It's the Thought...
It's the Thought... is the seventh studio and Christmas album by Christian singer-songwriter Twila Paris, released in 1989 by Star Song Records.[2][3][4] It was the last album that Paris collaborated with producer Jonathan David Brown. The album is not your typical Christmas record, aside from "White Christmas" used in medley form with "Whiter Than Snow". Paris wrote four original songs and her father Oren Paris II wrote "This World", about the change that the first Christmas had on the entire world. The album debuted and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
| It's the Thought... | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Recorded |
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| Genre | CCM, Christmas music, praise and worship | |||
| Length | 42:29 | |||
| Label | Star Song | |||
| Producer | Jonathan David Brown | |||
| Twila Paris chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Midwinter" | Christina Rossetti, Gustav Holst | 4:31 |
| 2. | "Alleluia, Christ is Born" | Twila Paris | 1:42 |
| 3. | "Glory to God" | T. Paris | 1:49 |
| 4. | "Away in a Manger" | William J. Kirkpatrick, James Ramsey Murray | 3:38 |
| 5. | "White Christmas/Whiter Than Snow" | Irving Berlin/Traditional | 3:51 |
| 6. | "It's the Thought" | T. Paris | 3:53 |
| 7. | "I Saw Three Ships" | William Sandys | 4:39 |
| 8. | "This World" | Oren Paris II | 4:07 |
| 9. | "Down in Yon Forest" | Traditional | 1:20 |
| 10. | "O Holy Night" | Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight | 5:00 |
| 11. | "Hallelujah Chorus" | George Frideric Handel | 3:51 |
| 12. | "Wandering Pilgrim" | T. Paris | 4:05 |
Personnel
- Twila Paris – lead vocals, backing vocals (3)
- Carl Marsh – keyboards, Fairlight III programming, arrangements
- Hal Brown – additional acoustic piano (5)
- Tom Hemby – acoustic guitars, mandolin
- Jerry McPherson – electric guitars
- Gary Lunn – bass
- Mark Hammond – drums
- Eric Darken – percussion
- Lisa Glasgow – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
- Tammy Jensen – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
- Marabeth Jordan – backing vocals (1)
- Tim Marshall – backing vocals (1)
- Leah Taylor – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
- Steven V. Taylor – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8), BGV arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
- Raymond Weaver – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
- Greg X. Volz – backing vocals (3)
- Jonathan David Brown – producer, recording, mixing
- Ken Love – mastering at MasterMix (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Karen Horner – art direction, design
- Toni Thigpen – art direction
- Jackson Design – design
- Paul Micich – illustration
Critical reception
Dacia A. Blodgett-Williams of AllMusic wrote "The ever popular Christian crooner Twila Paris shows the reason for her longevity with this holiday release. Strong vocals and stress-relieving accompaniment are trademarks of the album, and it includes a good mix of contemporary and traditional carols."
References
- "Twila Paris - It's the Thought...". AllMusic.
- Twila Paris : It's the Thought... Star Song Records. 1989.
- "It's the Thought... - Twila Paris". Cross Rhythms.
- Alfonso, Barry (2002). The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music. Billboard Books. p. 216-17. ISBN 0-8230-7718-7.
- "Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. December 16, 1989. p. 82.
- Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (2003). CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 – 2001. AuthorHouse. p. 168. ISBN 1-4107-3294-0.