidd   Assistant
Buck Ram   Composer,Lyricist
Buddy Cannon   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Willie Nelson   Composer,Lyricist
Paul Overstreet   Composer,Lyricist
Walter Kent   Composer,Lyricist
Jay Livingston   Composer,Lyricist
Eric Bickel   Assistant
Finnegan Scott, Shannon   Production Coordination
Chris Rowe   Engineer
S. Wade Hunt   Design,Art Direction
Lewis Redner   Composer,Lyricist
Glenn Rose   Photography
Jeff Sochor   Assistant
Hoss Burns   Composer,Lyricist
Hank Williams   Mastering
Rodney Dawson   Assistant
Skip Ewing   Lyricist,Composer
Theodore Gentry   Composer
Grigsby Twins   Performer
Bob Bullock   Engineer
Kevin Beamish   Mixing
Kenny Chesney   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Billy Sherrill   Engineer
Kent Blazy   Composer,Lyricist
Larry Paxton   String Arrangements
Eddy Raven   Composer,Lyricist
Kim Gannon   Composer,Lyricist
Don Huber   Composer,Lyricist
Greg Lawrence   Assistant
Franz Gruber   Composer,Lyricist
James Pierpont   Composer
Jeff Cook   Composer,Lyricist
Kris Wilkinson   String Arrangements
Dean Dillon   Composer,Lyricist
Joseph Mohr   Composer,Lyricist
Mark Herndon   Composer,Lyricist
Phillip Brooks   Composer
Randy Owen   Composer,Lyricist