A Christmas Album is the fifth studio and first Christmas album by Christian singer - songwriter Amy Grant, released in 1983 on Myrrh/Word Records.
The album was recorded in nine studios in mid-1983 and was released later that same year. It was issued on the heels of Grant's immensely successful 1982 album Age to Age. Primarily for the audiences she attracted with Age to Age, A Christmas Album features well-known sacred and secular standards alongside original songs, and tracks from this album continue to receive airplay to this day during the holiday season on both secular and Christian radio stations.
A Christmas Album peaked inside the Top Ten of the Top Christian Albums chart at number 9 and in 1991 peaked at number 5 on the Top Holiday Albums chart in Billboard magazine. It spawned a Top 20 Christian radio single with the Michael W. Smith-penned "Emmanuel." The album would eventually be certified Gold in 1985, and Platinum in 1989. It would be the only Christmas album to be one of the 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music by CCM Magazine, ranking at number 40.
Track listing
1. Tennessee Christmas (Amy Grant, Gary Chapman) -4:33
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (William H. Cummings, Felix Mendelssohn, Charles Wesley) -2:53
3. Preiset Dem Konig! (Praise the King!) (instrumental) (Shane Keister) -1:39
4. Emmanuel (Michael W. Smith) -2:54
5. Little Town (Words by Phillip Brooks, Music by Chris Eaton) -2:47
6. Christmas Hymn (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith) -2:32
7. Love Has Come (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Shane Keister) -4:02
8. Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish) -3:35
9. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells) -3:45
10. Heirlooms (Amy Grant, Brown Bannister, Bob Farrell) -3:42
11. A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard on High (Traditional/Edward S. Barnes) -5:00
Gold certified in 1985.
Platinum certified in 1989.
Radio singles
1984 "Emmanuel" -#20 Christian AC/CHR
Previous release: Ageless Medley EP (1983)
Next release: Straight Ahead (1984)