A Christmas Celebration of Hope
A Christmas Celebration of Hope | |
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B.B. King | |
Released | November 6, 2001 |
Genre | Blues, Christmas[1] |
Length | 48:15 |
Label | MCA |
Producer | Michael Abene, B.B. King[2] |
A Christmas Celebration of Hope is the thirty ninth
In the United States, A Christmas Celebration of Hope reached peak positions of number 151 on the
Composition
A Christmas Celebration of Hope contains 13 tracks totaling approximately 48 minutes in length. Produced by B.B. King himself and recorded in Lafayette, Louisiana at Dockside Recording Studios in June 2001. Some of the songs, including "Merry Christmas, Baby" have roots in blues or rhythm and blues.[1] Nashville String Machine contribute strings to three tracks.[1] King had originally recorded "Christmas Celebration" in 1960.[1] The instrumental "Christmas Love" marks King's only original track on the album (credited as Riley King).[1] The album's closing track, an instrumental version of "Auld Lang Syne", was described by Richie Unterberger as "funky".[1]
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
In his review for
A Christmas Celebration of Hope earned King the
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " B.B. King | 3:38 | |
8. | "Merry Christmas, Baby" | Page Cavanaugh, Jack Smalley | 3:56 |
9. | "Christmas Love" | King | 2:57 |
10. | "Blue Decorations" | Jerry Gillespie | 3:27 |
11. | "Christmas Comes But Once a Year" | Amos Milburn, Albert Shubert | 4:15 |
12. | "Bringing in a Brand New Year" | Brown | 2:41 |
13. | "Auld Lang Syne" | Robert Burns, traditional | 2:21 |
Track listing adapted from Allmusic.[1]
Personnel
- Michael Abene – producer
- Stanley Abernathy – trumpet
- James Bolden – conductor, trumpet
- Robert Burns – composer
- Jay Burton – engineer
- Clarence Carter – composer
- Page Cavanaugh – composer
- Tony Coleman – tambourine
- Rich Costey – assistant
- Anthony Daigle – engineer
- Marcus Daniel – composer
- Mike Doster – bass guitar
- Devin Emk – assistant
- Calep Emphrey – drums
- Kim Gannon – composer
- Lloyd Glenn – composer
- Josiah Gluck – engineer, mixing
- John Holbrook – mixing
- S. "Husky" Höskulds – engineer
- Melvin Jackson – saxophone
- Walter Kent – composer
- B.B. King– arranger, producer
- Walter King – contractor
- Floyd Lieberman – executive producer
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering
- Ken Quartarone – assistant
- Buck Ram – composer
- Jack Smalley – composer
- Jesse Thomas – composer
- James Toney – keyboards
- Vartan – art direction
- Leon Warren – guitar
- Kevin Westenberg – photography
Credits adapted from Allmusic.[1]
Charts
In the United States, A Christmas Celebration of Hope reached peak positions of number 151 on the Billboard 200, number one on Billboard's Top Blues Albums chart and number 21 on the Top Holiday Albums chart.[2][3] The album marked King's fourth to reach the Top Blues Albums chart's number one position.[4] A Christmas Celebration of Hope remained on the Billboard 200 and Top Holiday Albums charts for three weeks; the album remained on the Top Blues Albums chart for ten weeks, including five at the number one position.[2][4]
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard 200 | 151 |
U.S. Top Blues Albums | 1 |
U.S. Top Holiday Albums | 21 |