This is a rather odd Christmas album. While popular in Chrisn circles due to Amy’s involvement the album actually flopped but is highly regarded by music reviewers and many describe it as one of the best Christmas albums ever. Personally I don’t fall in that group. I just don’t like the album. It does not compliment Art or Amy’s vocal style. That said I really like the concept and many of the songs are really good. The concept is that these are the stories/songs of the animals on Christmas day. The songs are well written and actually I think they are some pretty good songs. They were written by Jimmy Webb who is one of the greatest lyricists of all time. My complaint is the arrangements. I just don’t feel the whole choir and orchestra thing and I wish so much that someone else had made the production decisions for this album. However as I said the songs are excellent and many people love the arrangements and I respect their opinion. For many people this album is a Christmas staple.
Tracklist
1 – The Annunciation – 2:38
2 – The Creatures Of The Field – 2:31
3 – Just A Simple Little Tune – 2:54
4 – The Decree – 3:25
5 – Incredible Phat – 4:56
6 – The Friendly Beasts – 3:23
7 – The Song Of The Camels – 2:44
8 – Words From An Old Spanish Carol – 3:43
9 – Carol Of The Birds – 1:58
10 – The Frog – 5:15
11 – Herod – 4:20
12 – Wild Geese – 3:32
Credits
Art Direction – Christopher Austopchuk
Banjo, Acoustic Guitar – Eric Weisberg
Bass – Joe Osborn
Cello – Peter Presser
Choir – Kings College School Choir
Conductor – Carl Davis
Directed By [Choir] – Michael Jenkins
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Guitar – Elliott Randall
Engineer – Geoff Emerick, Jon Kelly, Roy Halee
Engineer [Assistant] – Stuart Breed
Illustration – Abby Levine
Mastered By – Greg Calbi
Orchestra – The London Symphony Orchestra
Organ – Paul Halley
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano – Jimmy Webb
Producer – Art Garfunkel, Geoff Emerick, Jimmy Webb
Remix – Art Garfunkel, Geoff Emerick, Nicole Graham, Stuart Breed
Saxophone – George Young
Synthesizer – Rob Mounsey
Vocals – Amy Grant, Art Garfunkel
Vocals, Soloist – Declan Costello, Jonathan Jenkins, Nicholas Dykes, Stephen Bayly
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Copyright © – CBS Inc.
Manufactured By – Columbia Records
Pressed By – DADC – DIDP 70178
