A Christmas to Remember (CD - 1999)

Personnel includes: Amy Grant, Grace Stumb (vocals); Tom Hemby, Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Jerry McPherson (electric guitar); Bobby Taylor (oboe); Tim Morrison (trumpet); Michael Omartian (piano); Jimmy Lee Sloas, Craig Nelson (bass); John Hammond (drums); Alvin Chea, Randy Crenshaw, Rick Logan, Mervyn Waters, Vince Gill, Don Shelton, Lisa Bevill, J.D. Cunningham, Michael Mellett, Beverly Darnall (background vocals); The Patrick Williams Orchestra

& Choir, Nashville Pipes & Drums, Nashville Studio Orchestra.

Engineers include: Al Schmitt, Ron Huff, Terry Christian.

Recorded at Sony Pictures Studio, Culver City, California; Sound House Studio, Brentwood, Tennessee; Sound Kitchen, Franklin, Tennessee.

Personnel: J.D. Cunningham, Lisa Bevill, Patrick Williams, Michael Mellett (vocals, background vocals); Biff Watson (guitar, acoustic guitar); Dennis Budimir, John Goux (guitar); Tom Hemby, Billy Watson (acoustic guitar); Jerry McPherson (electric guitar); Marcia Dickstein, Mary Alice Hoepfinger (harp); Assa Drori, Al Hershberger, Connie Ellisor, Carolyn Osborn, Karen Winkelmann, Ron Folsom, Jennifer Walton, Henry Gronnier, Gerald Greer, Paul Tobias, Jocelyn Sprouse, Carrie Wann, Denise Baker, Beverly Drukker, Bob Sanov, Joann Cruthirds, Gwen Heller, Eve Butler, Betty Small, Karen Jones, Kirstin Fife, Clayton Haslop, David Stenske, Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, Tiffiany Yi Hu, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , Lee Larrison, Alan Umstead, Darius Campo, Liane Mautner, David Angell, Miwako Watanabe, Catherine Umstead, Cate Myer, Janet Askey, Endre Granat (violin); Bruce Christensen, Kathryn Plummer, Jim Grojean, Mimi Granat, Tay Tischer, Vicki Miskolczy, Keith Greene, Jim Grosjean, Simon Oswell, Kris Wilkinson, Bob Becker , Monisa Angell, Gary VanOsdale, Raymond Tischer (viola); Mathew Cooker, Julie Tanner, Timothy Landauer, Tina Soule, Lynn Peithman, Margaret Mason, Dennis Karmazyn, Bradley Mansell, Carole Neuen-Rabinowitz, Ray Kelly, John Catchings, Armen Ksadjikian, Cecilia Tsan (cello); Ann Richards (flute); Jay Dawson (pipe); Nashville Pipes And Drums (bagpipe, drums); Lee Levine (clarinet); Bobby G. Taylor , Bobby Taylor (oboe); Cynthia Estill (bassoon); Dan Higgins, Angela Wiegand, Gary Foster, David Shostac, Sheridon Stokes, James Walker , Barbara Northcutt (woodwinds); Tim Divers, Jon Lewis , Rick Baptist, Warren Luening, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Bailey , Tim Morrison, Mike Haynes , George Tidwell, Malcolm McNab (trumpet); Paul Klintworth, Katie Hagen, John A. Reynolds, Linda Patterson, Joy Worland, Marni Johnson , Mark Adams , Jennifer Kummer (French horn); Prentiss Hobbs, Bill Booth, Chris McDonald, Alexander Iles, Bill Reichenbach Jr. , Ken Kugler, Bill Elton, Chauncey Welsch, Ernie Collins (trombone); Gil Long, Jim Self (tuba); Michael Omartian, Mike Lang (piano); David Huntsinger (harpsichord); Craig Nelson (electric bass); Chris McHugh, John F. Hammond, Gregg Field, John Hammond , Carol Davis (drums); Dale Anderson, Eric Darken (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Tony Christian; Al Schmitt; Terry Christian.

Audio Remasterer: Steve Hall .

Recording information: Sony Pictures Studio, Culver Ci; Sound House, Brentwood, TN; SOund Kitchen, Franklin, TN.

Photographers: Sandra Johnson; Sandra Moon Johnson.

Unknown Contributor Role: Chuck.dsg Hargett.

Arrangers: Michael Omartian; Patrick Williams; Ronn Huff.

Eminently photogenic pop vocalist Amy Grant's holiday album A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER is a pleasant collection that mixes Christmas standards, stirring instrumentals, and some of Grant's own late-winter compositions. Throughout, the singer receives generous backing support from the Patrick Williams Orchestra and Choir, as well as the Nashville Studio Orchestra.

Originals include the album-opening title track as well as the delicate "Christmas Lullaby," on which Grant shares the spotlight with child vocalist Grace Stumb. The strains of bagpipes introduce the orchestral instrumental "Highland Cathedral." Grant's treatments of Christmas vocal standards are impressive, as her "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bell Rock" work the transporting magic that these Christmas chestnuts are known for. minimize