Bethlehem (Brian McKnight album)

Bethlehem is the fourth studio album by American singer Brian McKnight, his first with Motown Records, released on October 20, 1998. The album is his first Christmas album. Bethlehem consists of eleven tracks, featuring original songs and cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, several of which are duets featuring recording artists such as Boyz II Men, Michael Sembello, Tim Miner, and Maria Cole as well McKnight's brother Claude and his sons.

Bethlehem
Studio album by
Brian McKnight
ReleasedOctober 20, 1998
GenreR&B, christmas
Length41:27
LabelMotown
Producer
  • Bruce Carbone (exec.)
  • Herb Trawick (exec.)
  • Brian McKnight
  • Bill Meyers
  • Wanya Morris
Brian McKnight chronology
Anytime
(1997)		 Bethlehem
(1998)		 Back at One
(1999)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]

Gina Boldman from AllMusic called Bethlehem a "joyful, romantic holiday album [...] Overall, Bethlehem is a diverse collection of traditional and modern-day Christmas songs with something for everyone celebrating the season."[1]

Track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Hail Mary" (featuring The McKnight Family Choir)Brian McKnight2:10
2."Bethlehem Tonight" (featuring Michael Sembello)McKnight3:32
3."Let It Snow '98" (featuring Boyz II Men)
4:24
4."Silent Night (Interlude)" (Mrs. Nat King Cole)
  • McKnight
  • Bruce Carbone
1:15
5."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  • McKnight
  • Bill Meyers
3:59
6."It's All About Love" (featuring Brian McKnight Jr. and Niko)McKnight5:15
7."Christmas Time Is Here"McKnight3:27
8."The First Noel" (featuring Claude McKnight and Tim Miner)McKnight3:36
9."Home for the Holidays"McKnight3:18
10."Don't Let Me Go"McKnight4:14
11."Christmas Eve with You" (featuring Dave Koz and Julie McKnight)McKnight6:20

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Bethlehem.[3]

  • Bob Becker – viola (track 2)
  • Boyz II Men – vocals (track 3)
  • Jackie Brand – violin (track 2)
  • Denyne Buffum – viola (track 2)
  • Bruce Carbone – executive producer, producer (track 4)
  • Susan Chatman – violin (track 2)
  • Ron Clark – violin (track 2)
  • Maria Cole – vocals (track 4)
  • Larry Corbett – cello (track 2)
  • Derrick Cummings – guitar (track 8)
  • Mario DeLeon – violin (track 2)
  • Joel Derouin – violin (track 2)
  • Bruce Dukov – first violin (track 2)
  • Prescott Ellison – drums (tracks 8, 10)
  • Charlie Everett – violin (track 2)
  • Stefanie Fife – cello (track 2)
  • Matt Funes – viola (track 2)
  • Berj Garabedian – violin (track 2)
  • Robert Gerry – violin (track 2)
  • Chris Hanulik – upright bass (track 2)
  • Peter Hatch – viola (track 2)
  • Daniel Higgins – alto flute (track 2), clarinet (track 5)
  • Suzie Katayama – cello (track 2)
  • Dan Kelley – french horn (track 5)
  • Peter Kent – violin (track 2)
  • Valerie King – alto flute (track 2)
  • Dave Koz – saxophone (track 11)
  • Brian Leonard – violin (track 2)
  • Robert Lewis – organ (track 8)
  • Dane Little – cello (track 2)
  • Mike Markman – violin (track 2)
  • Brian McKnight – lead vocals and producer (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 5, 7-10), instruments (tracks 3, 6, 8, 11)
  • Brian McKnight Jr. – vocals (track 6)
  • Claude McKnight – vocals (tracks 1, 8)
  • Julie McKnight – vocals (track 10)
  • Niko McKnight – vocals (track 6)
  • The McKnight Family Choir – vocals (track 1)
  • Bill Meyers – co-producer (track 5)
  • Tim Miner – vocals (track 8)
  • Vicky Miskolosky – viola (track 2)
  • Wanya Morris – producer (track 3)
  • The McKnight Family Choir – vocals
  • Maria Newman – viola (track 2)
  • Tollak Ollestad – harmonica (track 5)
  • Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado – mixing
  • Bob Peterson – violin (track 2)
  • Michele Richards – violin (track 2)
  • Steve Richards – cello (track 2)
  • Gerry Rotella – alto flute (track 2), flute (track 5)
  • Eddy Schreyer – mastering
  • Michael Sembello – vocals and keyboards (track 2)
  • Haim Shtrum – violin (track 2)
  • Dan Smith – cello (track 2)
  • Tina Soule – cello (track 2)
  • Eddie Stein – violin (track 2)
  • Rudy Stein – cello (track 2)
  • David Stenske – violin (track 2)
  • Rick Todd – french horn (track 5)
  • Herb Trawick – executive producer
  • John Wittenberg – violin (track 2)
  • Phil Yao – french horn (track 5)

Charts
Chart (1998) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 95
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] 33

References
  1. Boldman, Gina. Bethlehem at AllMusic
  2. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. ISBN 9780743201698. Retrieved January 10, 2019. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. Bethlehem (liner notes). Brian McKnight. Mercury Records. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. "Brian McKnight Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  5. "Brian McKnight Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.


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