These Are Special Times

by Celine Dion

Overview

In the wake of her Titanic success, Celine Dion produced two new albums for the holiday season of 1998. One was a new French album, and the other was These Are Special Times, her first Christmas album. These Are Special Times is an especially successful holiday album since Dion wisely balances popular carols ("The Christmas Song," "Blue Christmas," "Feliz Navidad") with new songs ("Don't Save It All for Christmas," the R. Kelly duet "I'm Your Angel"), hymns ("Ave Maria," "Adeste Fidelis"), and Christmas songs with a distinct religious theme ("O Holy Night," the Andrea Bocelli duet "The Prayer"). At times, the production is too slick, at other times Dion's vocals are a little mannered, but overall, These Are Special Times is very effective, because the songs are good and she's committed to the material. Any fan of Dion, or of '90s adult contemporary pop in general, should find this very enjoyable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/03/1998
Label:	Sbme Special Mkts.
UPC:	0888430842823
Rank:	20414

Tracks

1. O Holy Night
2. Don't Save It All for Christmas Day
3. Blue Christmas
4. Another Year Has Gone By
5. The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)
6. Ave Maria
7. Adeste Fideles
8. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
9. The Prayer
10. Brahm's Lullaby
11. Christmas Eve
12. These Are Special Times
13. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
14. I'm Your Angel
15. Feliz Navidad
16. Les Cloches Du Hameau

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Celine Dion   Primary Artist
R. Kelly   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Andrea Bocelli   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Rosie O'Donnell   Primary Artist
David Foster   Guest Artist,Piano,Keyboards
Diana Krall   Guest Artist,Piano
Eric Troyer   Vocals (Background)
Russ DeSalvo   Guitar
Rafael Padilla   Percussion
Troy Bright   Vocals (Background)
Shawn Pelton   Drums
Bridgette Bryant   Choir/Chorus
Susie Stevens Logan   Vocals (Background)
Marc Shulman   Guitar
Brenda White-King   Vocals (Background)
Larry Salzman   Guitar
Yvonne Gage   Vocals (Background)
Robin Robinson   Vocals (Background)
Jeffrey Morrow   Vocals (Background)
Robert Bowker   Vocals (Background)
Anthony Ransom   Vocals (Background)
Rob Trow   Vocals (Background)
Joan Walton   Vocals (Background)
Bill Harris   Sax (Alto)
John Scarpula   Sax (Baritone)
Stevie Robinson   Vocals (Background)
Morgan Ames   Vocals (Background)
Donna Davidson   Vocals (Background)
John Scarpulla   Sax (Baritone)
Lafayette Carthon   Conductor,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Sue Ann Carwell   Vocals (Background)
Johnny Rutledge   Vocals (Background)
Patrick Carroll   Percussion,Guitar (Bass)
Tom Rainer   Synthesizer
Vancouver Orchestra   Strings
Darlene Koldenhoven   Vocals (Background)
Maria Christensen   Vocals (Background)
Jane Barnett   Vocals (Background)
Alexandra Brown   Choir/Chorus
Roger Freeland   Vocals (Background)
Jeffrey Ramsey   Choir/Chorus
Cathy Richardson   Vocals (Background)
Gary Falcone   Choir/Chorus
Amick Byram   Vocals (Background)
Tony Kadleck   Trumpet
Stephen Amerson   Vocals (Background)
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
Rich Logan   Vocals (Background)
Dennis Collins   Vocals (Background)
Fonzi Thornton   Vocals (Background)
Carmen Twillie   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Jeff Hamilton   Drums
John Chiodini   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
John West   Vocals (Background)
Peter Zizzo   Guitar
Louis Price   Choir/Chorus
Rob Mathes   Conductor
Loris Holland   Conductor,Keyboards,Organ (Hammond),Vocals (Background)
Phil Western   Keyboards
Linda Harmon   Vocals (Background)
Martin Briley   Vocals (Background)
Robert Moe   Vocals (Background)
Lisa Lougheed   Vocals (Background)
Don Shelton   Vocals (Background)
Ramon Stagnaro   Guitar (Acoustic)
Nikki Gregoroff   Vocals (Background)
Michael Thompson   Guitar (Electric)
Shane Keister   Piano,Synclavier
Bashiri Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Curtis King   Vocals (Background)
Barry Danielian   Trumpet
Don Harris   Trumpet
Vaneese Thomas   Vocals (Background)
Randy Phillips   Choir/Chorus
Richie Cannata   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Kamil Rustam   Guitar (Acoustic)
Nancey Jackson   Vocals (Background)
David Taylor   Trombone (Bass)
Dick Bolks   Vocals (Background)
Spencer Washington   Vocals (Background)
Sharon Bryant   Vocals (Background)
Tawatha Agee   Vocals (Background)
Terry Trotter   Piano
Paulette McWilliams   Vocals (Background)
Simon Franglen   Synclavier
Ayuana George   Vocals (Background)
Bob Franceschini   Sax (Alto)
Bobbi Page   Choir/Chorus
Khris Kellow   Vocals (Background)
Ira Siegel   Guitar
Steve Wolf   Drums
Cindy Mizelle   Vocals (Background)
Randy Andos   Trombone
Ozzie Melendez   Trombone
Chieli Minucci   Guitar
Chuck Domanico   Bass
Chris Taylor   Guitar
Bob Buckley   Conductor
Cheryl Wilson   Vocals (Background)
Diva Gray   Vocals (Background)
Elin Carlson   Vocals (Background)
Frank Vilardi   Drums
Elisabeth Withers   Vocals (Background)
Carmen Carter   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Frederick Oakeley   Composer
Humberto Gatica   Mixing,Engineer
Jeff Bova   Programming
Ronn Huff   Arranger
Jennifer Rush   Composer
David Foster   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Al Schmitt   Engineer
Alberto Testa   Translation
Brian Harding   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Vito Luprano   Executive Producer
Juan Bohorquez   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
David Shackney   Engineer
Andy Haller   Assistant Engineer
John Doelp   Executive Producer
Robert Wells   Composer
Nathan Dean   Mixing Assistant
Johnnie Carl   Arranger
Don Hachey   Mixing Assistant
Ric Wake   Composer,Producer,Arranger
Olle Romo   Programming
Yoko Ono   Composer
Chris Brooke   Assistant Engineer
Ethan Mates   Mixing Assistant
John Francis Wade   Composer
Diane Warren   Composer
Thomas R. Yezzi   Engineer
George Whitty   Engineer,Keyboard Arrangements,Synthesizer Arrangements
Patrick Carroll   Drum Programming
Jake Ninan   Assistant Engineer
Rob Murphy   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Dan Hetzel   Engineer
Maria Christensen   Composer
William Ross   Arranger,Composer,Orchestral Arrangements
Franz Schubert   Composer
Alfred Bosco   Assistant Engineer
Tony Renis   Producer,Translation
Laura Mercier   Make-Up
UB Tirado   Mixing Assistant
Mary Susan Applegate   Composer
Hooshik   Art Direction
John Sullivan Dwight   Composer
David Barratt   Production Coordination
Bill Hayes   Composer
Carole Bayer Sager   Composer,Producer
Johannes Brahms   Composer
Tony Black   Programming
Johnny Mandel   Orchestral Arrangements
Jay Johnson   Composer
Dave Reitzas   Engineer
Jean-Jacques Goldman   Composer
John Kurlander   Engineer
Jeff Vereb   Mixing Assistant
John Lennon   Composer
Jose Feliciano   Composer
Jeremy Lubbock   Arranger,String Arrangements
Peter Zizzo   Arranger,Composer,Bass Programming,Drum Programming,Keyboard Programming
Rob Mathes   Orchestral Arrangements
Loris Holland   Vocal Arrangement
Phil Western   Engineer,Programming,String Arrangements
Jimmy Hoyson   Assistant Engineer
Jimmy Bralower   Drum Programming
Rick Kerr   Engineer
R. Kelly   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Performer
Gunther Mende   Composer
Randee Saint Nicholas   Photography
Gloria Shayne   Composer
Serge Normant   Hair Stylist
Eliot Kennedy   Composer
Gary Van Pelt   Engineer
Candy de Rouge   Composer
Nancy Donald   Art Direction
Noel Regney   Composer
Adolphe Adam   Composer
Bob Buckley   String Arrangements
Shane Keister   Arranger,Handbell Arrangement
Curt Frasca   Composer
James Horner   Composer
Randy Staub   Engineer
Mel Torme   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Stephen George   Programming
Terence Dover   Engineer
Aya Takemura   Mixing Assistant
Bob Cadway   Engineer
Will Jennings   Composer
Andrea Bocelli   Performer
Steve Skinner   Arranger,Drum Programming,Keyboard Programming
Felipe Elgueta   Engineer,Programming
Ewan MacColl   Composer
Celine Dion   Composer

Editorial Reviews

Special times, indeed! As the world's most popular vocalist -- and one of the lucky few who benefited from the sinking of the Titanic -- Dion has much to be thankful for. You can hear the gratitude in her glorious renditions of treasured holiday favorites. Release date: November 3, 1998.

barnesandnoble.com

In the wake of the Titanic success, Celine Dion produced two new albums for the holiday season of 1998. One was a new French album, one was These Are Special Times, her first Christmas album. There Are Special Times is an especially successful holiday album, since Dion wisely balances popular carols ("The Christmas Song," "Blue Christmas," "Feliz Navidad") with new songs ("Don't Save it All for Christmas," the R. Kelly duet "I'm Your Angel"), hymns ("Ave Maria," "Adeste Fidelis") and Christmas songs with a distinct religious theme ("O Holy Night," the Andrea Bocelli duet "The Prayer"). At times, the production is too slick, at other times Dion's vocals are a little mannered, but overall, These Are Special Times is a very effective, because the songs are good and she's committed to the material. Any fan of hers, or of '90s adult contemporary pop in general, should find this to be very enjoyable. -- All-Music Guide

Stephen Thomas Erlewine