Christmas Memories

Christmas Memories is Barbra Streisand's second Christmas album, following 1967's A Christmas Album. Streisand began taking part in recording sessions for the album on July 19, 2001; on this day, she recorded both "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "I Remember". Sessions took place throughout California and in North Vancouver. Streisand and Jay Landers are credited as the executive producers of Christmas Memories, with musicians David Foster and William Ross also receiving additional production credits. According to the liner notes, Streisand dedicated the album to the late artist Stephan Weiss, husband of fashion designer Donna Karan, who was close friends with Streisand before his death in June 2001.

Christmas Memories was released on October 30, 2001, by Columbia. To promote the album, Columbia Records issued advertisements in several American magazines, including in InStyle, People, Talk, and Vanity Fair.{{cite magazine|title=A Voice For All Seasons: Barbra Streisand – Christmas Memories|magazine=Billboard|date=October 27, 2001|volume=113|issue=43|pages=2–3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kBEEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=August 10, 2017|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} A sampler album/extended play featuring five tracks from Christmas Memories was also released in 2001 and includes "Grown-Up Christmas List", "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe", "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "Closer", and "One God".

The album opens with a cover of "I'll Be Home for Christmas", a war song written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, and Buck Ram; William Ruhlmann from AllMusic considered the inclusion of this track on Christmas Memories to reflect Streisand's "mature perspective that very much takes loss into consideration". "A Christmas Love Song" is the second track and was written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Johnny Mandel. Author Tom Santopietro described the song's message as "an embrace of the holidays filled with honest sentiment". A "jazzy" rendition of Frank Loesser's "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" is the third song, followed by a reworked cover of "I Remember" by Stephen Sondheim. Streisand's cover of the latter song was described as "[still] an extremely sad song" by Ruhlmann. "Snowbound" was written by Russell Faith and Clarence Kehner, is set in a "moderately slow" tempo, and features the use of a piano.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0098987|title='Snow Bound' By Barbra Streisand Digital Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|last1=Faith|first1=Russell|last2=Kehner|first2=Clarence|year=1955|access-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811105942/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0098987|archive-date=August 11, 2017}} "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe" was considered by the staff at Show Music to be one of the many songs on the album to "focus on love".{{cite journal|title=Highlights|journal=Show Music|date=2002|volume=18|page=58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GkQJAQAAMAAJ|access-date=August 11, 2017|publisher=M.O. Preeo}}

"Christmas Lullaby" was written by Ann Hampton Callaway, who had previously collaborated with Streisand on Higher Ground (1997) and A Love Like Ours (1999).{{harvnb|Larkin|2004|p=146}} The Bergmans reworked Don Costa's "Christmas Mem'ries", which is included as the album's eighth track. Costa is credited as the song's original arranger, whereas Eddie Karam is credited for the extra arranging. "Grown-Up Christmas List" was written and produced by Foster and co-written by Linda Thompson. It contains a live orchestra that was arranged and conducted by Ross. Santopietro considered Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria" to be a nice "companion" to Charles Gounod's "Ave Maria", which she first included on A Christmas Album in 1967. "Closer" is dedicated to the singer's friend Stephan Weiss, who died before the album's recording sessions began. In the liner notes, Streisand wrote, "I'm singing 'Closer' about Stephan, but I was hoping it could relate to anyone who's lost someone". The album closes with "One God", which was written by Ervin Drake and Jimmy Shirl; Drake learned that Streisand had recorded the track after they had previously collaborated on Higher Ground, when she covered a track of his called "I Believe".{{cite magazine|last1=Bessman|first1=Jim|title=Words & Music|magazine=Billboard|date=October 13, 2001|volume=113|issue=41|page=49|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhEEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=August 11, 2017|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} On the Target and iTunes editions of the album, bonus track cover of "God Bless America" is included and produced by Streisand and Landers.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-memories-mw0000591615|title=Barbra Streisand – Christmas Memories|website=AllMusic|last1=Ruhlmann|first1=William|access-date=August 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811105755/http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-memories-mw0000591615|archive-date=August 11, 2017}}

| rev2 = Slant Magazine

| rev2Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite news|last1=Camp|first1=Alexa|title=Barbra Streisand – Christmas Memories|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/barbra-streisand-christmas-memories|access-date=August 10, 2017|work=Slant Magazine|date=November 10, 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731214648/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/barbra-streisand-christmas-memories|archive-date=July 31, 2017}}

}}

Billboard{{'}}s Melinda Newman described the record as "a fine collection" and "beautifully rendered"; she also found Streisand's heavy amount of detail able to "elevate [...] the quality of this project far above the usual Christmas fare".{{cite magazine|last1=Newman|first1=Melinda|title=The Beat|magazine=Billboard|date=December 15, 2001|volume=113|issue=50|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XBIEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=August 10, 2017|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} Tom Santopietro, author of The Importance of Being Barbra, considered it to be Streisand's "most consistently successful CD" since The Broadway Album (1985). He called her "song choices [...] uniformly excellent" and stated that "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", and "One God" were the album's three best tracks.{{harvnb|Santopietro|2007|p=54}} William Ruhlmann, of AllMusic, opined that the album "may come to seem like a remarkably dour holiday collection" due to its release taking place after the September 11 attacks, but overall found that its mood "could hardly be improved upon" given the situation. He felt that this exemplified the ability of "great artists", such as Streisand, to create and release music that "take[s] the temperature of the times with their work". Alexa Camp from Slant Magazine claimed that Christmas Memories contains "timeless holiday ambience courtesy of a consummate pro"; however, she considered the songs between "Snowbound" and "Grown-Up Christmas List" to be boring.

Streisand was nominated at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards under the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category for Christmas Memories. However, she lost to Tony Bennett and his album Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues (2001).{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/grammy-nominations-complete-list|title=Grammy Nominations: Complete List|date=January 3, 2003|access-date=February 4, 2010|publisher=Fox News Channel|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022004258/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,74846,00.html|archive-date=October 22, 2012}}

Christmas Memories debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 32 on November 17, 2001.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2001-11-17 |title=Billboard 200: The Week Of November 17, 2001 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 9, 2017 |date=November 17, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705160335/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2001-11-17 |archive-date=July 5, 2017 }} During its best-selling week, it sold 136,000 copies and peaked at number 15.{{cite magazine|last1=Mayfield|first1=Geoff|title=Over the Counter|magazine=Billboard|date=November 1, 2003|volume=115|issue=44|pages=87, 90|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0REEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=August 10, 2017|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2001-12-22 |title=Billboard 200: The Week Of December 22, 2001 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 9, 2017 |date=December 22, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403223914/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2001-12-22 |archive-date=April 3, 2017 }} In total, it spent nine weeks within the Billboard 200. It also topped the Top Holidays Albums chart. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 3, 2001, for shipments of 1,000,000 copies. As of June 2007, the album has sold 1,100,000 copies.{{cite magazine|last1=Caulfield|first1=Keith|title=Ask Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051369/ask-billboard|access-date=August 8, 2017|magazine=Billboard|date=June 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913093322/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051369/ask-billboard|archive-date=September 13, 2014}} In Canada, it peaked at number 49 on the Canadian Albums Chart compiled by Nielsen. It also entered the UK Albums chart where it spent one week at number 137.

"It Must Have Been the Mistletoe" was distributed to United States radio stations during the Christmas season,{{cite magazine|author1=Billboard staff|title=Elton's 'Sky' High|magazine=Billboard|date=September 25, 2004|volume=116|issue=39|page=73|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MhMEAAAAMBAJ&q=barbra+streisand+it+must+have+been+the+mistletoe&pg=PA73|access-date=August 11, 2017|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} allowing it to debut and peak at number 28 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the week ending January 5, 2002.{{cite news|title=Barbra Streisand – Chart history|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280667/Barbra+Streisand/chart?f=341|access-date=August 10, 2017|publisher=Billboard Adult Contemporary for Barbra Streisand}}

Songwriting credits adapted from AllMusic.

{{Track listing

| headline = Christmas Memories{{spaced ndash}} {{nobold|Standard edition}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Christmas Memories |edition=Standard |others=Barbra Streisand |year=2001 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Columbia |id= CK 85920}}

| total_length = 47:13

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I'll Be Home for Christmas

| writer1 = {{hlist|Kim Gannon|Walter Kent|Buck Ram}}

| length1 = 4:12

| extra1 = {{hlist|Barbra Streisand|William Ross}}

| title2 = A Christmas Love Song

| writer2 = {{hlist|Alan Bergman|Marilyn Bergman|Johnny Mandel}}

| length2 = 3:57

| extra2 = Streisand

| title3 = What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

| writer3 = Frank Loesser

| length3 = 3:54

| extra3 = {{hlist|Streisand|Ross}}

| title4 = I Remember

| writer4 = Stephen Sondheim

| length4 = 4:57

| extra4 = {{hlist|Streisand|Ross}}

| title5 = Snowbound

| writer5 = {{hlist|Russell Faith|Clarence Kehner}}

| length5 = 2:59

| extra5 = {{hlist|Streisand|Ross}}

| title6 = It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

| writer6 = {{hlist|Douglas Konecky|Justin Wilde}}

| length6 = 3:10

| extra6 = {{hlist|Streisand|Ross}}

| title7 = Christmas Lullaby

| writer7 = Ann Hampton Callaway

| length7 = 3:30

| extra7 = Streisand

| title8 = Christmas Mem'ries

| writer8 = {{hlist|A. Bergman|M. Bergman|Don Costa}}

| length8 = 4:45

| extra8 = Streisand

| title9 = Grown-Up Christmas List

| writer9 = {{hlist|David Foster|Linda Thompson}}

| length9 = 3:29

| extra9 = Foster

| title10 = Ave Maria

| writer10 = Franz Schubert

| length10 = 4:42

| extra10 = {{hlist|Streisand|Ross}}

| title11 = Closer

| writer11 = {{hlist|Dean Pitchford|Tom Snow}}

| length11 = 3:58

| extra11 = {{hlist|Streisand|Ross}}

| title12 = One God

| writer12 = {{hlist|Ervin Drake|Jimmy Shirl}}

| length12 = 3:39

| extra12 = {{hlist|Streisand|Ross}}

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Christmas Memories{{spaced ndash}} {{nobold|Target bonus disc and iTunes deluxe edition}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Christmas Memories |edition=Target deluxe |others=Barbra Streisand |year=2001 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Columbia |id= CK 54332}}{{cite web|title=Christmas Memories – Barbra Streisand|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-memories/id275354742|publisher=iTunes Store (US)|access-date=August 9, 2017|date=October 30, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818144609/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-memories/id275354742|archive-date=August 18, 2016}}

| total_length = 50:00

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = God Bless America

| writer13 = Irving Berlin

| note13 = Live

| length13 = 2:47

| extra13 = {{hlist|Streisand|Jay Landers}}

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = A Voice for All Seasons EP{{spaced ndash}} {{nobold|Promotional sampler edition}}{{cite AV media notes |title=A Voice for All Seasons | edition=Promotional sampler |others=Barbra Streisand |year=2001 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Columbia |id=CSK 54903}}

| total_length = 18:28

| title1 = Grown-Up Christmas List

| length1 = 3:29

| title2 = It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

| length2 = 3:10

| title3 = I'll Be Home for Christmas

| length3 = 4:12

| title4 = Closer

| length4 = 3:58

| title5 = One God

| length5 = 3:39

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe edition of Christmas Memories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-memories-mw0000591615/credits|title=Christmas Memories - Barbra Streisand {{!}} Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=2020-03-29}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Barbra Streisand{{spaced ndash}} producer {{small|(tracks 1–8, 10–13)}}, vocals, executive producer
• Renata Buser{{spaced ndash}} assistant
• Jorge Calandrelli{{spaced ndash}} arranger {{small|(tracks 2, 7, 8)}}, conductor {{small|(tracks 2, 7, 8)}}
• Sue Ann Carwell{{spaced ndash}} background vocals {{small|(track 6)}}
• Don Costa{{spaced ndash}} original arranger {{small|(track 5)}}
• Felipe Elgueta{{spaced ndash}} mixer {{small|(track 9)}}, engineer {{small|(tracks 1, 9)}}
• Martin Erlichman{{spaced ndash}} label representative
• Bob Esty{{spaced ndash}} choir conductor {{small|(tracks 10, 12)}}, vocal arranger {{small|(track 10)}}
• David Foster{{spaced ndash}} producer {{small|(track 9)}}, harmonica {{small|(track 1)}}, rhythm arranger {{small|(track 9)}}
• Humberto Gatica{{spaced ndash}} engineer {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 4)}}
• Chad M. Goodson{{spaced ndash}} CD design
• Eddie Karam{{spaced ndash}} arranger {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}

{{col-2}}

• Nathaniel Kunkel{{spaced ndash}} engineer {{small|(track 6)}}
• Peter Doell{{spaced ndash}} engineer, assistant engineer
• Jay Landers{{spaced ndash}} producer {{small|(track 13)}}, executive producer
• Ian Logan{{spaced ndash}} photography
• Gabrielle Raumberger{{spaced ndash}} art direction
• David Reitzas{{spaced ndash}} mixer {{small|(tracks 1–5, 7, 8, 10–12)}}, engineer
• William Ross{{spaced ndash}} producer {{small|(tracks 1, 3–6, 10–12)}}, arranger {{small|(tracks 1, 3–4, 6, 10, 11)}}, conductor {{small|(tracks 1, 3–6, 10–11)}}
• Al Schmitt{{spaced ndash}} engineer {{small|(tracks 2, 7, 8)}}
• Bill Schnee{{spaced ndash}} mixer {{small|(track 6)}}
• Kim Skalecki{{spaced ndash}} assistant
• Allan Stein{{spaced ndash}} album project coordinator
• Wendi Wagner{{spaced ndash}} background vocals {{small|(track 6)}}
• Firooz Zahedi{{spaced ndash}} photography
• Michael Mishaw{{spaced ndash}} background vocals {{small|(tracks 10, 12)}}

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Barbra Streisand|title=Christmas Memories|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=August 9, 2017 |refname="United States certification"|salesamount=1,100,000|salesref=}}

{{End}}

• List of Billboard Top Holiday Albums number ones of the 2000s

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last1=Larkin|first1=Colin|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz|date=2004|publisher=Virgin Publishing |isbn= 1-8522-7183-3|edition=second, revised }}
• {{cite book|last1=Santopietro|first1=Tom|title=The Importance of Being Barbra: The Brilliant, Tumultuous Career of Barbra Streisand|date=April 1, 2007|publisher=Macmillan |isbn= 978-1-4299-0853-5 }}

• {{Discogs master|564871|Christmas Memories|type=album}}

{{Barbra Streisand}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2001 Christmas albums

Category:Albums produced by David Foster

Category:Barbra Streisand albums

Category:Christmas albums by American artists

Category:Columbia Records Christmas albums