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John Legend did not need any prodding to record a holiday album and is in the spirit throughout A Legendary Christmas. Produced by Raphael Saadiq, with whom Legend collaborated on Once Again highlight "Show Me," the LP is joyously nostalgic, decked with strings, horns, and a trio of background vocalists including secret weapon Sy Smith. The majority of the material dates from the '40s through the '70s, while the six originals are similarly styled. Most of the new songs hold their own. The dashing "Wrap Me Up in Your Love" could pass for a vocalese version of a song intended for a Sky High Productions holiday album shelved since 1974, as it resembles something Fonce and Larry Mizell might've whipped up for Bobbi Humphrey or Donald Byrd. Another standout, "Bring Me Love," fits in with the thoughtful mix of Motown numbers: "What Christmas Means to Me" (popularized by Stevie Wonder, heard here on harmonica), "Give Love on Christmas Day" (recorded by Jackson 5, coincidentally co-written by Fonce Mizell), and "Purple Snowflakes" (originally cut by Marvin Gaye but not released until 1992, 27 years after the original composition was reworked/repurposed as the single "Pretty Little Baby"). Legend brought the ham to the recordings of the best-known selections. These include the Esperanza Spalding duet "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and especially "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)." They're straightforward renditions, whereas Saadiq and Jamelle Adisa's upbeat, uptown soul-style arrangement of "Silver Bells" brims with energy, and Legend beams through it like he can't wait to make Another Legendary Christmas. The booklet, filled with Legend family photos, make a strong case for physical over digital.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Anna Gordy Gaye, Composer, Lyricist - George Gordy, Composer, Lyricist - Allen Story, Composer, Lyricist - Sy Smith, Background Vocal - Stevie Wonder, Harmonica, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer - John Legend, Executive Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Performance Arranger - Raphael Saadiq, Producer, Executive Producer, Performance Arranger - Lemar Guillary, Trombone - Gerry "The Gov." Brown, Mixing Engineer - Dylan Wiggins, Piano - Iajhi Hampden, Drums - Briana Lee, Background Vocal - Scott Mayo, Tenor Saxophone - Hotae Alexander Jang, Engineer - Nicole Ranalli, Assistant Engineer - Jamelle Adisa, Trumpet, Performance Arranger - Jacob Scesney, Baritone Saxophone - Brandon Chapman, Guitar - Lawrence Shaw, Bass - Theo Wayland, Mixing Engineer - Roland Gajate Garcia, Percussion - LaVance Colley, Background Vocal - John Legend feat. Stevie Wonder on harmonica, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 2018 John Legend Music, Inc. and Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Anna Gordy Gaye, Composer, Lyricist - George Gordy, Composer, Lyricist - Allen Story, Composer, Lyricist - Sy Smith, Background Vocal - Stevie Wonder, Harmonica, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer - John Legend, Executive Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Performance Arranger - Raphael Saadiq, Producer, Executive Producer, Performance Arranger - Lemar Guillary, Trombone - Gerry "The Gov." Brown, Mixing Engineer - Dylan Wiggins, Piano - Iajhi Hampden, Drums - Briana Lee, Background Vocal - Scott Mayo, Tenor Saxophone - Hotae Alexander Jang, Engineer - Nicole Ranalli, Assistant Engineer - Jamelle Adisa, Trumpet, Performance Arranger - Jacob Scesney, Baritone Saxophone - Brandon Chapman, Guitar - Lawrence Shaw, Bass - Theo Wayland, Mixing Engineer - Roland Gajate Garcia, Percussion - LaVance Colley, Background Vocal - John Legend feat. Stevie Wonder on harmonica, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 2018 John Legend Music, Inc. and Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Sy Smith, Background Vocal, Vocal - Walter Rollins, Composer, Lyricist - John Stephens, Composer, Lyricist - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer - Steve Nelson, Composer, Lyricist - John Legend, Executive Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Raphael Saadiq, Producer, Executive Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Meghan Trainor, Composer, Lyricist - Lemar Guillary, Trombone - Gerry "The Gov." Brown, Mixing Engineer - Dylan Wiggins, Guitar - Iajhi Hampden, Drums - Briana Lee, Background Vocal - Scott Mayo, Tenor Saxophone - Hotae Alexander Jang, Engineer - Nicole Ranalli, Assistant Engineer - Jamelle Adisa, Horn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jacob Scesney, Baritone Saxophone - Brandon Chapman, Guitar - Lawrence Shaw, Bass - Theo Wayland, Mixing Engineer - Roland Gajate Garcia, Percussion - LaVance Colley, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 John Legend Music, Inc. and Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Sy Smith, Background Vocal, Vocal - Walter Rollins, Composer, Lyricist - John Stephens, Composer, Lyricist - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer - Steve Nelson, Composer, Lyricist - John Legend, Executive Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Raphael Saadiq, Producer, Executive Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Meghan Trainor, Composer, Lyricist - Lemar Guillary, Trombone - Gerry "The Gov." Brown, Mixing Engineer - Dylan Wiggins, Guitar - Iajhi Hampden, Drums - Briana Lee, Background Vocal - Scott Mayo, Tenor Saxophone - Hotae Alexander Jang, Engineer - Nicole Ranalli, Assistant Engineer - Jamelle Adisa, Horn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jacob Scesney, Baritone Saxophone - Brandon Chapman, Guitar - Lawrence Shaw, Bass - Theo Wayland, Mixing Engineer - Roland Gajate Garcia, Percussion - LaVance Colley, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 John Legend Music, Inc. and Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Malik Johnson, Cello - Will Taylor, Engineer - John Lennon, Composer, Lyricist - Bobby Campbell, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer - Yoko Ono, Composer, Lyricist - John Legend, Executive Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Raphael Saadiq, Producer, Executive Producer - Matt Jones, Conductor, Organ, Piano, Performance Arranger - Danielle Taylor, Viola - Lemar Guillary, Trombone - Rick Fritz, Engineer - Gerry "The Gov." Brown, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Tahirah Whittington, Cello - Melissa White, Violin - Scott Tixier, Violin - Erm Navarro, Trombone - Matt Hornbeck, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Brandon Combs, Drums - Angelica D'Costa, Violin - Jocelyn Shoulders, Cello - Mike Cottone, Trumpet - Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, Violin - Brandyn Phillips, Trumpet - Derek Reeves, Violin - Nicole Ranalli, Assistant Engineer - Kelsee Vandervall, Cello - Matt Jones Orchestra, Strings - Istvan Loga, Viola - Christian Dillingham, Bass - Jamelle Adisa, Trumpet, Performance Arranger - Lucinda Ali-Landing, Violin - Dmitry Gorodetsky, Bass - Devon Taylor, Tuba - Caitlin Edwards, Violin - Alexandria Hill, Violin - Branko Presley, Assistant Engineer - Matt Becks, Assistant Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Marc Bolin, Trombone - Chrissy Teigen, Vocal - Luna Simone, Vocal - Seth Pae, Viola - Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Choir, Choir - Pooh Mayo, Chorus Master - Rancho Mirage Music People, Engineer
(P) 2019 John Legend Music, Inc. and Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Malik Johnson, Cello - Will Taylor, Engineer - John Lennon, Composer, Lyricist - Bobby Campbell, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer - Yoko Ono, Composer, Lyricist - John Legend, Executive Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Raphael Saadiq, Producer, Executive Producer - Matt Jones, Conductor, Organ, Piano, Performance Arranger - Danielle Taylor, Viola - Lemar Guillary, Trombone - Rick Fritz, Engineer - Gerry "The Gov." Brown, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Tahirah Whittington, Cello - Melissa White, Violin - Scott Tixier, Violin - Erm Navarro, Trombone - Matt Hornbeck, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Brandon Combs, Drums - Angelica D'Costa, Violin - Jocelyn Shoulders, Cello - Mike Cottone, Trumpet - Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, Violin - Brandyn Phillips, Trumpet - Derek Reeves, Violin - Nicole Ranalli, Assistant Engineer - Kelsee Vandervall, Cello - Matt Jones Orchestra, Strings - Istvan Loga, Viola - Christian Dillingham, Bass - Jamelle Adisa, Trumpet, Performance Arranger - Lucinda Ali-Landing, Violin - Dmitry Gorodetsky, Bass - Devon Taylor, Tuba - Caitlin Edwards, Violin - Alexandria Hill, Violin - Branko Presley, Assistant Engineer - Matt Becks, Assistant Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Marc Bolin, Trombone - Chrissy Teigen, Vocal - Luna Simone, Vocal - Seth Pae, Viola - Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Choir, Choir - Pooh Mayo, Chorus Master - Rancho Mirage Music People, Engineer
(P) 2019 John Legend Music, Inc. and Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
John Legend did not need any prodding to record a holiday album and is in the spirit throughout A Legendary Christmas. Produced by Raphael Saadiq, with whom Legend collaborated on Once Again highlight "Show Me," the LP is joyously nostalgic, decked with strings, horns, and a trio of background vocalists including secret weapon Sy Smith. The majority of the material dates from the '40s through the '70s, while the six originals are similarly styled. Most of the new songs hold their own. The dashing "Wrap Me Up in Your Love" could pass for a vocalese version of a song intended for a Sky High Productions holiday album shelved since 1974, as it resembles something Fonce and Larry Mizell might've whipped up for Bobbi Humphrey or Donald Byrd. Another standout, "Bring Me Love," fits in with the thoughtful mix of Motown numbers: "What Christmas Means to Me" (popularized by Stevie Wonder, heard here on harmonica), "Give Love on Christmas Day" (recorded by Jackson 5, coincidentally co-written by Fonce Mizell), and "Purple Snowflakes" (originally cut by Marvin Gaye but not released until 1992, 27 years after the original composition was reworked/repurposed as the single "Pretty Little Baby"). Legend brought the ham to the recordings of the best-known selections. These include the Esperanza Spalding duet "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and especially "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)." They're straightforward renditions, whereas Saadiq and Jamelle Adisa's upbeat, uptown soul-style arrangement of "Silver Bells" brims with energy, and Legend beams through it like he can't wait to make Another Legendary Christmas. The booklet, filled with Legend family photos, make a strong case for physical over digital.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 6 track(s)
- Total length: 00:19:00
- Main artists: John Legend
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Comedy/Other Ambient/New Age Christmas Music
(P) 2023 Sony Music Entertainment
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