A Special Christmas

1997 studio album / Christmas album by SWV

A Special Christmas

Studio album / Christmas album by

SWV

Released| November 18, 1997 (1997-11-18)
Genre| Christmas
Length| 42:20
Label| RCA
Producer|

* Michael J. Powell
* Rex Rideout
* Phil Temple

SWV chronology
| Release Some Tension
(1997)  | A Special Christmas
(1997)  | Greatest Hits (RCA)
(1999)

|
|

A Special Christmas is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album released by American female R&B trio SWV that was released in the United States on November 18, 1997, by RCA Records. The album follows the release of their third album Release Some Tension (1997) which was released four months earlier. It is a holiday album featuring cover versions. A Special Christmas would be the penultimate album the trio recorded together before they disbanded in 1998. Coko, the group's lead singer, released her first solo album in 1999.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Entertainment Weekly| C−[2]

Jose F. Promis, writing for Allmusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine write that "the endearing, sleek, soulful set finds the Sisters With Voices covering a sweet selection of holiday standards, and it differs from their previous albums because all three gals handle lead vocals [...] This album works because they treat the standards with respect and reverence, while still managing to put the SWV stamp on the recordings, and the sole new track is a highlight, instead of a bore, which many contemporary Christmas songs tend to be. A sweet, endearing, soulful set"[1]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Intro"|  |  | 0:41
2.| "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"|

* Robert Wells
* Mel Tormé

| Michael J. Powell| 4:27
3.| "This Christmas"|

* Donny Hathaway
* Nadine McKinnor

| Powell| 3:56
4.| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"|

* Hugh Martin
* Ralph Blane

| Powell| 4:28
5.| "Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without the One You Love)"| Gamble and Huff| Powell| 3:15
6.| "Give Love on Christmas Day"|

* Berry Gordy Jr.
* Alphonzo Mizell

| Powell| 3:49
7.| "White Christmas"| Irving Berlin| Powell| 3:33
8.| "Silent Night"|

* Franz Xaver Gruber
* Joseph Mohr

| Powell| 5:00
9.| "Silver Bells"|

* Jay Livingston
* Ray Evans

* Phil Temple
* Rex Rideout

| 5:34
10.| "O Holy Night"|

* Adolphe Adam
* John Sullivan Dwight

| Powell| 3:30
11.| "My Favorite Things"| Rodgers and Hammerstein| Powell| 4:07

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1997)  | Peak
position

|

US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[3] | 85

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Promis, Jose F.. A Special Christmas review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
2. ^ "A Special Christmas Review". Entertainment Weekly. December 5, 1997. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
3. ^ "SWV Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

SWV

* Cheryl "Coko" Gamble
* Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George
* Leanne "Lelee" Lyons

Studio albums|

* It's About Time
* New Beginning
* Release Some Tension
* A Special Christmas
* I Missed Us
* Still

Other releases|

* The Remixes

Singles|

* "Right Here"
* "I'm So into You"
* "Weak"
* "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)"
* "You're the One"
* "Use Your Heart"
* "It's All About U"
* "Can We"
* "Someone"
* "Lose My Cool"
* "Rain"
* "Co-Sign"
* "Ain't No Man"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Queens of R&B Tour

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template