Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Encyclopedia
Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a rock opera
and Christmas album
by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
. The story is about a young man who wanders into a bar on Christmas Eve
where he encounters a mysterious old man who tells him a tale about the magical effect of Christmas day on the human race. The album takes familiar classical pieces and adds to them new songs and arrangements from both classic
and progressive rock
influences for which the group is known. The album also contains a mix of vocal and instrumental songs. The primary musicians on the album are all members of the progressive metal band Savatage
(Paul O'Neill
, the producer of the album, is Savatage's longtime producer). Jon Oliva
, one of the principle songwriters on the album, is also a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and original vocalist in Savatage (Oliva is also the voice of Mephistopheles on Beethoven's Last Night
).
As of October 16, 2011, Christmas Eve and Other Stories was the ninth best-selling Christmas/holiday album in the United States
during the Nielsen SoundScan
era of music sales tracking (1991-present), with sales of at least 3,190,000 copies in the United States according to SoundScan.
On November 28, 2011, Christmas Eve and Other Stories was certified Triple Platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America
for shipment of more than three million copies in the United States.
There is a 2 CD version of Christmas Eve and Other Stories with one CD containing a Special Narrated Version Of Christmas Eve and Other Stories. The narrated CD contains one continuous track of music, with narration by Russell Horton between songs. This special edit was done by Robert Kinkel and was produced by Taro Meyer.
In 2001, the Target
retail chain in the United States issued a version of the album with a different catalog number and a sticker attached to the front shrink wrap stating "Target Exclusive: 2 Bonus Songs Included." The two tracks are not identified on the cover or any of the album packaging, but they are as follows:
They are located after the two "official" bonus tracks on the original CD.
Some other post-2000 copies of the CD contain "Whoville Medley (Perfect Christmas Night/Grinch)" as an unlisted 18th track, without "The World That He Sees."
Back-Ups:
Choir:
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
and Christmas album
Christmas Album
Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album , a 1968 album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass* Christmas Album Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album (Herb Alpert album), a 1968 album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass* Christmas Album Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album (Herb...
by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra is an American progressive metal band founded in 1993 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. Since then, TSO sold nearly 8...
. The story is about a young man who wanders into a bar on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
where he encounters a mysterious old man who tells him a tale about the magical effect of Christmas day on the human race. The album takes familiar classical pieces and adds to them new songs and arrangements from both classic
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
influences for which the group is known. The album also contains a mix of vocal and instrumental songs. The primary musicians on the album are all members of the progressive metal band Savatage
Savatage
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
(Paul O'Neill
Paul O'Neill (rock producer)
Paul O'Neill is an American music composer, lyricist, producer, and songwriter.-Early years:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
, the producer of the album, is Savatage's longtime producer). Jon Oliva
Jon Oliva
John Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He is the third of four children...
, one of the principle songwriters on the album, is also a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and original vocalist in Savatage (Oliva is also the voice of Mephistopheles on Beethoven's Last Night
Beethoven's Last Night
Beethoven's Last Night is a concept album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 2000. The album tells the fictional story of Ludwig van Beethoven on the last night of his life, as the devil, Mephistopheles, comes to collect his soul...
).
As of October 16, 2011, Christmas Eve and Other Stories was the ninth best-selling Christmas/holiday album in the United States
Best-selling Christmas/Holiday albums in the United States
This page shows the best-selling Christmas albums in the United States. It includes artists from all over the world, but it only includes sales in the United States of America....
during the Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
era of music sales tracking (1991-present), with sales of at least 3,190,000 copies in the United States according to SoundScan.
On November 28, 2011, Christmas Eve and Other Stories was certified Triple Platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for shipment of more than three million copies in the United States.
Track listing
- "An Angel Came Down" (Franz Gruber, O'Neill, Oliva) – 3:52
- "O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy NightO Holy Night"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau , a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem...
" (John Francis WadeJohn Francis WadeJohn Francis Wade was an English hymnist who is credited with writing and composing the hymn "Adeste Fideles" ....
, Frederick OakeleyFrederick OakeleyFrederick Oakeley was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England the sixth son of Sir Charles Oakeley, second baronet, and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He was ordained in 1828 and in 1845 converted from Church of England to Catholicism, whereupon he became Canon of Westminster in 1852....
, John ReadingJohn of ReadingJohn of Reading was an English Franciscan theologian and scholastic philosopher. He was an early opponent of William of Ockham, and a follower of Duns Scotus. He wrote a commentary on the Sentences around 1320, at the University of Oxford. He argued for the unity of science...
, Adolphe AdamAdolphe AdamAdolphe Charles Adam was a French composer and music critic. A prolific composer of operas and ballets, he is best known today for his ballets Giselle and Le corsaire , his operas Le postillon de Lonjumeau , Le toréador and Si j'étais roi , and his Christmas...
, John Sullivan DwightJohn Sullivan DwightJohn Sullivan Dwight was a Unitarian minister, transcendentalist and America's first influential classical music critic.-Biography:...
, O'Neill, Kinkel) – 4:19 * - "A Star to Follow" (O'Neill) – 3:49
- "First Snow" (O'Neill) – 3:53 *
- "The Silent Nutcracker" (Kinkel, Oliva) – 2:22 *
- "A Mad Russian's Christmas" (Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
, Kinkel, Oliva) – 4:42 * - "The Prince of Peace" (Felix MendelssohnFelix MendelssohnJakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
, Charles WesleyCharles WesleyCharles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
, O'Neill) – 3:33 - "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 is an instrumental medley of "Carol of the Bells" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" first released on the Savatage album Dead Winter Dead in 1995 as "Christmas Eve ." It was re-released by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a side project of several Savatage members, on...
" (O'Neill, Kinkel, Oliva) – 3:25 * - "Good King Joy" (Lowell MasonLowell MasonLowell Mason was a leading figure in American church music, the composer of over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are often sung today. His most well-known tunes include Mary Had A Little Lamb and the arrangement of Joy to the World...
, Kinkel, O'Neill) – 6:36 - "Ornament" (O'Neill, Oliva) – 3:37
- "The First NoelThe First NoëlThe First Nowell is a traditional classical English carol, most likely from the 18th century, although possibly earlier...
" (William B. SandysWilliam B. SandysWilliam B. Sandys , was an English solicitor, member of the Percy Society, fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and remembered for his publication Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern , a collection of seasonal carols that Sandys had gathered and also apparently improvised...
) – 0:55 * - "Old City Bar" (O'Neill) – 6:18
- "Promises to Keep" (O'Neill, Kinkel, Oliva) – 2:41
- "This Christmas Day" (O'Neill, Oliva) – 4:20
- "An Angel Returned" (O'Neill, Oliva) – 3:52
- "O Holy NightO Holy Night"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau , a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem...
" (Adam, Dwight) – 2:39 * - "God Rest Ye Merry GentlemenGod Rest Ye Merry GentlemenGod Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is an English traditional Christmas carol. The melody is in Aeolian mode. It was published by William B...
" (Traditional) – 1:16 *
- (*) indicates an instrumental
- "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" is performed by SavatageSavatageSavatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
and was first released on the Savatage album Dead Winter DeadDead Winter Dead- Story :In the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, there is a town square surroundedby buildings that were constructed during the Middle Ages. Thesquare has a beautiful stone fountain at its center and at one...
in 1995.
- Songs "O Holy Night" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" are bonus tracks.
There is a 2 CD version of Christmas Eve and Other Stories with one CD containing a Special Narrated Version Of Christmas Eve and Other Stories. The narrated CD contains one continuous track of music, with narration by Russell Horton between songs. This special edit was done by Robert Kinkel and was produced by Taro Meyer.
In 2001, the Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
retail chain in the United States issued a version of the album with a different catalog number and a sticker attached to the front shrink wrap stating "Target Exclusive: 2 Bonus Songs Included." The two tracks are not identified on the cover or any of the album packaging, but they are as follows:
- "Whoville Medley (Perfect Christmas Night/Grinch)" - 2:38, which originally appeared on the 2000 soundtrack album to the movie Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- "The World That He Sees" - 4:43, which was added to The Christmas AtticThe Christmas AtticThe Christmas Attic is the second album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a rock opera, and the second installment of their Christmas Trilogy, the sequel to Christmas Eve and Other Stories and the prequel to The Lost Christmas Eve...
album sometime after its release; it does not appear on original 1998 editions of the CD.
They are located after the two "official" bonus tracks on the original CD.
Some other post-2000 copies of the CD contain "Whoville Medley (Perfect Christmas Night/Grinch)" as an unlisted 18th track, without "The World That He Sees."
Personnel
- Paul O'NeillPaul O'Neill (rock producer)Paul O'Neill is an American music composer, lyricist, producer, and songwriter.-Early years:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
- Producer - Robert KinkelRobert KinkelBob Kinkel is a professional session keyboardist and music engineer most known for his role as a co-creater/co-producer/co-composer and touring keyboardist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra along with extensive studio work with the prog-metal band Savatage...
- Co-Producer - Dave Wittman - Recording and Mix Engineer
Vocals
Solos:- Zak Stevens
- John Margolis
- Marlene Danielle
- Michael Fawcette
- Thomas Faresse
- Ken Williams
- Babi Floyd
Back-Ups:
- Zak Stevens
- Nancy Jackson
- Peggy Harley
- Latasha Spencer
- Danielle Lander
- Jeffrey Stackhouse
- Timothy Carosi
- Peter Valentine
Child choir
Conductor:- Anthony Piccolo
Choir:
- Joseph Murray
- Adrian Ross
- Nigel Tangredi
- Warren Wilson
- Beth Butler
- Cabiria Jacobson
- Rachel Rosenfield
- Caroline Ross
Orchestra
- Robert KinkelRobert KinkelBob Kinkel is a professional session keyboardist and music engineer most known for his role as a co-creater/co-producer/co-composer and touring keyboardist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra along with extensive studio work with the prog-metal band Savatage...
- Piano and Keyboards - Johnny Lee MiddletonJohnny Lee MiddletonJohnny Lee Middleton is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the bass guitar player for Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.-Musical beginnings:...
- Bass - Jon OlivaJon OlivaJohn Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He is the third of four children...
- Piano, Keyboards and Bass Guitars - Paul O'NeillPaul O'Neill (rock producer)Paul O'Neill is an American music composer, lyricist, producer, and songwriter.-Early years:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
- Rhythm Guitars - Al PitrelliAl PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Joe Lynn Turner, Asia and Savatage.-Early career :...
- Lead, Rhythm and Bass Guitars - Jeff PlateJeff PlateJeff Plate is a professional drummer and percussionist. He currently plays with the progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra and with thrash metal band Metal Church until their 2009 disbanding, although he is most remembered for his drumming for the band, Savatage on their albums since...
- Drums - Chris CafferyChris CafferyChris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
- Additional Guitars on "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)"