This Christmas is the first Christmas album released by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on October 30, 1990, in the United States. The album was released while LaBelle was working on a follow-up to her previous album, Be Yourself (1989). It included original compositions such as "'Twas Love", which LaBelle shot a video for, and "Nothing Could Be Better", which was sung live by LaBelle during an appearance on the television show, A Different World. This Christmas would be re-released in 1995 with all new artwork and a new bonus track, "Angel Man". The 1995 re-release was later reissued in 2004 under the 20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection line, labeled The Best of Patti LaBelle.
Contents
Critical reception
Allmusic editor Jose F. Promis called This Christmas a "likeable collection of easygoing holiday confections. The songs prove quite endearing, but in some cases are marred by somewhat dated production [...] Oftentimes, holiday albums such as this – composed of new, untraditional recordings – are somewhat tepid, but that's thankfully not the case here. Despite a few dull moments and some lackluster production, this is quite an enjoyable and endearing holiday set, and will no doubt please the legendary singer's many fans."
Track listing
Notes
^[A] denotes associate producer
^[B] denotes co-producer
Personnel
Patti LaBelle – vocals
Nathaniel Wilke – keyboards (1), synthesizer programming (1, 8), drum programming (1, 8)
Kevin Foley – keyboard programming (1), synthesizer programming (8)
Randy Waldman – synthesizers (2, 4), drum programming (2), acoustic piano (4), arrangements (4), vocal arrangements (4)
Michael O'Hara – keyboards (3, 7), drum programming (3, 7)
Eugene Curry – keyboards (5, 6, 9, 10), arrangements (5, 6, 9, 10)
Leon Huff – keyboards (11), synthesizers (11)
Dennis Harris – guitars (11)
T.J. – guitars (11)
Kim Darigan – bass guitar (4)
Jimmy Williams – bass guitar (11)
John Guerin – drums (4)
Daryl Burgee – percussion (4)
Quinton Joseph – percussion programming (5, 6, 10), drums (11)
Vincent Montana Jr. – vibraphone (11)
David Boruff – saxophone solo (2, 4)
Leon Zachery – saxophone (11)
James "Budd" Ellison – arrangements (1, 8)
Connie Draper – backing vocals (1, 8)
Production
L. Armstead Edwards – executive producer
Clinton Donaldson – production coordinator
Jolie Levine – production coordinator (2, 4)
Vartan Kurjian – art direction
Andy Engel – design, spot illustration
Chris Consani – front cover illustration
PAZ Management Company – management
Technical credits
Eddy Schreyer – mastering at Future Disc Systems (Hollywood, California)
Michael Tarsia – recording (1, 8), mixing (1, 8)
Randy Waldman – recording (2, 4)
Joe Alexander – vocal recording (2, 4, 7), vocal recording engineer (3), mixing (5, 6, 9, 10)
Kevin Clark – mixing (2, 4)
Sami McKinney – recording (3), vocal recording (3)
Michael O'Hara – recording (3)
Olivier Ferrand – recording engineer (3), mixing (3, 7), recording (7)
Brook Hendrix – recording (5, 10)
Ron Shaffer – overdubs (5)
Jim Gallagher – recording (6, 9, 11)