Christmas Time with The Judds

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Christmas Time with The Judds
The Judds--Christmas Time.jpg
Studio album by
the Judds
ReleasedNovember 1987 (1987-11)
RecordedAugust 1987
StudioCreative Workshop
Genre
Length29:27
Label
ProducerBrent Maher
The Judds chronology
Heartland
(1987) 		Christmas Time with The Judds
(1987) 		Greatest Hits
(1988)
Singles from Christmas Time with The Judds
  1. "Silver Bells"
    Released: November 1987

Christmas Time with The Judds is the fourth studio album by American country duo the Judds. It was released in November 1987 in conjunction with Curb and RCA Nashville. It was produced by Brent Maher. Christmas Time was the duo's first collection of Christmas music released in a full-length album. The album contained nine tracks of holiday material that would later be re-released in the following decades.

Background and content[]

Christmas Time with the Judds would be the duo's fourth studio album and first of Christmas music.[2] By this point, the duo had become one of country music's most successful duo's, having several number one hits and three successful studio albums.[3]

Christmas Time was recorded at the Creative Workshop, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The record was produced by Brent Maher, whom had previously produced the Judds's previous three studio offerings.[2] A total of nine tracks were included in the holiday package. Eight of the album's tracks were cover versions of well-known holiday tunes. Songs covered on the album included "Silver Bells," "Winter Wonderland," "Away in a Manger" and "O Holy Night."[1] One new recording was offered as well. The third track, "Who Is This Babe," had not been recorded prior to the album's release. It was composed by Don Potter, who served as the duo's assistant producer on several projects.[2]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic4.5/5 stars
Nashville NoiseFavorable
Ultimate TwangFavorable

Christmas Time with The Judds received mostly positive reviews following its release. Heather Phares of Allmusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars. She praised the album's cover versions of Christmas tunes, calling them holiday favorites. In conclusion, she stated: "An enjoyable Christmas collection, and a must for fans of the Judds."[1]

In 2018, the album was reviewed by the online publication, Nashville Noise. Writer Gabe Crawford gave the collection a positive response. Crawford called the album's remakes of holiday Christian tunes to be the record's highlights, praising "What Child Is This?" and "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem." Crawford also commented on the duo's harmony vocals, calling them "angelic." "In the rush of the Christmas season, Christmas Time With the Judds is a slow reflection and reminder of what Christmas is really about," he concluded.[4] In addition, online publication Ultimate Twang gave the record a positive reception in their review. "The Judds made a lot of great music during the 80s, but this album may well be the epitome," writers commented.[5]

Release and chart performance[]

Christmas Time with The Judds was first released in November 1987 via Curb Records and RCA Records.[2] In its original release, it was offered in several formats: a vinyl LP, audio cassette and compact disc. The album was re-released in 1999 via Curb and Mercury Records, offered as a compact disc.

In its original 1987 release, Christmas Time peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[6] Then, the album re-charted the same survey in 1988 and reached number 68.[7] The package also charted on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums list. In its original release, Christmas Time peaked at number nine on the holiday albums chart in December 1987.[8] After its 1999 re-issue, it re-charted the same list, peaking at number 36 in January 2000.[9] The album also spawned one single release: "Silver Bells." Upon its original release in November 1987, the single did not chart any Billboard publications.[10] Ten years later, the single made its first appearance on the Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 68 in January 1998.[11]

Track listing[]

Vinyl and cassette versions[]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Winter Wonderland"
3:44
2."Beautiful Star of Bethlehem"A.L. Philips3:27
3."Who Is This Babe"Don Potter3:03
4."Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
2:50
5."Silver Bells"
2:59
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What Child Is This?"Traditional3:30
2."Away in a Manger"Traditional2:27
3."O Holy Night"
4:00
4."Silent Night"
3:15

Compact disc version[]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Winter Wonderland"
  • Bernard
  • Bernhard Smith
3:44
2."Beautiful Star of Bethlehem"Philips3:27
3."Who Is This Babe"Potter3:03
4."Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
  • Coots
  • Gillespie
2:50
5."Silver Bells"
  • Evans
  • Livingston
2:59
6."What Child Is This?"Traditional3:30
7."Away in a Manger"Traditional2:27
8."O Holy Night"
  • Adam
  • Cappeau
4:00
9."Silent Night"
  • Gruber
  • Mohr
3:15

Personnel[]

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Christmas Time with The Judds.[2]

Musical personnel

Chart performance[]

Chart (1987) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[12] 49
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[13] 9
Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[12] 68
Chart (2000) Peak
position
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[13] 36

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States November 1987 Vinyl
Cassette
Compact disc
Europe Vinyl
Canada RCA Records
United States 1999 Compact disc
October 14, 2003 Curb Records
November 4, 2006 Music download [16]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Phares, Heather. "Christmas Time with The Judds: The Judds: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Judds, The (November 1987). "Christmas Time with The Judds (Album Information & Liner Notes)". Curb Records/RCA Records.
  3. ^ Huey, Steve. "The Judds: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Crawford, Gabe. "'Christmas Time with The Judds': A Reminder". Nashville Noise. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Classic Album Review – Christmas Time With The Judds". Ultimate Twang. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (1987)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (1988)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (Holiday albums 1)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (Holiday Albums 2)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  11. ^ ""Silver Bells" chart history (1998)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Judds Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Judds Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Judds – Christmas with The Judds". Music Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "American album certifications – The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds". Amazon. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
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