Amy Grant

Item: A Christmas Album
Author: Steven S. Baldwin

A Christmas Album

(1983)

Reviewed by Steven S. Baldwin

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Reunion RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1998

adult contemporary ccm pop

Amy Grant's A Christmas Album was the first Christmas album I ever bought for myself, and has proven itself a favorite for over a decade in my home. I can still remember the first time I heard it, and how it provided such a nice departure from the endless repetitions of albums like John Denver's Christmas record I grew up with, because it offered something that sounded new, contemporary, and full of joy.

Now that the album is fifteen years old, it doesn't sound so contemporary anymore (even Michael W. Smith would probably blush a bit at his keyboard parts), but it still captures a sense of real joy that can be found in the Christmas season. Most importantly, it also honors Jesus with some pleasantly played versions of classic carols.

A combination of all the good things about this album, coupled with Amy Grant's vast popularity has made this one of the best selling Christmas album of all time among Christians. When it's time to get out the cookies, string the popcorn, and hang that advent calendar, Amy Grant has a warm place in my family's traditions, too. She may be a pop star when pop music isn't always cool, but I'm not embarrassed to admit that my family and I will be enjoying this soon-to-be-classic for years of Christmases to come.

4 tocks