A Legendary Christmas
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A Legendary Christmas | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 26, 2018 | |||
Genre | Christmas | |||
Length | 49:44 | |||
Label | Columbia[1] | |||
Producer | ||||
John Legend chronology | ||||
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Singles from A Legendary Christmas | ||||
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A Legendary Christmas is the seventh studio album and first Christmas album by American singer John Legend, it was released on October 26, 2018.[3][4] Featuring artists such as Esperanza Spalding and Stevie Wonder, the album was promoted by a tour of the same name from November to December 2018.[5][6] It received a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards.[7]
Background[edit]
The album is Legend's first holiday album, which he announced on October 1, 2018, via social media.[8][9] His tweet wrote "This winter, get ready for A Legendary Christmas! I have a brand new Christmas album coming out accompanied by #ALegendaryChristmas Tour!".[10][1] Prior to the album's announcement, Legend had just become the first African-American male to win an EGOT – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.[11] Legend has previously said of his intention to create a Christmas album, he said "I just made a new Christmas album. I've wanted to do this for a long time." On October 11, 2018, Legend premiered two lead singles from the album, "Bring Me Love" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" simultaneously on VEVO.[12][13][14] The album was re-released on November 8, 2019 with four additional tracks.
Composition[edit]
Wonder features on the first song, "What Christmas Means to Me", in which he plays the harmonica, while Spalding sings on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".[1] Featuring fourteen songs, the album is composed of eight that are "Christmas classics" and six that are original tracks by Legend.[1] The album is executive-produced by neo-soul singer/producer Raphael Saadiq.[1][15] All string arrangements by Matt Jones, including "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" on the Super Deluxe Edition which featured an improvised solo by violinist Scott Tixier.[16]
Commercial performance[edit]
In John Legend's home country of the United States, A Legendary Christmas debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200 with 20,000 album-equivalent units, which included 19,000 pure album sales.[17] Eventually, the album rose to 22
Track listing[edit]
All tracks produced by Raphael Saadiq.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "What Christmas Means to Me" (featuring Stevie Wonder) |
| 2:41 |
2. | "Silver Bells" | 3:16 | |
3. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (featuring Esperanza Spalding) | 3:43 | |
4. | "No Place Like Home" | 3:57 | |
5. | "Bring Me Love" | 3:19 | |
6. | "Merry Christmas Baby/Give Love on Christmas Day" |
| 3:50 |
7. | "Christmas Time Is Here" | 3:20 | |
8. | "Waiting for Christmas" |
| 2:35 |
9. | "Purple Snowflakes" |
| 2:49 |
10. | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" | 4:15 | |
11. | "Please Come Home for Christmas" |
| 4:08 |
12. | "Wrap Me Up in Your Love" |
| 3:45 |
13. | "By Christmas Eve" |
| 3:51 |
14. | "Merry Merry Christmas" |
| 4:15 |
Total length: | 49:44 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "O Come, All Ye Faithful" | 4:24 |
16. | "No Place Like Home" (acoustic demo) | 3:54 |
Total length: | 58:09 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "What Christmas Means to Me" (featuring Stevie Wonder on Harmonica) |
| 2:41 |
2. | "Bring Me Love" | 3:19 | |
3. | "This Christmas" |
| 3:03 |
4. | "My Favorite Things" | Rodgers and Hammerstein | 2:54 |
5. | "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (featuring Kelly Clarkson) | Frank Loesser | 3:38 |
6. | "Christmas in New Orleans" |
| 3:48 |
7. | "Silver Bells" | 3:16 | |
8. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (featuring Esperanza Spalding) | 3:43 | |
9. | "No Place Like Home" | 3:57 | |
10. | "Merry Christmas Baby/Give Love on Christmas Day" |
| 3:50 |
11. | "Christmas Time Is Here" | 3:20 | |
12. | "By Christmas Eve" |
| 3:51 |
13. | "Purple Snowflakes" |
| 2:49 |
14. | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" | 4:15 | |
15. | "Please Come Home for Christmas" |
| 4:08 |
16. | "Wrap Me Up in Your Love" |
| 3:45 |
17. | "Waiting for Christmas" |
| 2:35 |
18. | "Merry Merry Christmas" |
| 4:15 |
Total length: | 63:12 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
9. | "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" | 3:30 |
Notes
- "Baby, It's Cold Outside" contains additional writing by John Legend and Natasha Rothwell.[22]
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications[edit]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[36] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "John Legend to release 'A Legendary Christmas' album". CBS News. October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Annie (October 5, 2018). "John Legend Announces Christmas Album and Tour, Including Tri-State Stops". NBC New York. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend Announces Christmas Album, Tour". Rap-Up. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Haylock, Zoe (October 1, 2018). "John Legend Announces Christmas Album, A Legendary Christmas". Vulture. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend Announces Christmas Album & Tour Dates". Billboard. January 28, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend announces first Christmas album, Utah concert | Concert Announcements". Herald Extra. October 8, 2018. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". The Recording Academy. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- ^ "John Legend Announces 'A Legendary Christmas' Album & Accompanying Tour | iHeartRadio". iHeart. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Schatz, Lake (October 1, 2018). "John Legend Announces First Christmas Album, Tour | Music News". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "Merry Christmas From John Legend". Jezebel. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend to release A Legendary Christmas album this month". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend New Christmas Album and Tour". People. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend announces his first-ever Christmas album and tour titled A Legendary Christmas". Times Now. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Ryan Reed (October 1, 2018). "John Legend Taps Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding for Christmas LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend Christmas Album Tour". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "A Legendary Christmas - John Legend | Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 10, 2018). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: John Legend & Pentatonix Debut in Top 40 With New 'Christmas' Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ "「レジェンダリー・クリスマス」- ジョン・レジェンド". Sony Music Japan. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ "Legendary Christmas". Tower Records.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ Legend, John. "A Legendary Christmas: Deluxe Edition". Tidal.
- ^ "A Legendary Christmas (Deluxe Edition) - album by John Legend (2019)". Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Schatz, Lake (November 8, 2019). "John Legend Reworks Problematic "Baby It's Cold Outside" on new holiday album: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – John Legend – A Legendary Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – John Legend – A Legendary Christmas" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – John Legend – A Legendary Christmas" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – John Legend – A Legendary Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ "John Legend". Oricon. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – John Legend – A Legendary Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ "John Legend Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ "John Legend Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – John Legend – A Legendary Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 15, 2023.