Merry, Merry Christmas

by New Kids on the Block

Overview

By the fall of 1989, the New Kids on the Block were so huge that their holiday album Merry, Merry Christmas catapulted into the Top Ten upon its release, reaching double-platinum status not long afterward. That's the sure sign of teen-idol stardom reaching the supernova point -- when a special-interest album becomes a multi-platinum blockbuster. Maurice Starr, the boys' producer and Svengali, probably knew that he had a seasonal hit on his hands, given the sales of Hangin' Tough, but to his credit, he and NKOTB didn't turn out a piece of pure product with Merry, Merry Christmas. Yes, it does suffer from silliness and dated production, but that is part and parcel with any teen pop release. What counts is the energetic, goofy performances, which are genuinely spirited even when the songs are as ridiculous as "Funky, Funky Xmas." It's the kind of record that will appeal to any hardcore NKOTB fan, or any kitsch-loving pop culture maven. But even those irony-drenched hipsters will have to admit that "This One's for the Children" is a genuinely strong holiday song that deserved to be the Top Ten hit that it was. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	07/01/2010
Label:	Bmg / Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0886977068621
Rank:	111604

Tracks

1. This One's for the Children
2. Last Night I Saw Santa Claus
3. I'll Be Missin You Come Christmas (A Letter to Santa)
4. I Still Believe in Santa Claus
5. Merry, Merry Christmas
6. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
7. Funky, Funky, Xmas
8. White Christmas
9. Little Drummer Boy
10. This One's for the Children (Reprise)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

New Kids on the Block   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Donnie Wahlberg   Rap,Vocals
Jordan Knight   Rap,Vocals
Greg McPherson   Vocals (Background)
Danny Wood   Rap,Vocals
Joseph McIntyre   Rap,Vocals
Jonathan Knight   Vocals
Morning Star Baptsit Church Choir   Vocals (Background)
Opal Adams   Musical Director
Mikarl D. Thomas, Sr.   Conductor
Rev. John Borden   Vocals (Background)
Voices of Innocence   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

New Kids on the Block   Engineer,Producer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Maurice Starr   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Mel Torme   Composer
Michael Jonzun   Producer
Henry Onorati   Composer
Donnie Wahlberg   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Leo Okeke   Engineer
Jordan Knight   Group Member
Katherine K. Davis   Composer
Harry Simeone   Composer
Winston Johnson   Engineer,Associate Producer
Robert Wells   Composer
Al Lancellotti   Composer,Associate Producer
Richard Mendelson   Engineer
Bonnie Schiffman   Photography
Dick Scott   Management,Executive Producer
Sidney Burton   Mixing,Engineer
Danny Wood   Producer,Group Member
Bob Felsenstein   Design
Jack Edwards   Adaptation
Joseph McIntyre   Group Member
Jonathan Knight   Group Member
Peter Work   Producer
Kenny Nolan   Composer,Producer