Amy Grant - 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of Amy Grant

With a title like The Christmas Collection: The Best of Amy Grant, it might be presumed that this disc would contain selections from all three of Grant's prior holiday releases. That assumption would be incorrect as Universal, trying to gain some mileage out of their back catalog, has simply pasted their 20th Century Masters series logo on a repackaged version of Grant's 1992 A&M holiday album, Home for Christmas. However, despite Universal's deceptive marketing ploy, it should not deter anyone from listening to this lovely collection if it happened to be missed in its first incarnation. Since she has never been a forceful vocalist, these lushly orchestrated christmas standards and originals are a perfect setting for Grant's soft tones. If some of the standards fall a bit flat, like the lifeless "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," she makes up for the missteps with two originals she co-wrote: the stark "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" and the quietly affecting "Emmanuel, God With Us." Although not in the same league as Grant's classic A Christmas Album, this collection can still provide a warm atmosphere on those chilly winter evenings. ~ Aaron Latham, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adrian Kerridge Engineer Alan Moore String Arrangements, Orchestration Amy Grant Executive Producer Anthony Zecco Assistant Engineer Asher Larrison Children's Chorus Bethany Wright Children's Chorus Bill Deaton Track Engineer Bill Schnee Mixing Blair Masters Piano, Keyboards Bonnie Keen Vocals (Background) Brett Perry Assistant Engineer Brown Bannister Producer Carl Marsh Keyboards, Synthesizer, Orchestration Carrie Gardner Children's Chorus Chris Eaton Vocals (Background) Chris McHugh Drums Clare Fischer Piano Craig Nelson Bass Dann Huff Guitar David Hungate Bass Denis Solee Woodwind Doug Moffet Woodwind Doug Sax Mastering Ellie Bannister Children's Chorus Emily Estes Children's Chorus Greg Parker Assistant Harold Jones Drums James Collins Assistant James Litton Choir Director Jerry McPherson Track Arrangement, Guitar Jessica Owen Children's Chorus John Darnall Choir Director Katy Dunham Children's Chorus Kristina Owen Children's Chorus Lisa Partin Children's Chorus Marabeth Jordon Vocals (Background) Mark O'Connor Violin Martin Woodley Assistant Engineer Marty McCall Vocals (Background) Matthew Davich Woodwind Michael Blanton Executive Producer Michael O'Reilly Engineer Nat Peck Orchestra Contractor Noel Hazen Assistant Patrick Kelly Assistant Paul Leim Percussion, Drums Rail Jon Rogut Assistant Engineer Rich Indelicato Assistant Robbie Buchanan Keyboards Ronn Huff Arranger, Woodwind Arrangement, Choir Arrangement, Choir Conductor, Producer, Conductor, Vocal Arrangement, Orchestration Sam Levine Woodwind Shane Keister String Arrangements, Piano, Track Arrangement, Keyboards Skyla Carnahan Children's Chorus Steve Bishir Overdub Engineer Steve Forman Percussion Tom Hemby Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Traci Sterling Production Coordination