Christmas Songs (Diana Krall album)

{{Infobox album

| name = Christmas Songs

| type = studio

| artist = Diana Krall featuring The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

| cover = Diana Krall - Christmas Songs.png

| border = yes

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2005|10|26}}

| recorded = 2005

| studio = {{hlist|Capitol (Hollywood)|Ocean Way (Hollywood){{efn|name=Add|Additional recording}}|Sony Music (New York){{efn|name=Add}}|Schnee (Hollywood){{efn|name=Add}}}}

| genre =

| length = 44:52

| label = Verve

| producer =

Tommy LiPuma
Diana Krall

| chronology = Diana Krall

| prev_title = The Girl in the Other Room

| prev_year = 2004

| next_title = From This Moment On

| next_year = 2006

}}

Christmas Songs is the eighth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, performed with The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. It was released on October 26, 2005, by Verve Records. This is Krall's first full-length album of Christmas songs (not counting her 1998 EP Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas), and her first studio album with a big band. The album was released on vinyl for the first time on October 14, 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Songs-LP-Diana-Krall/dp/B00FESKV52 |title=Diana Krall: Christmas Songs |website=Amazon |location=United States |access-date=January 1, 2017}}

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Collar |first=Matt |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-songs-mw0000703424 |title=Christmas Songs – Diana Krall |website=AllMusic |access-date=March 8, 2016}}

| rev2 = Tom Hull

| rev2score = B{{cite web |last=Hull |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Hull (critic) |url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=diana+krall |title=Grade List: Diana Krall |website=TomHull.com |access-date=July 13, 2020}}

| rev3 = Jazzwise

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.jazzwise.com/review/article/diana-krall-christmas-songs |title=Diana Krall – Christmas Songs |work=Jazzwise |date=January 10, 2006 |access-date=August 17, 2020}}

|rev4 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings

|rev4score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=844}}

}}

Tad Hendrickson of JazzTimes stated, "Krall gets a ton of help on her Christmas album from the well-drilled Clayton–Hamilton Jazz Orchestra as well as from the usual peeps in her own bands. The singer doesn't work too hard to sell it, preferring to stay in the pocket, and the solos are short all the way around, but it all sounds swingin', fun and jazzy".{{cite web |last=Hendrickson |first=Tad |url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/holiday-cd-roundup/diana-krall-featuring-the-claytonhamilton-jazz-orchestra-christmas-songs/ |title=Diana Krall featuring the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Christmas Songs |work=Jazz Times |date=January 12, 2005 |access-date=July 17, 2018}} John Bungey of The Times noted, "If your idea of a perfect Yuletide is Jimmy Stewart on the telly and Bing on the radio, and you believe that, musically, it's all been downhill since 1955, then Krall's album will suit perfectly".{{cite web |last=Bungey |first=John |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/diana-krall-christmas-songs-6h5pl9602nd |title=Diana Krall: Christmas Songs |work=The Times |date=December 2, 2005 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |url-access=subscription}}

Dave Gelly and Nail Spenser of The Observer wrote, "If you feared the worst after hearing Diana Krall's last, rather droopy CD you can cheer up, because this one proves she hasn't forgotten how to swing after all. Corny idea or not, it is a terrific jazz-vocal album that will raise your spirits now and for several Christmases to come".{{cite web |last1=Gelly |first1=Dave |last2=Spenser |first2=Nail |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/dec/11/jazz |title=Diana Krall, Christmas Songs |work=The Observer |date=December 11, 2005 |access-date=July 17, 2018}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| total_length = 44:52

|headline = Christmas Songs

| title1 = Jingle Bells

| writer1 = James Pierpont

| length1 = 3:26

| title2 = Let It Snow

| writer2 = {{hlist|Jule Styne|Sammy Cahn}}

| length2 = 4:02

| title3 = The Christmas Song

| writer3 = {{hlist|Mel Tormé|Robert Wells}}

| length3 = 4:24

| title4 = Winter Wonderland

| writer4 = {{hlist|Felix Bernard|Richard B. Smith}}

| length4 = 3:15

| title5 = I'll Be Home for Christmas

| writer5 = {{hlist|Kim Gannon|Walter Kent|Buck Ram}}

| length5 = 3:08

| title6 = Christmas Time Is Here

| writer6 = {{hlist|Vince Guaraldi|Lee Mendelson}}

| length6 = 3:35

| title7 = Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

| writer7 = {{hlist|J. Fred Coots|Haven Gillespie}}

| length7 = 2:54

| title8 = Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

| writer8 = {{hlist|Ralph Blane|Hugh Martin}}

| length8 = 4:19

| title9 = White Christmas

| writer9 = Irving Berlin

| length9 = 4:32

| title10 = What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

| writer10 = Frank Loesser

| length10 = 4:10

| title11 = Sleigh Ride

| writer11 = {{hlist|Leroy Anderson|Mitchell Parish}}

| length11 = 3:26

| title12 = Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep

| writer12 = Berlin

| length12 = 3:41

}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Christmas Songs.{{cite AV media notes |title=Christmas Songs |type=liner notes |others=Diana Krall featuring The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra |publisher=Verve Records |year=2005 |id=B0004717-02}}

=Musicians=

Diana Krall – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}; piano solo {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 7, 12)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 3–6, 8–11)}}; arrangement {{small|(tracks 3, 9)}}
Jeff Clayton – alto saxophone solo {{small|(track 2)}}; flute solo {{small|(track 5)}}
Ira Nepus – trombone solo {{small|(track 2)}}
Anthony Wilson – guitar {{small|(tracks 3, 9, 12)}}; guitar solo {{small|(track 4)}}
John Clayton – bass {{small|(tracks 3, 9)}}; arrangement {{small|(tracks 1-5, 7, 10, 11)}}
Jeff Hamilton – drums {{small|(tracks 3, 6, 9, 12)}}
Rickey Woodard – tenor saxophone solo {{small|(track 4)}}
Ben Wolfe – bass {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
Russell Malone – guitar {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
Assa Drori – concertmaster {{small|(tracks 6, 8, 12)}}
Jules Chaikin – orchestra contractor {{small|(tracks 6, 8, 12)}}
Gerald Clayton – piano {{small|(track 7)}}
Stefon Harris – vibes {{small|(track 9)}}
Tamir Hendelman – Fender Rhodes {{small|(track 10)}}; piano {{small|(track 11)}}
Gilbert Castellanos – trumpet solo {{small|(track 11)}}
George Bohanon – trombone solo {{small|(track 11)}}
Alan Broadbent – piano {{small|(track 12)}}
Randy Waldman – keyboards {{small|(track 12)}}
Robert Hurst – bass {{small|(track 12)}}
Emil Richards – percussion {{small|(track 12)}}
Johnny Mandel – arrangement, conducting {{small|(tracks 6, 8, 12)}}
Chris Walden - orchestrations

=[[The Clayton–Hamilton Jazz Orchestra|The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra]]=

Jeff Hamilton – drums
Robert Hurst – bass
Anthony Wilson – guitar
Gerald Clayton – piano {{small|(track 7)}}
Tamir Hendelman – piano {{small|(track 11)}}; Fender Rhodes {{small|(track 10)}}
Jeff Clayton – lead alto saxophone, flute
Keith Fiddmont – alto saxophone, clarinet
Rickey Woodard – tenor saxophone solos, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Charles Owens – tenor saxophone, clarinet
Adam Schroeder – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Rick Baptist, Sal Cracchiolo, Clay Jenkins, Gilberto Gilbert Castellanos, William Barnhart – trumpets
Ira Nepus, George Bohanon, Ryan Porter – trombones
Tommy Johnson – tuba
Rick Todd, David Duke, Joe Meyer, Brad Warnaar – French horns
Joe Porcaro – percussion

=Technical=

Tommy LiPuma – production {{small|(all tracks)}}; co-production {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
Diana Krall – production {{small|(all tracks)}}
Johnny Mandel – co-production {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
Al Schmitt – recording, mixing
Steve Genewick – engineering assistance, Pro Tools
Koji Egawa – engineering assistance
Bill Smith – engineering assistance
Brian Vibberts – engineering assistance
Dave Swope – engineering assistance
Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab, Ojai, California

=Artwork=

Hollis King – art direction
Coco Shinomiya – design
Sam Taylor-Wood – photography

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA){{cite journal \|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue825.pdf \|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060119130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20060120-0000/issue825.pdf \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=2006-01-19 \|title=ARIA Jazz & Blues Albums – Week Commencing 19th December 2005 \|journal=The ARIA Report \|issue=825 \|page=21 \|date=December 19, 2005 \|access-date=May 8, 2020 \|via=National Library of Australia}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}} \| 4
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for Christmas Songs ! scope="col"\| Chart (2005–2006) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{album chart\|Austria\|27\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Flanders\|75\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Wallonia\|90\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|BillboardCanada\|2\|artist=Diana Krall\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Netherlands\|26\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|France\|52\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Germany4\|34\|id=24637\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Hungary\|13\|year=2005\|week=50\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Italy\|35\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
scope="row"\| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web \|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/101427/products/616521/1/ \|script-title=ja:クリスマス・ソングス {{!}} ダイアナ・クラール \|trans-title=Christmas Songs {{!}} Diana Krall \|language=ja \|publisher=Oricon \|access-date=March 9, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309084657/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/101427/products/616521/1/ \|archive-date=March 9, 2016}} \| 78
{{album chart\|Norway\|16\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Poland\|9\|id=291\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Portugal\|4\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Spain\|44\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Sweden\|15\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Switzerland\|28\|artist=Diana Krall feat. The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra\|album=Christmas Songs\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|UK\|155\|M\|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_K.HTM\|title=Chart Log UK (1994–2010): Alex K – Kyuss\|publisher=Zobbel\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|UKJazz\|5\|date=20051218\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|17\|artist=Diana Krall\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|BillboardHoliday\|1\|artist=Diana Krall\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
{{album chart\|BillboardJazz\|1\|artist=Diana Krall\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 8, 2016}}
scope="row"\| US Traditional Jazz Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/diana-krall/chart-history/jlp/ \|title=Diana Krall Chart History (Traditional Jazz Albums) \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=January 29, 2021}} \| 1

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 2005 year-end chart performance for Christmas Songs ! scope="col"\| Chart (2005) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web \|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20050001&navi=no \|title=Årslista Album – År 2005 \|language=sv \|publisher=Sverigetopplistan \|access-date=March 19, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328005116/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20050001&navi=no \|archive-date=March 28, 2016}} \| 83
scope="row"\| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine \|title=The 2005 Year in Music and Touring – Top Jazz Albums \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=117 \|issue=52 \|date=December 24, 2005 \|page=YE-68 \|issn=0006-2510}} \| 7

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2005 year-end chart performance for Christmas Songs

! scope="col"| Chart (2005)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web |url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20050001&navi=no |title=Årslista Album – År 2005 |language=sv |publisher=Sverigetopplistan |access-date=March 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328005116/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20050001&navi=no |archive-date=March 28, 2016}}

| 83

scope="row"| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |title=The 2005 Year in Music and Touring – Top Jazz Albums |magazine=Billboard |volume=117 |issue=52 |date=December 24, 2005 |page=YE-68 |issn=0006-2510}}

| 7

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 2006 year-end chart performance for Christmas Songs ! scope="col"\| Chart (2006) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA){{cite web \|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/JazzandBluesAlbums2006.htm \|title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Jazz & Blues Albums 2006 \|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association \|access-date=March 8, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309052311/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/JazzandBluesAlbums2006.htm \|archive-date=March 9, 2016}} \| 36
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine \|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2006/top-billboard-200-albums \|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006 \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=March 8, 2016}} \| 139
scope="row"\| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qg4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA20-IA36 \|title=The Year in Music & Touring 2006 – Top Jazz Albums \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=118 \|issue=51 \|date=December 23, 2006 \|page=YE-80 \|issn=0006-2510 \|via=Google Books}} \| 2

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2006 year-end chart performance for Christmas Songs

! scope="col"| Chart (2006)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA){{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/JazzandBluesAlbums2006.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Jazz & Blues Albums 2006 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=March 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309052311/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/JazzandBluesAlbums2006.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2016}}

| 36

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2006/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 8, 2016}}

| 139

scope="row"| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qg4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA20-IA36 |title=The Year in Music & Touring 2006 – Top Jazz Albums |magazine=Billboard |volume=118 |issue=51 |date=December 23, 2006 |page=YE-80 |issn=0006-2510 |via=Google Books}}

| 2

=Decade-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Decade-end chart performance for Christmas Songs ! scope="col"\| Chart (2000–2009) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/decade-end/2000/jazz-albums \|title=Jazz Albums: Decade End Chart (2000s) \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=March 13, 2016 \|url-access=subscription}} \| 14

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Decade-end chart performance for Christmas Songs

! scope="col"| Chart (2000–2009)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/decade-end/2000/jazz-albums |title=Jazz Albums: Decade End Chart (2000s) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 13, 2016 |url-access=subscription}}

| 14

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Diana Krall|title=Christmas Songs|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|certyear=2018|date=February 2, 2018|access-date=February 5, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Diana Krall|title=Christmas Songs|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2005|date=December 7, 2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hungary|artist=Diana Krall|title=Christmas Songs|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=10|certyear=2005|access-date=March 19, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Diana Krall|title=Christmas Songs|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=11|certyear=2006|certmonth=2|date=February 8, 2006}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|relmonth=11|certyear=2010|id=201052|access-date=April 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110122223619/http://www.artistas-espectaculos.com/topafp/pt/201052.htm |archive-date=January 22, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Diana Krall|title=Christmas Songs|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2005|date=February 17, 2006}}