Christmas Memories

by Barbra Streisand

Overview

Barbra Streisand makes a point of noting that she completed this, her second Christmas album, before the tragic events of September 11, 2001, even going so far as to list the recording dates (July 19-September 7, 2001). And listening to the disc, you can see why. If great artists sometimes demonstrate an uncanny ability to take the temperature of the times with their work, this one can be said to have anticipated the dramatic change in mood that the terrorist attacks occasioned. Christmas music always mixes the celebratory with the nostalgic, some of its classic songs dating from the World War II era when families were separated and feared they might not be reunited. But Streisand's Christmas Memories accentuates that tone well into melancholy. The 59-year-old singer has assembled a group of songs that look back on Christmases past from a mature perspective that very much takes loss into consideration, beginning with one of those war songs, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." On two occasions, she has prompted lyricists to rewrite their songs, having Dean Pitchford alter the words to "Closer," a new song submitted to her, to reflect the death of her friend Stephan Weiss (husband of fashion designer Donna Karan) and even getting the amazingly pliable Stephen Sondheim to revise "I Remember" from his 1966 TV musical Evening Primrose. As remade, "I Remember" remains an extremely sad song, however. When she isn't mourning, Streisand is trying for grand statements such as the politically oriented "Grown-Up Christmas List" and the ecumenical "One God," songs in keeping with Christmas's sentimentality that seem perfectly chosen for the inevitably sober-tinged holiday season of 2001. In coming years, Christmas Memories may come to seem like a remarkably dour holiday collection, but for the year of its release, it could hardly be improved upon. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	10/04/2024
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0196588928413

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Barbra Streisand   Primary Artist,Vocal Harmony,Vocals
Tim Davis   Choir/Chorus
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
John Robinson   Drums
Gary Grant   Horn
Dave Carpenter   Bass
William Ross   Conductor
Vinnie Colaiuta   Drums
Gayle Levant   Harp
David Foster   Keyboards
Jorge Calandrelli   Conductor
Michael Hart Thompson   Guitar
Michael Mishaw   Vocals (Background)
Wendi Wagner   Vocals (Background)
Bob Esty   Choir Conductor
Chuck Domanico   Bass
John Chiodini   Guitar
Dean Parks   Guitar
Neil Stubenhaus   Bass (Electric)
Randy Waldman   Keyboards
Michael Landau   Guitar
Michael Lang   Keyboards
Tom Ranier   Keyboards
George Doering   Guitar
Sue Ann Carwell   Vocals (Background)
Robbie Buchanan   Keyboards
Peter Erskine   Drums

Technical Credits

Jay Landers   Producer,Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Nick Marshall   Assistant Engineer
Chad M. Goodson   Design
Lisa Crockatt   Prop Stylist
Matthew Della Pola   Synthesizer Programming
Renata Buser   Assistant
Datz Pyle, Debbi   Orchestra Contractor
Matt Della Polla   Synthesizer Programming
William Ross   Arranger,Producer,Orchestral Arrangements
Stephen Sondheim   Composer
Eddie Karam   Arranger
Koji Egawa   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Walter Kent   Composer
Clarence Kehner   Composer
Felipe Elgueta   Mixing,Engineer,Synthesizer Programming
Barbra Streisand   Liner Notes,Executive Producer,Producer
David Foster   Composer,Producer,Rhythm Arrangements
Al Schmitt   Engineer
Stewart Whitmore   Mastering,Mixing Assistant
Gonoud   Composer
Patrick Weber   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Jorge Calandrelli   Arranger
Shari Sutcliffe   Project Coordinator
Sue McLean   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Marsha Burns   Project Coordinator
Alan Stein   Project Coordinator
Jason Lloyd   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Kim Skalecki   Assistant
Mark Eshelman   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Scott Erickson   Engineer
Firooz Zahedi   Photography
Linda Thompson-Jenner   Composer
Gabrielle Raumberger   Art Direction
Ian Logan   Photography
Frank Loesser   Composer
Stephen Marcussen   Mastering
Traditional   Composer
Bob Esty   Vocal Arrangement
Bill Schnee   Mixing
Bill Smith   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bobbi Page   Choir Contractor
Jimmy Shirl   Composer
Chris Boardman   Arranger
Kim Gannon   Composer
Russell Faith   Composer
Johnny Mandel   Composer
Marilyn Bergman   Composer
Dave Reitzas   Mixing,Engineer
Dean Pitchford   Composer
Justin Wilde   Composer
Peter Doell   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Nathaniel Kunkel   Engineer
Peter Fletcher   Product Manager
Alex Rodriguez   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Tom Snow   Composer
Buck Ram   Composer
Chris Brooke   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Ann Hampton Callaway   Composer
Alan Bergman   Composer
Don Costa   Arranger,Composer
Doug Konecky   Composer
Humberto Gatica   Engineer
Ervin Drake   Composer
Robbie Buchanan   Arranger,Producer
Justin Smith   Engineer,Assistant Engineer