A Mary Christmas
A Mary Christmas | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 15, 2013 | |||
Length | 45:53 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer | David Foster | |||
Mary J. Blige chronology | ||||
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A Mary Christmas is the eleventh
The album peaked at number ten on the US
In October 2023, Blige released a deluxe version of the album, titled A Mary Christmas: Anniversary Edition, which saw four additional tracks.[2][3]
Background
It was confirmed in June 2013 that Blige had been working on a Christmas album, in an interview with Charleston Scene.[4] In that interview, Blige revealed featured artists to be on the record would be Jessie J, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Barbra Streisand, with whom she duets a "jazzy version" of "When You Wish Upon a Star."
This album is the first collaboration between legendary producer and hit-maker David Foster and Blige. The album will also be released on The Verve Music Group, in which Foster is the chairman of. Foster is also the producer of multi-platinum Christmas albums by Michael Bublé, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Celine Dion.[5] Chris Walden wrote two arrangements for the album.[6]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 49/100[7] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
The Guardian | [9] |
The Independent | [10] |
Los Angeles Times | [11] |
Slant Magazine | [12] |
A Mary Christmas received generally mixed or average reviews from critics. At
Tim Jonze from
Commercial performance
A Mary Christmas debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums with first week sales of 12,000 copies. After four weeks of fluctuating on the chart, A Mary Christmas entered the top 20 for the first time in its sixth week, rising from number 22 to number 13 with a 110% sales increase to 31,000 copies.[17] In its seventh week, the album experienced an 82% increase to 57,000 copies sold, despite falling two positions to number 15.[18] In its eight-week, the album rose to number 10 despite a 10% drop to 51,000 copies, giving Blige her 12th top ten album.[19] A Mary Christmas rose less than 1% to 52,000 copies sold in its ninth week, falling one spot to number 11.[20] In its tenth week, A Mary Christmas fell to number 13 with a 25% increase to 64,000 copies sold, the album's best-selling week.[21] In its eleventh week, the album sold approximately 32,000 copies (a decline of 49% from the previous week) and placed at number 21 on the Billboard 200, reflecting the end of the 2013 holiday season.[22][23][24] A Mary Christmas was the third best-selling Christmas album of 2013 with 328,000 copies sold for the year.[25][26]
On December 4, 2013, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA.[27]
Track listing
All songs produced by David Foster.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Little Drummer Boy" |
| 4:09 |
2. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | 4:37 | |
3. | "My Favorite Things" |
| 3:51 |
4. | "This Christmas" |
| 3:18 |
5. | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" | 3:53 | |
6. | " When You Wish Upon a Star" (featuring Barbra Streisand and Chris Botti ) | 3:42 | |
8. | "Mary, Did You Know" | 3:48 | |
9. | "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (featuring Jessie J) | 4:19 | |
10. | " Petit Papa Noel " |
| 3:57 |
11. | "The First Noel" (featuring The Clark Sisters) | Traditional | 4:24 |
12. | "Noche De Paz (Silent Night)" (featuring Marc Anthony) | Joseph Mohr | 3:28 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Winter Wonderland" | 2:50 | |
14. | "Silent Night" | Mohr | 4:10 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "O Holy Night" | Traditional | 3:56 |
16. | "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (solo version) |
| 4:21 |
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[43] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Edition(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | October 15, 2013 |
|
Standard edition | ||
October 6, 2023 | Anniversary edition |
References
- ^ Ramirez, Rauly (2013-10-24). "Eminem's 'Rap God' Debuts at No. 2 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2013-10-28. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
- ^ Folk, Antwane (October 7, 2023). "Mary J Blige Releases Deluxe Edition of 'A Mary Christmas' Album". Rated R&B. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ "A Mary Christmas (Anniversary Edition)". Spotify. October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ "As the 'Queen of Hip-Hop Soul,' Mary J. Blige still seeks to inspire". Charleston Scene. 2013-06-26. Archived from the original on 2013-07-06. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ^ Robbins, Caryn (2013-07-25). "Mary J Blige Is Set To Release Her First Christmas Album With Legendary Producer David Foster". Broadway World Music. BroadwayWorld.
- ^ "CHRIS". Chriswalden.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-04. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ^ a b "Critic Reviews for A Mary Christmas". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Review. Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Jonze, Tim (December 12, 2013). "Mary J Blige: A Mary Christmas – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ a b Gill, Andy (December 21, 2013). "Christmas album reviews: Leona Lewis, Erasure, Bright Eyes, Mary J Blige, Richard Durrant". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ Lewis, Randy (November 29, 2013). "Review: Rating the new crop of holiday albums". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ Henderson, Eric (November 15, 2016). "A Mary Christmas". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
- ^ Dixon, Josh. "Album Review: Mary J. Blige – A Mary Christmas". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Jonze, Tim (December 12, 2013). "Mary J Blige: A Mary Christmas – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ Henderson, Eric (October 15, 2013). "Mary J. Blige - A Mary Christmas". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ Lewis, Randy (November 29, 2013). "Review: Rating the new crop of holiday albums". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (28 November 2013). "Chart Moves: Mary J. Blige 'Holiday' Sales Sizzle, AWOLNATION's 'Symphony' Sees Big Gain". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ Trust, Gary (5 December 2013). "Billboard's Holiday Songs & Albums Charts Return". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (11 December 2013). "Garth Brooks Earns Ninth No. 1 Album, Britney Spears Debuts At No. 4". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ^ Ramirez, Rauly (19 December 2013). "Beyonce Scores Fifth No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 23 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ Ramirez, Rauly (27 December 2013). "Beyonce's 'Drunk In Love' Debuts at No. 2 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ Ramirez, Rauly (2 January 2013). "Beyonce Leads for Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums : Jan 04, 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ Tardio, Andres (2013-12-26). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/22/2013". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
- ^ Paul Grein (January 2, 2014). "Chart Watch: The Top 10 Christmas Albums of 2013". Yahoo Music. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Top Holiday Albums for Mary J. Blige. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ^ "Gold and Platinum Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige - A Mary Christmas - Only at Target : Target". Archived from the original on 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
- ^ a b "A Mary Christmas (Anniversary Edition)". Spotify. October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Mary J. Blige – {{{album}}}" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- Chart-Track. IRMA.
- ^ "メアリー・クリスマス" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Mary J. Blige – {{{album}}}". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ "2013 Top 40 R&B Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. December 7, 2013. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Mary J Blige Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Best of 2013 – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – Mary J. Blige – A Mary Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Folk, Antwane (October 7, 2023). "Mary J Blige Releases Deluxe Edition of 'A Mary Christmas' Album". Rated R&B. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
External links
- MaryJBlige.com — official site