Christmas, with Love
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Christmas, with Love
| type = studio
| artist = Leona Lewis
| cover = Leona Lewis - Christmas With Love (Official Album Cover).png
| border = yes
| alt = Album cover with a neutral background, with nine alternate images of a female (Lewis) making various faces; her name written in green text, with the album title written in red. Also features the track list of the album.
| released = {{Start date|2013|11|29|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2013
| venue =
| studio =
- Angel Studios (London, England){{cite AV media notes |title=Christmas, with Love (Liner Notes) |others=Leona Lewis |year=2013 |first=Leona |last=Lewis |author-link=Leona Lewis |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Syco |location=London, England }}
- Biffco Studios (Brighton, England){{cite AV media notes |title=Christmas, with Love (Liner Notes) |others=Leona Lewis |year=2013 |first=Leona |last=Lewis |author-link=Leona Lewis |type=Compact Disc |publisher=Syco |location=London, England }}
| genre = Christmas
| length = {{Duration|m=32|s=40}}
| label = * Syco
| producer = {{Flat list|
- Richard "Biff" Stannard
- Ash Howes
- Leona Lewis
}}
| prev_title = Glassheart
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = I Am
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Christmas, with Love
| type = studio
| single1 = One More Sleep
| single1date = 5 November 2013
}}{{Extra album cover
| cover = Christmas, with Love Always.jpg
| type=album
| caption = Reissue cover
| border = yes
}}
{{Singles
| name = Christmas, with Love Always
| type=album
| single1 = Kiss Me It's Christmas
| single1date = 2 November 2021
}}
}}
Christmas, with Love is a Christmas album and the fourth studio album by English singer Leona Lewis. It was released on 29 November 2013, by Syco Music and RCA Records. Work on the album began in February 2013, during which Lewis began writing "immediately" after the release of her less-commercially successful album Glassheart (2012). In June 2013, it was revealed (and later confirmed) that Lewis' fourth studio album would be a Christmas album, based on the recommendation of Syco boss Simon Cowell. Lewis enlisted two producers for the album: Richard "Biff" Stannard and Ash Howes, with Lewis herself contributing to the album's production. This is Lewis' first album to be released in North America since 2009's Echo, as her 2012 album, Glassheart, was not released there.
Upon release, Christmas, with Love was met with positive reviews from critics, praising the album's original songs as well as Howes and Stannard's use of Phil Spector's famed Wall of Sound technique, with AllMusic calling it "one of the best modern Christmas albums in memory." Initially, the album charted at twenty five in the United Kingdom; the following week, the album rose to number thirteen on the chart becoming Lewis' lowest-charting album to date. However, it was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 100,000 copies within four weeks of its release, and has since become the thirteenth best selling Christmas album in the United Kingdom as of December 2016. With sales of more than 122,000 units, the Official Charts Company ranked the album among the twenty biggest-selling Christmas albums of the century in 2018.
The album was preceded by one single "One More Sleep", which was released on 5 November 2013. Lewis promoted the song through a large amount of live performances, including the Regent Street Christmas lights switch-on event in London, England and on the tenth series of The X Factor; this led to the song peaking at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, her highest-charting entry since 2009's "Happy." Dubbed as a "modern festive classic," the song has been recognised to be one of the biggest-selling Christmas songs in the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-biggest-new-christmas-songs-how-do-they-compare-to-the-classics__21166/|title=The biggest new Christmas songs: How do they compare to the classics?|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-19|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404024556/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-biggest-new-christmas-songs-how-do-they-compare-to-the-classics__21166/|url-status=live}} On 19 November 2021, the album was repackaged digitally and on vinyl, entitled Christmas, with Love Always, with two new tracks, including "Kiss Me It's Christmas" featuring American singer Ne-Yo which was released as a single digitally in November 2021.{{cite web|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/leona-lewis-kiss-me-its-christmas-neyo/|title=Leona Lewis shares "Kiss Me It's Christmas" with Ne-Yo|website=retropopmagazine.com|date=2 November 2021|access-date=7 November 2021|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625233853/https://retropopmagazine.com/leona-lewis-kiss-me-its-christmas-neyo/|url-status=live}} In November–December 2023, following a delay due to her pregnancy, Lewis is scheduled to promote the album by headlining a UK tour called Christmas, with Love Tour.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-02|title=Leona Lewis announces festive tour – get ready to sing along to 'One More Sleep'|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/02/leona-lewis-tickets-uk-tour-dates-prices/|access-date=2022-01-03|website=PinkNews |archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625233857/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/02/leona-lewis-tickets-uk-tour-dates-prices/|url-status=live}}
Background and recording
File:Simon Cowell in December 2011.jpg (pictured) came up with the idea for Lewis to record a Christmas album.]]
In February 2013, a representative from Syco Music, Lewis' record label, announced that she was about to start writing and recording material "imminently" for her fourth studio album, and that it would be released in late 2013.{{cite news|last=Rainbird|first=Ashleigh|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/leona-lewis-splits-management-company-1710887|title=Leona Lewis in 'amicable split' from her management company|work=Daily Mirror|date=15 February 2013|access-date=28 October 2013|archive-date=20 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320171501/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/leona-lewis-splits-management-company-1710887|url-status=live}} The news came after Lewis announced that she had parted ways from Modest! Management, the management team who had represented her since she won the third series of The X Factor in 2006. Various media outlets speculated that this was due to the weak commercial performance of her third studio album, Glassheart, which was released in November 2012. It became her first album to not debut at number one or earn platinum certification in the United Kingdom. It was also reported that the second single from the album, "Lovebird", had sold fewer than 600 copies, meaning it failed to attain one of 200 chart positions on the UK Singles Chart, was another contributing factor to her departure.{{cite web|last=Corner|first=Lewis|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a446702/leona-lewis-fails-to-make-top-200-with-new-single-lovebird.html|title=Leona Lewis Fails to Make Top 200 with New Single Lovebird|date=21 December 2012|work=Digital Spy|access-date=21 December 2012|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111646/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a446702/leona-lewis-fails-to-make-top-200-with-new-single-lovebird.html|url-status=live}}
In June 2013, speculation arose that Lewis' fourth album would in fact be a Christmas album, after British production duo MagicIT tweeted that they were in a studio recording Christmas songs with the singer.{{cite web|last=Corner|first=Lewis|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a492122/leona-lewis-to-release-christmas-album.html|title=Leona Lewis to release Christmas album?|work=Digital Spy|date=21 June 2013|access-date=27 October 2013|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202025/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a492122/leona-lewis-to-release-christmas-album.html|url-status=live}} The following month, Lewis confirmed that she was indeed in the process of recording a Christmas album.{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7469206/leona-lewis-plans-motown-inspired-christmas-album|title=Leona Lewis Plans Motown-Inspired Christmas Album|work=Idolator|last=Lanksy|first=Sam|publisher=Buzz Media|date=8 July 2013|access-date=28 October 2013|archive-date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003025417/http://www.idolator.com/7469206/leona-lewis-plans-motown-inspired-christmas-album|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a495772/leona-lewis-talks-motown-christmas-album.html|title=Leona Lewis talks "Motown" Christmas album|last=Corner|first=Lewis|work=Digital Spy|date=4 July 2013|access-date=27 October 2013|archive-date=26 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026163610/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a495772/leona-lewis-talks-motown-christmas-album.html|url-status=live}} She revealed that it was recorded on the recommendation of Syco boss Simon Cowell. Speaking about the decision to record a Christmas album at this point in her career in July 2013, further explained how Cowell had come up with the idea: "Simon is still very much involved in my career and helps me out. He came up with the Christmas album idea, and we both kind of felt it was the right time to go ahead with it."{{cite web|last=Lanksy|first=Sam|url=http://www.idolator.com/7469206/leona-lewis-plans-motown-inspired-christmas-album|title=Leona Lewis Plans Motown-Inspired Christmas Album|work=idolator|publisher=Spin Media|date=8 July 2013|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003025417/http://www.idolator.com/7469206/leona-lewis-plans-motown-inspired-christmas-album|url-status=live}}
In an interview for Billboard magazine in November 2013, Lewis stated that she had thought about doing a Christmas album for a while, but did not intend on releasing one in for Christmas 2013, as she thought her she would be writing and recording the follow-up to Glassheart instead after she had finished her Glassheart Tour, which lasted from April to July and saw her tour Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. However, she decided that she wanted to do something "a bit different" instead.{{cite magazine|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5793052/leona-lewis-christmas-lp-has-provided-new-inspiration-for-next|title=Leona Lewis: Christmas LP Has Provided 'New Inspiration' For Next Album|magazine=Billboard|date=14 November 2013|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=15 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115140945/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5793052/leona-lewis-christmas-lp-has-provided-new-inspiration-for-next|url-status=live}} Recording sessions began during the summer in Brighton, England; speaking about recording Christmas songs during the heatwave that struck the country, Lewis said "We turned up the A/C, basically." Lewis unveiled the artwork for Christmas, with Love on 4 November 2013. It has a vintage theme, which includes the track list on the front cover, as well as nine different photos of Lewis posing with various Christmas objects.{{cite web|last=Copsey|first=Robert|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a528513/leona-lewis-unveils-new-album-christmas-with-love-artwork.html|title=Leona Lewis unveils new album 'Christmas, With Love' artwork|work=Digital Spy|date=4 November 2013|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030903/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a528513/leona-lewis-unveils-new-album-christmas-with-love-artwork.html|url-status=live}}
Release and promotion
On 4 November 2013, Lewis, along with the vintage-themed artwork, revealed the track list for Christmas, with Love which comprises three original songs co-written by Lewis ― "One More Sleep", "Mr Right" and "Your Hallelujah" ― and seven covers.{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7491775/leona-lewis-christmas-with-love-details|title=Leona Lewis Unveils 'Christmas, With Love' Artwork & Tracklist|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|date=4 November 2013|access-date=29 November 2013}} The album was eventually released on 29 November 2013 in Germany, Ireland and Switzerland. It was followed by the United Kingdom on 2 December, Canada, Italy and the United States on 3 December. In the US, Lewis autographed a limited amount of Christmas, with Love album covers which were made available to people who pre-ordered a copy on Walmart online.{{cite web|url=http://www.walmart.com/ip/32106014|title=Christmas With Love – Leona Lewis|publisher=Walmart|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-date=25 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125110450/http://www.walmart.com/ip/32106014|url-status=live}}
Lewis embarked on a promotional tour across Europe prior to the album's release. Throughout November, she embarked on a radio and print promotional tour in the UK and gave interviews about the album with various radio stations, magazines and newspapers, including Heat,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm5hPfRsyto|title=Leona Lewis lets her dogs out for a wee and a poo!|work=Heat|publisher=YouTube|date=22 November 2013|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625233946/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm5hPfRsyto|url-status=live}} Radar,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2013/1122/488494-leona-lewis-isnt-worried-about-losing-fame/|title=Leona Lewis not worried about losing fame|work=Radar|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|date=22 November 2013|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012508/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2013/1122/488494-leona-lewis-isnt-worried-about-losing-fame/|url-status=live}} and the Daily Mirror.{{cite news|last=McGeorge|first=Alistair|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/leona-lewis-back-x-factor-2812037|title=Leona Lewis returns to X Factor to promote new single – surprise, surprise|work=Daily Mirror|date=20 November 2013|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-date=22 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122061606/http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/leona-lewis-back-x-factor-2812037|url-status=live}} On 9 November 2013, Lewis performed "One More Sleep" and "White Christmas" for the first time at the Regent Street Christmas lights switch-on event in London, England.{{cite web|url=http://www.dennisjauch.com/leona-lewis-performance-regent-street-switch-on-the-christmas-lights/|title=Leona Lewis performance – Regent Street Switch on the Christmas Lights|publisher=Dennis Jauch|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-date=2 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224642/http://www.dennisjauch.com/leona-lewis-performance-regent-street-switch-on-the-christmas-lights/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Corner|first=Lewis|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a527735/leona-lewis-passenger-eliza-doolittle-for-london-christmas-lights-gig.html|title=Leona Lewis, Passenger, Eliza Doolittle for London Christmas lights gig|work=Digital Spy|date=31 October 2013|access-date=2 November 2013|archive-date=1 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101203118/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a527735/leona-lewis-passenger-eliza-doolittle-for-london-christmas-lights-gig.html|url-status=live}} On 22 November, the singer gave a free concert in Zurich, Switzerland, at the NRJ Energy Stars for Free Festival in front of audience of 13,000 people.{{cite news|url=http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/schweiz/hier-jubeln-13-000-fans-id2545604.html|title=Energy Stars For Free Hier jubeln 13 000 Fans|work=Blick|publisher=Ringier|date=22 November 2013|access-date=22 November 2013|language=gsw|archive-date=23 November 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131123130624/http://www.blick.ch/people-tv/schweiz/hier-jubeln-13-000-fans-id2545604.html|url-status=live}} On 29 November, Lewis performed "Winter Wonderland" live on Daybreak.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/daybreak/showbiz/leona-lewis/|title=Leona Lewis performs Winter Wonderland|work=Daybreak|publisher=ITV Breakfast|date=29 November 2013|access-date=29 November 2013|archive-date=2 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202160518/http://www.itv.com/daybreak/showbiz/leona-lewis/|url-status=live}} In the United States, Lewis appeared on NBC's Today morning show on 4 December in New York City to talk about the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.rcarecords.com/news/watch-leona-lewis-today-show|title=Watch Leona Lewis on The Today Show|publisher=RCA Records|date=4 December 2013|access-date=7 December 2013|format=video|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206120847/http://www.rcarecords.com/news/watch-leona-lewis-today-show|archive-date=6 December 2013|url-status=dead}} On the same day, she performed at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting event, where she performed "White Christmas", "One More Sleep" and "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday".{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7496793/mariah-carey-leona-lewis-ariana-grande-christmas-rockefeller-center|title=Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis & Ariana Grande Kick Off Christmas at the Rockefeller Center|work=Idolator|publisher=Buzz Media|date=5 December 2013|access-date=7 December 2013}}{{cite news|last=Corner|first=Lewis|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a536076/mariah-carey-leona-lewis-perform-at-christmas-at-rockefeller-center.html|title=Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis perform at Christmas at Rockefeller Center|work=Digital Spy|date=5 December 2013|access-date=7 December 2013|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214193026/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a536076/mariah-carey-leona-lewis-perform-at-christmas-at-rockefeller-center.html|url-status=live}} The following day, on 5 December, Lewis made an appearance on Live with Kelly and Michael.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jbCbgVFpPs|title=Leona Lewis - One More Sleep (Live With Kelly & Michael 05. 12. 2013)|date=3 September 2018 |via=YouTube|access-date=17 November 2022}} Lewis also performed "One More Sleep" live at the semi-finals of the tenth series of The X Factor on 8 December 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep21week50/x-factor-0#.UpCiqJFYVZg|title=ITV Press Centre: Episode 21 of 22|publisher=ITV|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805104654/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep21week50/x-factor-0#.UpCiqJFYVZg|url-status=live}}
In 2021, Lewis announced that a repackaged version of the album, entitled Christmas, with Love Always, with two new tracks included, would be released on 19 November 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/leona-lewis-announces-repack-of-christmas-with-love-always-album-with-new-songs__34354/|title=Leona Lewis announces repack of Christmas, With Love Always album with new songs |website=officialcharts.com|date=2 November 2021 |access-date=17 November 2022}} In December, she promoted the reissue on several occasions, singing "One More Sleep" on several TV appearances, such as This Morning, The Jonathan Ross Show, and I Can See Your Voice, and sang "O Holy Night" at the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas concert, hosted by Catherine, Dutchess of Cambridge, at Westminster Abbey.{{cite web|first=Simon|last=Perry|url=https://people.com/royals/kate-middleton-so-excited-to-host-holiday-tv-special-featuring-her-carol-service/|title=Kate Middleton (in Her Christmas Sweater!) Is 'So Excited' to Host Carol Concert in First Clip of TV Special|website=people.com|date=17 December 2021|access-date=17 November 2022}} Lewis also sang several songs from the album whilst touring with Gary Barlow on his All The Hits Live Tour across November and December 2021. In November and December 2023, Lewis plans to headline a UK tour promoting the album, the tour billed as Christmas, with Love Tour.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-02|title=Leona Lewis announces festive tour – get ready to sing along to 'One More Sleep'|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/02/leona-lewis-tickets-uk-tour-dates-prices/|access-date=2022-01-03|website=PinkNews |archive-date=3 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103014504/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/02/leona-lewis-tickets-uk-tour-dates-prices/|url-status=live}} Initially announced for 2022, the concert tour was pushed back in May 2022 due to Lewis' pregnancy.{{Cite instagram |user=leonalewis|postid=CdYUvaXLrBW|title=This is really really difficult for me (...)|date=10 May 2022}}
=Singles=
"One More Sleep" was released as the lead single from Christmas, with Love. Co-written by Lewis with Richard "Biff" Stannard, Iain James, Jez Ashurst and Bradford Ellis, it was produced by Stannard and Howes, with Lewis carrying out the vocal production alongside them. The song was released in the United States on 5 November 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/One-More-Sleep/dp/B00GBKGAFC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385903428&sr=8-1&keywords=leona+lewis+more+one+sleep|title=Leona Lewis – One More Sleep|website=Amazon |date=5 November 2013|access-date=1 December 2013|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625233935/https://www.amazon.com/One-More-Sleep/dp/B00GBKGAFC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385903428&sr=8-1&keywords=leona+lewis+more+one+sleep|url-status=live}} and in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 29 November.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/ie/album/one-more-sleep-single/730973177|title=Leona Lewis – One More Sleep – Single|publisher=iTunes, Apple (IE)|date=29 November 2013|access-date=1 December 2013|archive-date=28 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228081037/https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/one-more-sleep-single/id730973177|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/one-more-sleep-single/id730973177|title=Leona Lewis – One More Sleep – Single|publisher=iTunes, Apple (UK)|date=29 November 2013|access-date=1 December 2013|archive-date=27 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227182057/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/one-more-sleep-single/id730973177|url-status=dead}} Released to acclaim from music critics,{{cite news |last=Cragg |first=Michael |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/dec/03/leona-lewis-one-more-sleep |title=Leona Lewis – One More Sleep: New Music |work=The Guardian |date=3 December 2013 |access-date=17 November 2022}} "One More Sleep" debuted at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart ,{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20131208/7501/ |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100. 08 December 2013 – 14 December 2013 |work=Official Charts Company |date=8 December 2013 |access-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221134409/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20131208/7501/ |url-status=live |archive-date=21 December 2016}} and surged to its peak position of number three the following week.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20131215/7501/ |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100. 15 December 2013 – 21 December 2013 |work=Official Charts Company |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=17 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202170351/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20131215/7501/ |url-status=live |archive-date=2 December 2016}} It was eventually certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and has since become a "modern festive classic,"{{Cite web|title=The Official Top 40 most-streamed Christmas songs|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-most-streamed-christmas-songs__31778/|access-date=17 November 2022|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en}} particularly in the United Kingdom where it emerged as one of the most-streamed Christmas songs in the years following its release, with over 93 million streams as of 2021.{{Cite web|title=Leona Lewis talks Christmas, With Love Always and creating a modern festive classic: "One More Sleep would beat Underneath The Tree in a fight!" |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/leona-lewis-talks-christmas-with-love-always-and-creating-a-modern-festive-classic-one-more-sleep-would-beat-underneath-the-tree-in-a-fight-__34520/|date=24 November 2021 |access-date=17 November 2022|website=officialcharts.com|language=en}}
Apart from "One More Sleep," due to strong digital sales upon the release of Christmas, with Love in Ireland, Lewis' rendition of "O Holy Night" entered the Irish Singles Chart at number 86 for the week ending 14 December 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2013&year=2013&week=50|title=Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 14 December 2013|work=Chart-Track|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|date=13 December 2013|access-date=13 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216084018/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2013&year=2013&week=50|archive-date=16 December 2013|url-status=dead}} while her version of "Ave Maria" charted in the US, on Billboard{{'}}s Holiday Digital Songs Sales chart at number 34.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/leona-lewis|title=Leona Lewis Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-12-28|archive-date=30 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630193344/https://www.billboard.com/music/leona-lewis|url-status=live}} In support of the 2021 Christmas, with Love Always reissue, "Kiss Me It's Christmas" featuring American singer Ne-Yo was released in November 2021. Despite no promotion for the single, the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 99, on the week commencing 31 December 2021.{{Cite web|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/|access-date=2022-01-03|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704182731/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}
| rev2 = Female First
| rev3 = The Gay UK
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev5 = The Independent
| rev6 = Knoxville.com
| rev7 = So So Gay
| rev8 = Virgin Media
| rev8Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|last=Gittins|first=Ian|url=http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/leona-lewis-christmas-with-love.php|title=Leona Lewis: Christmas, With Love Album Review|publisher=Virgin Media|access-date=30 December 2013|archive-date=16 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190657/http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/leona-lewis-christmas-with-love.php|url-status=live}}
}}
The album received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics, with some praising Lewis for her vocals but not the material produced. AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album three and a half out of five stars and called it "one of the best modern Christmas albums in memory." He found that Lewis "gets a greater chance to sing here than she did on her third album, Glassheart, which is reason enough to enjoy the album, but better still is that the Spector salute largely works."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-with-love-mw0002590027|title=Leona Lewis: Christmas, With Love – review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|date=12 December 2013|website=AllMusic|access-date=13 December 2013|archive-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211072435/http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-with-love-mw0002590027|url-status=live}} Renowned for Sound critic Janelle Tucknott remarked that "Lewis' beautiful voice delivers each song cheerfully with just the right amount of cheesiness." She called the album "a wonderfully festive collection and the perfect gift for any Leona Lewis fan, or essentially any fan of Christmas. Every track has lots of commercial appeal and will more than likely hit shopping mall sound systems very soon, especially the poppy lead single "One More Sleep"."{{cite web|last=Tucknott |first=Janelle |url=https://renownedforsound.com/album-review-leona-lewis-christmas-with-love/|title=Leona Lewis: Christmas, With Love Album Review|website=Renowned for Sound|access-date=17 November 2022}} Daniel Falconer from Female First wrote that with Christmas, with Love, Lewis is "absolutely encroaching on Mariah Carey vocal territory" and felt that "if this album proves anything, it's that her talent is still incomparable and that if you want anybody to be singing you Christmas songs, it should be Leona."
Alexis Petridis from The Guardian gave the album two out of five stars and praised its three original songs. He called "Your Hallelujah" a "spectral ballad," and said that "One More Sleep" and "Mr Right" were "enjoyable," but said that covers of songs such as "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and "Winter Wonderland" were "tinged with a sense of pointlessness."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/12/leona-lewis-christmas-with-love-review|title=Leona Lewis: Christmas, With Love – review|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=12 December 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=13 December 2013|archive-date=13 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213011312/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/12/leona-lewis-christmas-with-love-review|url-status=live}} Mark Sempill, writing for The Upcoming, felt that Lewis' "very beautiful, soulful, satiny voice wafts appealing through the various original songs and seasonal standards like a sweet scented candle; the result is adequately Christmassy."{{cite web|last=Sempill|first=Mark|url=https://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2013/12/18/leona-lewis-christmas-with-love-album-review/|title=Leona Lewis – Christmas with Love |website=The Upcoming|date=17 December 2013|access-date=17 November 2022}} In a negative review, Andy Gill from The Independent write that "this dismal offering exemplifies the worst tendencies of Christmas albums." He found that he songs were "swathed in cathedral reverb, compounding the listless lack of imagination regarding material and treatment."{{cite web|last=Gill|first=Andy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/christmas-album-reviews-leona-lewis-erasure-bright-eyes-mary-j-blige-richard-durrant-9015424.html|title=Christmas album reviews: Leona Lewis, Erasure, Bright Eyes, Mary J Blige, Richard Durrant|website=The Independent|date=21 December 2022|access-date=17 November 2022}} In his review for Virgin Media, Ian Gittins called the album an "exercise in precision karaoke", and wrote that while Lewis "never misses a note," and that her new songs "out-Celine Celine", she "never stirs the soul." So So Gay critic Jamie Clarke wrote that "Lewis' Christmas effort lacks passion, fun and energy and ultimately disappoints."
Commercial performance
In Ireland, Christmas, with Love debuted at number 45 on the Irish Albums Chart for the week ending 5 December 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2013&year=2013&week=49|title=TOP 100 ARTIST ALBUM, WEEK ENDING 5 December 2013|publisher=Chart-track.co.uk|date=5 December 2013|access-date=5 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214095415/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2013&year=2013&week=49|archive-date=14 December 2013|url-status=dead}} and rose to number 36 the following week. In the United Kingdom, Music Week writer Paul Williams released a midweek chart reveal on 5 December stating that the album was currently at number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. Williams wrote that the album would be Lewis' lowest charting release to date, following Spirit, number one in 2007; Echo, number one in 2009; and Glassheart, number three in 2012.{{cite magazine|last=Williams|first=Paul|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/midweek-charts-one-direction-lead-sony-domination/056946|title=Midweek Charts: One Direction lead Sony domination|magazine=Music Week|date=5 December 2013|access-date=7 December 2013|archive-date=7 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207024506/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/midweek-charts-one-direction-lead-sony-domination/056946|url-status=live}} However, the album officially debuted at number 25 on the chart on 8 December,{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20131208/7502/|title=2013 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive 14th December 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=8 December 2013|access-date=8 December 2013|archive-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525030314/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20131208/7502|url-status=live}} selling 9,000 copies,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25398967|title=Jingle sells: The lure of the Christmas album|work=BBC News|date=21 December 2013|access-date=6 December 2020|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512034836/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25398967|url-status=live}} and at number 10 on the UK Digital Chart on the same day.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20131208/7003/|title=2013 Top 40 UK Album Downloads Archive 14th December 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=8 December 2013|access-date=8 December 2013|archive-date=7 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907031538/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20131208/7003/|url-status=live}} In its second week, Christmas, With Love rose to number 13 on the UK Albums Chart, with a further 14,266 copies sold.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20131215/7502/|title=2013 Top 40 Official Albums Chart UK Archive|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=15 December 2013|access-date=19 December 2013|archive-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525030329/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20131215/7502|url-status=live}} Elsewhere in Europe, the album debuted at number 29 on the Scottish Albums Chart,{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20131208/40/|title=2013 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive 14th December 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=8 December 2013|access-date=8 December 2013|archive-date=26 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426171349/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20131208/40|url-status=live}} and number 42 on the Swiss Album Chart.{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Leona+Lewis&titel=Christmas%2C+With+Love&cat=a|title=Leona Lewis – Christmas, with Love – hitparade.ch|publisher=hitparade.ch|access-date=10 December 2013|archive-date=14 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214162916/http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Leona+Lewis&titel=Christmas%2C+With+Love&cat=a|url-status=live}} In the United States, Christmas, With Love debuted at 113 on the US Billboard 200 chart,{{cite magazine |url=http://m.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200 |title=Billboard 200 : Page 1 |magazine=Billboard |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=14 December 2013 |archive-date=13 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213033232/http://m.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200 |url-status=live }} and number 37 on the US Top Holiday Albums chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/306997/leona-lewis/chart?f=325|title=Leona Lewis Chart History – Holiday Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=4 January 2014|access-date=27 December 2013|archive-date=16 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916082224/http://www.billboard.com/artist/306997/leona-lewis/chart?f=325|url-status=live}} By August 2015, the album had sold 23,000 copies in the US.{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150825183753/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archive-date=25 August 2015 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |website=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures}} In 2018, the Official Charts Company ranked Christmas, with Love 18th on its Official Top 20 biggest Christmas albums of the century listing, having sold 122,000 copies in the United Kingdom by December 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-20-biggest-christmas-albums-of-the-century__17392/|title=The biggest Christmas albums of the century|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-19|archive-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218010743/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-20-biggest-christmas-albums-of-the-century__17392/|url-status=live}}
Track listing
All songs produced by Richard "Biff" Stannard and Ash Howes, with vocal production from Stannard, Howes and Leona Lewis.{{cite web |url=http://www.rcarecords.com/news/leona-lewis-release-her-first-ever-christmas-album-%E2%80%9Cchristmas-love%E2%80%9D-december-3rd-sycorca-record |title=LEONA LEWIS TO RELEASE HER FIRST-EVER CHRISTMAS ALBUM "CHRISTMAS, WITH LOVE" DECEMBER 3RD ON SYCO/RCA RECORDS |publisher=Rcarecords.com |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=4 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129030214/http://www.rcarecords.com/news/leona-lewis-release-her-first-ever-christmas-album-%E2%80%9Cchristmas-love%E2%80%9D-december-3rd-sycorca-record |archive-date=29 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}
{{Track listing
| total_length = 32:40
| headline = Christmas, with Love {{nobold|(CD catalogue #B00G48OFXU)}}
| title1 = One More Sleep
| writer1 = {{flat list|
- Leona Lewis
- Richard Stannard
- Iain James
- Jez Ashurst
- Bradford Ellis
}}
| length1 = 3:59
| title2 = Winter Wonderland
| writer2 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length2 = 2:24
| title3 = White Christmas
| writer3 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length3 = 3:09
| title4 = Your Hallelujah
| writer4 = {{flatlist|
- Leona Lewis
- Jon Levine
- Autumn Rowe
- Lauren Christy
}}
| length4 = 4:14
| title5 = Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
| writer5 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length5 = 2:37
| title6 = Mr Right
| writer6 = {{flatlist|
- Leona Lewis
- Richard Stannard
- Camille Purcell
- Jez Ashurst
- Ash Howes
}}
| length6 = 3:14
| title7 = O Holy Night
| writer7 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length7 = 2:53
| title8 = I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
| writer8 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length8 = 3:51
| title9 = Ave Maria
| writer9 = {{flatlist|
- Franz Schubert
- Walter Scott
}}
| length9 = 4:00
| title10 = Silent Night
| writer10 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length10 = 2:19
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Christmas, with Love Always {{nobold| – Digital download}}
| total_length =
| title11 = Kiss Me It’s Christmas
| writer11 = {{flat list|
- Anya Jones
- Biff Stannard
- Iain James
- Jez Ashurst
}}
| note11 = featuring Ne-Yo
| extra11 =
| length11 = 3:35
| title12 = If I Can't Have You
| writer12 = {{hlist|Barry Gibb|Maurice Gibb|Robin Gibb}}
| length12 = 4:00
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Christmas, with Love Always{{nobold| – Vinyl}}
| total_length =
| title11 = Kiss Me It’s Christmas
| writer11 = {{flat list|
- Jones
- Stannard
- James
- Ashurst
}}
| note11 = featuring Iain James
| length11 = 3:36
| title12 = If I Can't Have You
| writer12 = {{hlist|B. Gibb|M. Gibb|R. Gibb}}
| length12 = 4:00
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Christmas, with Love !scope="col"| Chart (2013–2023) !scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row" {{album chart|Netherlands|23|artist=Leona Lewis|album=Christmas, with Love|refname="Netherlands Chart Second Week 50"|access-date=17 November 2022}} |
|---|
| scope="row" {{album chart|Germany4|28|id=231611|artist=Leona Lewis|album=Christmas, with Love|access-date=29 December 2023}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|Ireland|36|artist=Leona Lewis|year=2013|week=50|refname="Irish Chart Second Week 36"|access-date=13 December 2013}} |
| scope="row"| Latvian Albums (LaIPA){{cite web|url=https://www.tv3.lv/izklaide/digitop100/digitop100-gada-izskanas-topa-svetku-dziesmas-uzvar-teju-visus-muzikalos-smagsvarus/|title=“DIGiTop100” gada izskaņas topā svētku dziesmas uzvar teju visus muzikālos smagsvarus|trans-title=Christmas songs beat almost all musical heavyweights in DIGiTop100 at the end of the year|language=lv|publisher={{Ill|TV3.lv|lv|tv3.lv|lt=Skaties.lv}}|access-date=16 April 2025|date=3 January 2018}}
| align="center" | 69 |
| scope="row"| Scottish Albums (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"| 20 |
| scope="row" {{album chart|Switzerland|42|artist=Leona Lewis|album=Christmas, with Love|access-date=17 November 2022}} |
| scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"| 13 |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200
| style="text-align:center;"| 113 |
| scope="row"| US Holiday Albums (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"| 37 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders
|+ Year-end chart performance for Christmas, with Love !scope="col"| Chart (2013) !scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20130106/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114180957/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20130106/37502/|url-status=live}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 88 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for Christmas, with Love ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Edition(s) ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" | Germany
| rowspan="3"| 29 November 2013 | rowspan="7"| Standard | rowspan="7"| {{Flat list |
| rowspan="3"| Sony |
|---|
| scope="row" | Ireland
| {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/ie/album/christmas-with-love/731437243|title=iTunes – Music – Christmas, With Love|publisher=iTunes, Apple (IE)|date=29 November 2013|access-date=23 November 2013|archive-date=27 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227113340/https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/christmas-with-love/id731437243|url-status=live}} |
| scope="row" | Switzerland |
| scope="row" | United Kingdom
| 2 December 2013 | Syco |
| scope="row" | Canada
| rowspan="3"| 3 December 2013 | RCA |
| scope="row" | Italy
| Sony |
| scope="row" | United States
| RCA |
| scope="row" | Various
| 19 November 2021 | Christmas, with Love Always reissue | {{hlist|LP|digital download}} | Sony | {{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/12pG2575q7RpDpOqc65TME|title=Christmas, with Love Always by Leona Lewis|website=Spotify|access-date=17 November 2022}} |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Leona Lewis}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2013 Christmas albums
Category:Christmas albums by English artists