Christmas Time with The Judds

Christmas Time with The Judds is a studio album by American country duo The Judds. It was released in November 1987 in conjunction with Curb and RCA Records. It was produced by Brent Maher and was their fourth studio album. Christmas Time was the duo's first collection of Christmas music released in a full-length album. The album contained nine tracks of holiday material that would later be re-released in the following decades.

Christmas Time with The Judds
Studio album by The Judds
Released	November 1987
Recorded	August 1987
Studio	Creative Workshop
Genre	Country Christmas[1]
Length	29:27
Label	Curb RCA Records
Producer	Brent Maher
The Judds chronology
Heartland (1987) Christmas Time with The Judds (1987) Greatest Hits (1988)
Singles from Christmas Time with The Judds
"Silver Bells" Released: November 1987

Background and content

Christmas Time with the Judds would be the duo's fourth studio album and first of Christmas music.[2] By this point, the duo had become one of country music's most successful duo's, having several number one hits and three successful studio albums.[3]

Christmas Time was recorded at the Creative Workshop, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The record was produced by Brent Maher, whom had previously produced The Judds's previous three studio offerings.[2] A total of nine tracks were included in the holiday package. Eight of the album's tracks were cover versions of well-known holiday tunes. Songs covered on the album included "Silver Bells," "Winter Wonderland," "Away in a Manger" and "O Holy Night."[1] One new recording was offered as well. The third track, "Who Is This Babe," had not been recorded prior to the album's release. It was composed by Don Potter, who served as the duo's assistant producer on several projects.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Nashville Noise	Favorable
Ultimate Twang	Favorable

Christmas Time with The Judds received mostly positive reviews following its release. Heather Phares of Allmusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars. She praised the album's cover versions of Christmas tunes, calling them holiday favorites. In conclusion, she stated: "An enjoyable Christmas collection, and a must for fans of the Judds."[1]

In 2018, the album was reviewed by the online publication, Nashville Noise. Writer Gabe Crawford gave the collection a positive response. Crawford called the album's remakes of holiday Christian tunes to be the record's highlights, praising "What Child Is This?" and "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem." Crawford also commented on the duo's harmony vocals, calling them "angelic." "In the rush of the Christmas season, Christmas Time With the Judds is a slow reflection and reminder of what Christmas is really about," he concluded.[4] In addition, online publication Ultimate Twang gave the record a positive reception in their review. "The Judds made a lot of great music during the 80s, but this album may well be the epitome," writers commented.[5]

Release and chart performance

Christmas Time with The Judds was first released in November 1987 via Curb Records and RCA Records.[2] In its original release, it was offered in several formats: a vinyl LP,[6] audio cassette[7] and compact disc.[8] The album was re-released in 1999 via Curb and Mercury Records, offered as a compact disc.[9]

In its original 1987 release, Christmas Time peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[10] Then, the album re-charted the same survey in 1988 and reached number 68.[11] The package also charted on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums list. In its original release, Christmas Time peaked at number nine on the holiday albums chart in December 1987.[12] After its 1999 re-issue, it re-charted the same list, peaking at number 36 in January 2000.[13] The album also spawned one single release: "Silver Bells." Upon its original release in November 1987, the single did not chart any Billboard publications.[14] Ten years later, the single made its first appearance on the Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 68 in January 1998.[15]

Track listing

Vinyl and cassette versions

Side one[6][7]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Winter Wonderland"	Felix Bernard Richard Bernhard Smith	3:44
2.	"Beautiful Star of Bethlehem"	A.L. Philips	3:27
3.	"Who Is This Babe"	Don Potter	3:03
4.	"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"	J. Fred Coots Haven Gillespie	2:50
5.	"Silver Bells"	Ray Evans Jay Livingston	2:59

Side two[6][7]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"What Child Is This?"	Traditional	3:30
2.	"Away in a Manger"	Traditional	2:27
3.	"O Holy Night"	Adolphe Adam Placide Cappeau	4:00
4.	"Silent Night"	Franz Xaver Gruber Joseph Mohr	3:15

Compact disc version

Side one[8]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Winter Wonderland"	Bernard Bernhard Smith	3:44
2.	"Beautiful Star of Bethlehem"	Philips	3:27
3.	"Who Is This Babe"	Potter	3:03
4.	"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"	Coots Gillespie	2:50
5.	"Silver Bells"	Evans Livingston	2:59
6.	"What Child Is This?"	Traditional	3:30
7.	"Away in a Manger"	Traditional	2:27
8.	"O Holy Night"	Adam Cappeau	4:00
9.	"Silent Night"	Gruber Mohr	3:15

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Christmas Time with The Judds.[2]

Musical personnel

Eddie Bayers – drums Mark Casstevens – rhythm guitar Christ Church Choir – choir Sonny Garrish – steel guitar Naomi Judd – harmony vocals Wynonna Judd – lead vocals Middle Tennessee State University Campus School Children's Choir – children's choir Craig Nelson – bass Bobby Ogdin – piano Don Potter – guitar, rhythm guitar, hi-string guitar, autoharp, bandleader Cynthia Reynolds Wyatt – harp Gene Sisk – piano David Schnaufer – dulcimer Ricky Skaggs – fiddle Jack Williams – bass

Technical personnel Barnes and Company – album graphics Nancy Boone – choir director Landy & Joy Gardner – choir arrangement Mary Hamilton – art direction Farrell Morris – percussion Brent Maher – producer, engineering, mixing Glenn Meadows – mastering Jim McKell – engineering, mixing Mark Prior – photographer

Chart performance

Chart (1987)	Peak position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[16]	49
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[17]	9
Chart (1988)	Peak position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[16]	68
Chart (2000)	Peak position
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[17]	36

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18]	Platinum	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[19]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	November 1987	Vinyl	Curb Records RCA Records	[6]
		Cassette		[8]
		Compact disc		[8]
Europe		Vinyl		[20]
Canada			RCA Records	[21]
United States	1999	Compact disc	Curb Records Mercury Records Universal Special Products	[9]
	October 14, 2003		Curb Records	[22]
	November 4, 2006	Music download		[23]

References

1. Phares, Heather. "Christmas Time with The Judds: The Judds: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
2. Judds, The (November 1987). "Christmas Time with The Judds (Album Information & Liner Notes)". Curb Records/RCA Records.
3. Huey, Steve. "The Judds: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
4. Crawford, Gabe. "'Christmas Time with The Judds': A Reminder". Nashville Noise. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
5. "Classic Album Review – Christmas Time With The Judds". Ultimate Twang. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
6. "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds' (1987, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
7. "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds (1987, Cassette)". Discogs. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
8. "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds (CD, 1987)". Discogs. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
9. "Christmas Time with The Judds – The Judds (1999, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
10. "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (1987)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
11. "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (1988)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
12. "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (Holiday albums 1)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
13. "Christmas Time with The Judds chart history (Holiday Albums 2)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
14. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
15. ""Silver Bells" chart history (1998)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
16. "The Judds Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
17. "The Judds Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
18. "Canadian album certifications – The Judds – Christmas with The Judds". Music Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
19. "American album certifications – The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 29, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
20. "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds (1987 Europe)". Discogs. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
21. "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds (1987, Canada)". Discogs. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
22. "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds (2003, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
23. "The Judds – Christmas Time with The Judds". Amazon. Retrieved August 29, 2020.