Christmas Album (Boney M.)

''Christmas Album'' is the sixth studio album by Boney M. It was recorded in the summer of 1981 and released on 23 November 1981. The album, which in certain territories was given the alternate title ''Christmas with Boney M.''.

The album includes the million-selling 1978 Christmas number one " Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord" and it yielded two further single releases, " Little Drummer Boy" in 1981, which became a Top 20 hit in Germany. A second single was released for Christmas 1982, " Zion's Daughter" (with new member Reggie Tsiboe pictured on the cover), failed to chart.

Track listing

Side A
#" Little Drummer Boy" (Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone) – 4:21
#"White Christmas" ( Irving Berlin) – 4:19
#" Feliz Navidad" ( José Feliciano) – 3:07
#" Jingle Bells" ( James Lord Pierpont, Frank Farian) – 2:53
#"Winter Fairy-Tale" (Instrumental) (Harald Baierl) – 2:58
#" Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord" ( Jester Hairston, Hela Lorin, Frank Farian, Fred Jay) – 5:10
#*''Edited version''

Side B
#Christmas Medley: "Silent Night, Holy Night (Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht)"/ "Snow Falls Over the Ground (Leise Rieselt Der Schnee)" / "Hear Ye the Message" ( Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr, Eduard Ebel, Frank Farian, Fred Jay) – 6:20
#* The 2nd verse of "Silent Night" is sung in German on the German LP release but in English on the UK release. The full-length medley contained "Sweet Bells (" Süßer die Glocken nie klingen")" which wasn't released until 1986 when the medley was remixed and overdubbed.
#" Petit Papa Noël" (Martinet, Vincy) – 1:41
#" Zion's Daughter (Tochter Zion)" (Traditional, George Frideric Handel, Frank Farian, Fred Jay, Helmut Rulofs) – 3:51
#" When a Child Is Born" (Fred Jay, Zacar) – 3:20
#"Darkness Is Falling" (Fred Jay, Helmut Rulofs) – 3:02
#"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (Catherine Courage, Frank Farian, Helmut Rulofs) – 3:44

Personnel

Musicians

* Michael Drexler – lead vocals (track A1)
* Liz Mitchell – lead vocals (tracks A1-A4, A6, B1-B5)
* Marcia Barrett – backing vocals (tracks A3, A4 & A6)
* Frank Farian – lead vocals (track B6), backing vocals
* London Christmas Choir – choir
* Katie Kissoon – vocals, soprano
* Joy Yates – vocals, alto
* Helen Shappelle – vocals, soprano
* Simon Bell – vocals, tenor
* Nick Curtis – vocals, tenor
* George Chandler – vocals, baritone
* Russell Stone – vocals, bass
* Jerry Rix – additional vocals on track A1, bass
* Curt Cress – drums
* Dave King – bass guitar
* Günther Gebauer – bass guitar
* Mats Björklund – guitar
* Johan Daansen – guitar
* Harry Baierl – keyboards
* Kristian Schultze – keyboards
* London Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra

Production

* Kurt Rieth – choir director
* Frank Farian – producer
* Helmut Rulofs – assistant producer
* Harry Baierl – musical arranger
* Stefan Klinkhammer – musical arranger
* Recorded at Abbey Road Studios and AIR Studios, London
* Steve Nye – sound engineer
* Recorded at Vigilant Studio, Nice
* Didier Utard – engineer
* Recorded at Union Studio, Munich
* Jochen Scheffer – engineer
* Recorded at Rainbow studio, Munich
* Volker Armand – engineer
* Mixed at Farian Studio
* Ariola-Eurodisc Studios – design
* Claus Lange – photography

Charts

Certifications and sales

Reissued

* 1991: CD, Hansa, 786723
* 2007: ''Christmas With Boney M.'', CD, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, 88697 14032 2
* 2017: ''Boney M. Complete'', 9 LP, Sony Music, 88985406971

References

External links

Rate Your Music, detailed discography

Discogs.com, detailed discography
* AllMusic, biography, discography etc.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christmas Album Boney M.
Boney M. albums
1981 Christmas albums
Albums produced by Frank Farian
Atlantic Records albums
Christmas albums by German artists
Hansa Records albums
Contemporary R&B Christmas albums
Eurodisco albums