MercyMe, It's Christmas!

MercyMe, It's Christmas is the second Christmas album by MercyMe, released on October 9, 2015, through Fair Trade Services. The album was produced by Brown Bannister and Ben Shive.[1]

MercyMe, It's Christmas
Studio album by
MercyMe
ReleasedOctober 9, 2015 (2015-10-09)
StudioThe Beehive (Nashville, Tennessee); Townsend Sound Studios (Franklin, Tennessee).
GenreContemporary Christian music, pop rock, Christmas
Length41:18
LabelFair Trade
ProducerBrown Bannister, Ben Shive
MercyMe chronology
Welcome to the New
(2014)		 MercyMe, It's Christmas
(2015)		 Lifer
(2017)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
365 Days of Inspiring Media[2]
CCM Magazine[3]
Cross Rhythms[4]
The Front Row Report[5]
Jesus Freak Hideout[6]
New Release Today[7]

Awarding the album four stars at CCM Magazine, Andy Argyrakis states, "there’s basically something for everyone on one of this season’s most inviting."[3] Christopher Smith, rating the album four stars from Jesus Freak Hideout, writes, "MercyMe, It's Christmas! is a huge success and sets a high bar for the rest of the Christmas releases this year. Though you might not be ready for it, it is a spectacular addition to any Christmas music collection."[6] Giving the album four and a half stars for New Release Today, Caitlin Lassiter says, "It's Christmas is certainly a success as far as Christmas records go and is sure to be the soundtrack to many holiday festivities in homes around the country this season."[7]

Allocating the album a nine out of ten for Cross Rhythms, Brendan O'Regan writes, "Mind you they might also be moved to dance by the pacey numbers."[4] Joshua Andre, indicating in a four star review by 365 Days of Inspiring Media, says, "MercyMe have crafted a fine effort".[2] Assigning the album nine stars out of ten at The Front Row Report, Reggie Edwards responds, "MercyMe have outdone themselves".[5] Sarah Baylor, signaling in a 4.8 out of five review from The Christian Beat, replies, "MercyMe has managed to create a brilliant Christmas album that contains their own unique, spirit-filled sound."[8]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Newborn"Traditional; Brown Bannister, Ben Shive, MercyMe5:30
2."Christmastime Again"Bannister, Shive, MercyMe3:12
3."Sleigh Ride"Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish3:20
4."I'll Be Home for Christmas"Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, Buck Ram3:50
5."Hold on Christmas"Bannister, Shive, MercyMe3:45
6."A Holly Jolly Christmas"Johnny Marks3:23
7."Go Tell It on the Mountain"Traditional2:14
8."Do You Hear What I Hear?"Noël Regney, Gloria Shayne4:13
9."Our Lullaby"Bannister, Shive, MercyMe3:05
10."Joy"Traditional; Bannister, Shive, MercyMe5:08
11."O Come, O Come"Traditional3:38
Total length:41:18

Personnel

MercyMe

  • Bart Millard – lead vocals, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Barry Graul – guitars, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Mike Scheuchzer – guitars, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Nathan Cochran – bass, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Robby Shaffer – drums, arrangements

Additional Musicians

  • Ben Shive – acoustic piano, keyboards, Hammond B3 organ, programming, arrangements, horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Mark Douthit – saxophones
  • Barry Green – trombone
  • Mike Haynes – trumpet
  • Keith Smith – trumpet, arrangements
  • Carol Neuen-Rabinowitz – cello
  • Monisa Angell – viola
  • Kristin Wilkinson – viola
  • David Angell – violin
  • Janet Darnall – violin
  • David Davidson – violin
  • Brown Bannister – arrangements

Production
  • Brown Bannister – producer, overdub recording
  • Ben Shive – producer, overdub recording
  • Buckley Miller – engineer
  • Joe Pisapia – engineer
  • Crystal Burks – assistant engineer
  • Aaron Chafin – assistant engineer
  • Jordan Logue – assistant engineer
  • Shane D. Wilson – mixing
  • Lani Crump – mix coordinator
  • Kyle Cummings – digital editing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).
  • Brody Harper – art direction, design
  • Dana Salsedo – art direction
  • Eric Brown – photography

Chart performance
Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[9] 38
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[10] 1
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[11] 1

References
  1. "MercyMe, It's Christmas - MercyMe : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  2. Andre, Joshua (October 13, 2015). "Music Reviews: MercyMe – Mercy Me, It's Christmas!". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  3. Argyrakis, Andy (October 31, 2015). "MercyMe - It's Christmas!". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  4. O'Regan, Brendan (January 4, 2015). "Review: It's Christmas - MercyMe". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  5. Edwards, Reggie (October 11, 2015). "MercyMe: It's Christmas! review". The Front Row Report. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  6. Smith, Christopher (October 10, 2015). "MercyMe, "MercyMe, It's Christmas!" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  7. Lassiter, Caitlin (October 10, 2015). "Christmas Music Done Right". New Release Today. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  8. Baylor, Sarah (November 8, 2015). ""MercyMe It's Christmas!": An Unprecedented Holiday Album". The Christian Beat. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  9. "MercyMe Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  10. "MercyMe Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  11. "MercyMe – Chart history". Billboard.
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