This Christmas (John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John album)
This Christmas | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Universal Music | ||||
Producer | ||||
Olivia Newton-John chronology | ||||
|
This Christmas is a Christmas album by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, released on November 9, 2012, by Universal Music Enterprises. The first time that Travolta and Newton-John worked together was on the musical film Grease (1978), in which they performed the songs "You're the One That I Want" and "Summer Nights". Both the film and the songs were a commercial phenomenon. This album is the first new artistic work they have done together since the 1983 film Two of a Kind (which features the song "Take a Chance", performed by them). This Christmas is also the 25th studio album, following the 2008 release A Celebration in Song, and the third all-new Christmas album by Newton-John.
Background and development
In March 2012 Newton-John was interviewed by Malaysian newspaper
My desire was to make This Christmas an intimate album, not something too ostentatious or showy. I wanted people to be able to play it around the house or in the car during the holidays, and make us part of your celebration. Gathering around house listening to Christmas music has always been an important part of that time of the year to my family.
— Travolta about the album creation process.[2]
According to statement, This Christmas is "the audio equivalent of those
The idea from recording an album came when Newton-John sent a Christmas card to Travolta, noting that the songs of Grease become the best-selling duet in pop music history. Travolta commented: "I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn’t people want to hear us do other songs?’ and immediately came up with the idea of doing a holiday album together. [...] From the moment we decided to do this, magic happened. Everyone we contacted agreed to do it." The two have been good friends since Grease was filmed, and agree to donate the artist proceeds from the album equally to their respective charities, the Jett Travolta Foundation for children's disabilities and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.[2][3]
It is the second time that "White Christmas" is featured on a Newton-John album, the first time was on 2003 compilation The Christmas Collection, as a duet with Kenny Loggins and Clint Black. The songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (also a duet with Loggins) and "Silent Night" also are featured on this album.[4] Her 2007 album, Christmas Wish, features "Silent Night", as a duet with Jann Arden, and an instrumental interlude version of "Deck the Halls".[5]
Reception
Critical response
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [6] |
The Courier | (positive)[7] |
Edmonton Journal | [8] |
The Guardian | [9] |
The Independent | [10] |
This Christmas received mixed reviews from contemporary
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number eighty-one on the Billboard 200, making the first Newton-John's album entry on top 100 since Back with a Heart, which peaked at number fifty-nine in 1998.[6][11] On December 26, 2012, the album had sold 35,596 in the United States.[12] This Christmas peaked at number thirty-three in Newton-John's native country Australia.[13]
Promotion
Travolta and Newton-John made several promotional appearances to promote This Christmas in the album release month. They answered questions from fans on the
Although no singles were released from the album, a music video for the song "I Think You Might Like It" was released on December 4, 2012.
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians
- John Travolta – vocals
- Olivia Newton-John – vocals (1-5, 7–13)
- Fender Rhodes (4), horn arrangements (10), organ(12)
- Chick Corea – acoustic piano (4)
- Monty Alexander – acoustic piano (9)
- John Farrar – synthesizer programming (10), guitars (10), music arrangements (10)
- Sam Farrar – programming (10), bass guitar (10)
- Larry Goldings – harmonium (12)
- George Doering – guitars (1-7, 9, 11)
- Gray Sargent – guitars (8)
- Michael Landau – guitars (12)
- James Taylor – guitars (12), vocals (12), arrangements (12)
- Carlos del Puerto – bass guitar (1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11)
- Paul Langosch – bass guitar (8)
- Gregg Bissonette – drums (1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11)
- Teddy Campbell – drums (2, 3, 4, 6)
- Harold Jones – drums (8)
- John Robinson – drums (10)
- Michael Fisher – percussion (12)
- David Boruff – alto saxophone (2, 4, 10), tenor saxophone (2, 4, 10)
- Brandon Fields – baritone saxophone (2, 4, 10)
- Kenny G – tenor saxophone (2)
- Dan Higgins – alto saxophone (7)
- Bob McChesney – trombone (1, 2, 4, 10), trombone solo (6, 11)
- Charles Davis – trumpet (1, 2, 4, 10)
- Chuck Findley – trumpet (1, 2, 4, 10)
- Bruce Dukov – violin solo (3)
- Chris Bleuth – Irish whistle(5)
- Timothy Loo – cello solo (5)
- Charlie Bisharat – fiddle solo (5)
- Stuart Clark – clarinet (13)
- Heather Clark – flute (13)
- Bernadette Avila – oboe (13)
- Bill Hughes – orchestra director for The Count Basie Orchestra (8)
- Lee Musiker – music director for Tony Bennett (8)
- Dave Grusin – arrangements (12)
- Barbra Streisand – vocals (3)
- Cliff Richard – vocals (7)
- Tony Bennett – vocals (8)
- David Lasley – backing vocals (12)
- Kate Markowitz – backing vocals (12)
- Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (12)
Strings on "Medley"
- Randy Waldman – conductor
- Bruce Dukov – concertmaster
- Christine Ermacoff, Paula Hochhalter, Jen Kuhn and Timothy Loo – cello
- Gayle Levant – harp
- Robert Brophy, Caroline Buckman, Carrie Holzman and Shawn Mann – viola
- Charlie Bisharat, Jacqueline Brand, Darius Campo, Lisa Donglinger, Juliann French, Tamara Hatwan, Chris Hebel, Natalie Leggett, Robin Olson, Carol Pool, Anatoly Rosinski, Tereza Stanislav, Alwyn Wright, Yelena Yegoryan and Ken Yerke – violin
Production
- Mark Hartley – executive producer
- Randy Waldman – producer, mixing (1-7, 9, 11, 12, 13)
- Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff –recording (1-7, 9, 10, 11, 13), mixing (1-7, 9, 11, 12, 13)
- Darwin Best – vocal recording for Cliff Richard (7)
- Dae Bennett – recording (8), mixing (8)
- John Farrar – mixing (10)
- Don Murray – recording (12)
- William Cho – assistant engineer
- Ray Holzknecht – assistant engineer
- Jeremy Miller – assistant engineer
- Chas Payson – assistant engineer
- Marco Ruiz – assistant engineer
- Alessandro Perrotta – assistant engineer (8)
- Travis Stefl – assistant engineer (8)
- Charlie Paakkari– recording assistant (12)
- Bob McChesney – digital editing
- Kenny O'Brien – digital editing
- Joe Woulmuth – digital editing
- Christine Wu – digital editing
- Erick Labson – mastering
- Dawn Darling – production coordinator
- Anita Heilig – production coordinator
- Dana Sharpe – production coordinator
- JoAnn Tominaga – production coordinator, music contractor
- Jill Dell'Abate – production manager (8), music contractor (8)
- Dee Askew – orchestra management (8)
- Aaron Woodward – orchestra management (8)
- Brian Benison – music preparation
- Ryan Rogers – design
- Rav Holly – photography
- Jade Perry – hair stylist
Studios
- Recorded at Randini Studios (Studio City, California); EastWest Studios and Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California); Entourage Studios, NRG Studios and Pacifique Studios (North Hollywood, California); Moonee Ponds Studios (Malibu, California); Echo Beach Studios (Jupiter, Florida); Ron Rose Productions (Tampa, Flotifa); Deep Diner Studios (Manhattan, New York); Bennett Studios and Bergen/PAC Theater (Englewood, New Jersey).
- Mixed at Randini Studios and Moonee Ponds Studios.
- Mastered at Universal Mastering Studios West (Santa Monica, California).
Charts
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums Chart[13] | 33 |
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[21] | 195 |
US Billboard 200[6] | 81 |
US Holiday Albums[6] | 19 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Australia[22] | November 9, 2012 | CD, digital download | Universal Music Enterprises |
United Kingdom[23] | November 12, 2012 | Hip-O Records | |
Canada[24] | November 13, 2012 | Universal Music Enterprises | |
Germany[25] | |||
Italy[26] | |||
Spain[27] | |||
United States[28] | |||
France[29] | November 19, 2012 | Polydor Records |
References
- ^ "The Star: Life's Lessons". Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "Newton-John's official website: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John reunite for first time in 30 years".
- ^ a b "RumourFix: Olivia Newton-John – John Travolta is an amazing crooner".
- ^ "Christmas Collection" – via Amazon.
- ^ "Newton-John's official website: Discography > Christmas Wish".
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ^ D. C. Thomson & Co. Retrieved 15 April 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Ash, Amanda (3 December 2012). "Album review: John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, This Christmas". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (13 December 2012). "John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John: This Christmas – review". London: The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ a b Johnson, Phil (23 December 2012). "Album: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, This Christmas (Universal)". London: The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ "Billboard: Olivia Newton-John Billboard 200 chart history".
- ^ "ATRL Charts: Billboard 200 Albums (December 19-26, 2012)".
- ^ a b "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Olivia Newton-John official website: TV & Press Appearances for This Christmas holiday CD".
- ^ Stone, Rolling (5 December 2012). "Travolta and Newton-John's Awkward Xmas".
- ^ "Today Entertainment: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John team up for bizarre Christmas video".
- ^ Kilkenny, Katie (5 December 2012). "John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John Record a New Classic of Christmas Camp". Slate Magazine.
- ^ Boardman, Madeline (5 December 2012). "The Huffington Post: 'I Think You Might Like It': John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John Make A Music Video".
- ^ "I Think You Might Like It" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Flanagan, Andrew (14 October 2014). "YouTube Pays Out $1 Billion with Content ID".
- ^ "John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John - This Christmas - ultratop.be".
- ^ "金沙官方网|app下载". www.optusmusicstore.com.
- ^ "This Christmas". 24 November 2012 – via Amazon.
- ^ "This Christmas". 24 November 2012 – via Amazon.
- ^ "This Christmas" – via Amazon.
- ^ "This Christmas" – via Amazon.
- ^ "This Christmas" – via Amazon.
- ^ "Amazon.com: This Christmas – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John".
- ^ "This Christmas" – via Amazon.