Touched by an Angel: The Christmas Album (CD - 1999)

Liner Note Author: Martha Williamson.

Arrangers: Fred Hammond; Kyle Lehning; Mark Heimermann; Randy Travis; Ronn Huff; Barry Eastmond; Brent Bourgeois.

Touched by an Angel: The Christmas Album features renditions of Christmas classics by cast members of Touched by an Angel and special guests, including Charlotte Church, Kenny Lattimore, Ashley, and Wayne Watson. Della Reese performs "I Can Dream," while Roma Downey collaborates with Phil Keaggy and John Dye on "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." Amy Grant's "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" and Randy Travis's "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" are among the album's highlights. ~ Heather Phares

THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM is a collection of Christian-centered holiday favorites and uplifting originals, all of which are rendered in the spirit of the heralded CBS television program "Touched by an Angel." Guest artists include Amy Grant, Crystal Lewis, Donna Summer, Collin Raye, Jaci Vasquez, and Della Reese, whose soulful and choir-backed "If I Can Dream" provides a positively earth-shaking opening to the collection.

Donna Summer sounds as fresh as ever on her original Yuletide composition "Christmas Spirit." The silver-toned voice of Kenny Lattimore reassures the dejected as to the power of miracles in the soupy but confident "Miracles." Amy Grant's fans should swoon over "Breath of Heaven," which tells the story of the trials of the Virgin Mary. Randy Travis' North Carolina drawl paints sonic circles of red and white around the touching "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." The album comes to a calming conclusion with "An Irish Blessing," in which program star Roma Downey delivers a reassuring benediction, complete with Irish brogue. Those taken by the spirit of the music on THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM may also want to check out the equally excellent TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: THE ALBUM. minimize