Christmas with Nashville

Christmas with Nashville is an album of Christmas songs recorded by cast members of the series Nashville. It was released digitally and physically (exclusively to Target stores) by Big Machine on November 4, 2014. The album was produced by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts (with the exception of "Christmas Coming Home," which was produced by Brad Stella).

Christmas with Nashville
Compilation album by
Various artists
ReleasedNovember 4, 2014 (2014-11-04)
GenreCountry music, Christmas
Length44:03
LabelBig Machine Records
ProducerJay DeMarcus, Brad Stella
The Music of Nashville chronology
The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 2
(2014)
Christmas with Nashville
(2014)
The Music of Nashville: Season 3, Volume 1
(2014)

Unlike the other albums of music from the series, none of the songs included are actually used on the show (with the exception of Connie Britton and Will Chase's rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside," which was featured in the episode "Two Sides to Every Story").

Background

edit

Nashville is an American musical drama television series, broadcast on the ABC channel in the United States. Britton and Hayden Panettiere, the show's two leads, were not musical performers prior to the show and rarely perform outside of the episodes, however other cast members have been known to go on tour and perform at locations such as the Grand Ole Opry.[1] A previous recording by the cast, taped during the television concert special Nashville: On The Record had reached number one on both the Billboard Country Albums chart and the all-genre Billboard 200 album chart.[2]

Jay DeMarcus of the band Rascal Flatts, had made a guest appearance on the show during a previous season and become friends with Sam Palladio.[1] DeMarcus subsequently produced Christmas with Nashville, praising the cast whilst doing so, explaining that "I was blown away by the consistent talent level of each actor as they came into the studio, I realized immediately that I was working with gifted singers, as well. They are so meticulous about their craft of acting, and they were just as meticulous about making sure the music was right.[1] Of Panettiere and Britton, he said that "They may not say they're singers, but they are."[1]

Release

edit

Christmas with Nashville was released on November 4, 2014.[1] It was released digitally by record label Big Machine,[2] with an exclusive release on CD via Target stores in the United States.[3]

Reception

edit

Critical

edit

Darryl Sterden for the Toronto Sun described the album, saying "They aren't really country stars; they just play them on TV. But you'd never know the difference on the Nashville cast's surprisingly solid and satisfying set of countrified Christmas classics."[4] He gave it a rating of two and a half out of three.[4]

Commercial

edit

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 105, and peaked at No. 59 on its fifth week of release. The album has sold 43,000 copies in the US as of December 2014.[5]

Track listing

edit
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Santa Baby"Joan Javits, Tony Springer, Philip SpringerClare Bowen3:27
2."Blue Christmas"Billy Hayes, Jay W. JohnsonCharles Esten featuring Vince Gill4:29
3."Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil SpectorJonathan Jackson3:16
4."White Christmas"Irving BerlinHayden Panettiere3:11
5."You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"Albert Hague, Theodor S. GeiselConnie Britton2:53
6."River"Joni MitchellSam Palladio4:59
7."Baby, It's Cold Outside"Frank LoesserConnie Britton and Will Chase2:56
8."Merry Christmas Baby"Lou Baxter, Johnny MooreAubrey Peeples3:42
9."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"Hugh Martin, Ralph BlaneChaley Rose4:29
10."Christmas Coming Home"MaryLynne Stella, Bradley StellaLennon & Maisy2:48
11."O Little Town of Bethlehem"Lewis Redner, Phillips BrooksWill Chase4:00
12."Celebrate Me Home"Kenny Loggins, Bob JamesClare Bowen, Connie Britton, Will Chase, Charles Esten, Vince Gill, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Hayden Panettiere, Aubrey Peeples, Chaley Rose and Lennon & Maisy3:40

Charts

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Dunkerley, Beville (October 27, 2014). "'Nashville' Cast To Release Christmas Album". RollingStone.com. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Bibel, Sara (October 28, 2014). "'Nashville' Album 'Christmas With Nashville' Drops on Tuesday, November 4". Zap2it. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "Christmas With Nashville - Target Exclusive". Target. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Sterdan, Darryl (December 5, 2014). "New holiday music from Seth MacFarlane, Idina Menzel, Downton Abbey and more". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  5. ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 17, 2014). "Country Album Chart Report For December 17, 2014". Roughstock. Retrieved December 24, 2014. sales figures given here
  6. ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 14, 2014). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Doobie Brothers Earn Highest Charting Album Since 1980". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  7. ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "Holiday Albums". Billboard. December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.