A Legendary Christmas [Deluxe]

by John Legend

Overview

John Legend did not need any prodding to record a holiday album and is in the spirit throughout A Legendary Christmas. Produced by Raphael Saadiq, with whom Legend collaborated on Once Again highlight "Show Me," the LP is joyously nostalgic, decked with strings, horns, and a trio of background vocalists including secret weapon Sy Smith. The majority of the material dates from the '40s through the '70s, while the six originals are similarly styled. Most of the new songs hold their own. The dashing "Wrap Me Up in Your Love" could pass for a vocalese version of a song intended for a Sky High Productions holiday album shelved since 1974, as it resembles something Fonce and Larry Mizell might've whipped up for Bobbi Humphrey or Donald Byrd. Another standout, "Bring Me Love," fits in with the thoughtful mix of Motown numbers: "What Christmas Means to Me" (popularized by Stevie Wonder, heard here on harmonica), "Give Love on Christmas Day" (recorded by Jackson 5, coincidentally co-written by Fonce Mizell), and "Purple Snowflakes" (originally cut by Marvin Gaye but not released until 1992, 27 years after the original composition was reworked/repurposed as the single "Pretty Little Baby"). Legend brought the ham to the recordings of the best-known selections. These include the Esperanza Spalding duet "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and especially "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)." They're straightforward renditions, whereas Saadiq and Jamelle Adisa's upbeat, uptown soul-style arrangement of "Silver Bells" brims with energy, and Legend beams through it like he can't wait to make Another Legendary Christmas. The booklet, filled with Legend family photos, make a strong case for physical over digital. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/2019
Label:	Sony Music
UPC:	0194397004922
Rank:	26098

Tracks

1. What Christmas Means to Me
2. Bring Me Love
3. This Christmas
4. My Favorite Things; My Favorite Things/A Taste of Honey
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside
6. Christmas in New Orleans
7. Silver Bells
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
9. No Place Like Home
10. Merry Christmas Baby/Give Love on Christmas Day; Merry Christmas Baby/Give Love on Christmas Day
11. Christmas Time Is Here
12. By Christmas Eve
13. Purple Snowflakes
14. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
15. Please Come Home for Christmas
16. Wrap Me Up in Your Love
17. Waiting for Christmas
18. Merry Merry Christmas

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Legend   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist,Harmonica,Featured Artist
Scott Mayo   Sax (Sopranino),Flute,Piccolo,Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Flute (Alto),Clarinet (Bass)
Roderick Paulin   Soloist
Roger Lewis   Sax (Baritone)
Esperanza Spalding   Featured Artist
Raphael Saadiq   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Soloist,Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Christine Teigen   Vocals
Andrew Baham   Soloist
Tahirah Whittington   Cello
Melissa White   Violin
Shamarr Allen   Trumpet
Sy Smith   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kelly Clarkson   Featured Artist
Corey Henry   Trombone
Brandyn Phillips   Trumpet
Matt Hornbeck   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Matt Jones   Organ,Piano,Conductor,Conductor
Caitlin Edwards   Violin
Erm Navarro   Trombone
Istvan Loga   Viola
J.P. Floyd   Trombone
Brandon Combs   Drums
Angelica D'costa   Violin
Olya Prohorova   Violin
Jocelyn Shoulders   Cello
Briana Lee   Vocals (Background)
Lavance Colley   Trombone,Vocals (Background)
Terrance Taplin   Trombone
Richie Gajate Garcia   Percussion
Lenesha Randolph   Vocals (Background)
Herlin Riley   Percussion
Lasim Richards   Trombone
Dimitry Gorodetsky   Bass
Malik Johnson   Cello
Errol Cooney   Guitar
Marc Bolin   Trombone
Eddie Brown   Organ
Paul Cornish   Fender Rhodes
Alexandria Hill   Violin
Seth Pae   Viola
Delfeayo Marsalis   Trombone
Rickey Woodard   Sax (Tenor)
Jeffery Miller   Soloist
Brandon Chapman   Guitar
Matt Jones Orchestra   Strings
Christian Dillingham   Bass
Lillian Reasor   Harp
Lucinda Ali-Landing   Violin
Ana Bivol   Violin
Jamelle Adisa   Horn,Soloist,Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Clayton Penrose-Whitmore   Violin
Alexandra Switala   Violin
Caitlin Adamson   Viola
Katherine Andrick   Violin
Kelsee Vandervall   Cello
Kyle Dickson   Violin
Lawrence Shaw   Bass,Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Roland Gajate Garcia   Percussion
Luna Simone   Vocals
Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Choir   Choir/Chorus
Roland Garcia   Percussion
Lemar Guillary   Trombone
Mike Cottone   Trumpet
Ernest Turner   Piano
Randy Gist   Sax (Alto)
Derek Reeves   Violin
Scott Tixier   Violin
Devon Taylor   Tuba
Danielle Taylor   Viola
Iajhi Hampden   Drums
Arianne Urban   Violin
Jacob Scesney   Soloist,Sax (Baritone)
Dylan Wiggins   Piano,Guitar,Wurlitzer,Fender Rhodes
Jesse Snider   Horn Engineer
Jeremiah Hunt   Bass

Technical Credits

Scott Mayo   Horn Arrangements
Roderick Paulin   Horn Arrangements
Nadine McKinnor   Composer
Mel Torme   Composer
Richard M. Sherman   Composer
Raphael Saadiq   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Executive Producer
George Gordy   Composer,Lyricist
Robert Wells   Composer
David Kutch   Mastering
Joseph VanWinkle   Composer
F. Scott Schafer   Photography
Chris Feldmann   Design,Art Direction
John Stephens   Composer,Lyricist
Steve Nelson   Composer,Lyricist
Johnny Moore   Composer
Ric Marlow   Composer
Freddie Perren   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
Charles Brown   Composer
David Hamilton   Composer
Jay Livingston   Composer
John Legend   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Vocal Arrangement,Executive Producer
Allen Story   Composer,Lyricist
Frank Loesser   Composer
Hugh Martin   Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Sy Smith   Vocal Arrangement
Clarence Paul   Composer
Alphonso Mizell   Composer
Earl King   Composer
Donny Hathaway   Composer
Lee Mendelson   Composer
Vince Guaraldi   Composer
Matt Jones   Arranger,String Arrangements
David Rodriguez   Engineer
Lou Baxter   Composer
John Lennon   Composer,Lyricist
Wayne Hector   Composer
Hotae Alexander Jang   Engineer
Buddy Bojorquez   Design,Art Direction
Walter Rollins   Composer,Lyricist
Rob English   Creative Director
Ray Evans   Composer
Bob Wells   Composer
Yoko Ono   Composer,Lyricist
Gerry Brown   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Dan Wilson   Composer
Anna Gordy Gaye   Composer,Lyricist
Bobby Scott   Composer
Theo Wayland   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Branko Presley   Assistant Engineer
Natasha Rothwell   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Kutch   Mastering Engineer
Deke Richards   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Rick Fritz   Engineer
Ralph Blane   Composer
Nicole Ranalli   Assistant Engineer
Jamelle Adisa   Arranger,Horn Arrangements
Gene Redd   Composer
Amy Wadge   Composer
Justin Eshak   A&R
Ruth-Anne Cunningham   Composer
Maria P. Marulanda   Design,Art Direction
Matt Becks   Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bobby Campbell   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Jason Richmond   Piano Engineer
Christine Perren   Composer
Rollin Weary   String Engineer,String Arrangements
Meghan Trainor   Composer,Lyricist
Jake Shives   Vocal Engineer
Jesse Snider   Horn Arrangements