The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs
Encyclopedia
The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs is a compilation/remix album by Boney M.. In 1986 producer Frank Farian
took the master tapes from 1981's Christmas Album
, added six recordings by Liz Mitchell, Reggie Tsiboe and two session singers from 1984, remixed them and created Die 20 schönsten Weihnachtslieder der Welt, internationally released as The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs. The 1986 version of the Boney M. Christmas album has since been re-issued as Happy Christmas (1991), The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World
(1992), A Wonderful Christmas Time (1998) and Christmas Party (1998 and 2003).
Side B
Frank Farian
Frank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
took the master tapes from 1981's Christmas Album
Christmas Album (Boney M. album)
Germany7"* "Little Drummer Boy" - 4:27 / "6 Years Of Boney M. Hits " - 4:48 * "Zion's Daughter" - 3:50 / "White Christmas" - 3:15 12"* "6 Years Of Boney M Hits Germany7"* "Little Drummer Boy" - 4:27 / "6 Years Of Boney M. Hits (Boney M. on 45)" (7" Edit) - 4:48 (Hansa Records 103 777-100, 1981)*...
, added six recordings by Liz Mitchell, Reggie Tsiboe and two session singers from 1984, remixed them and created Die 20 schönsten Weihnachtslieder der Welt, internationally released as The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs. The 1986 version of the Boney M. Christmas album has since been re-issued as Happy Christmas (1991), The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World
The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World
The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs of the World is a compilation/remix album by Boney M. released simultaneously with greatest hits package Gold - 20 Super Hits in November 1992. The album is a slightly re-edited and remixed version of 1986's The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs...
(1992), A Wonderful Christmas Time (1998) and Christmas Party (1998 and 2003).
Track listing
Side A- "Christmas Medley ("Silent Night, Holy Night" / "Snow Falls Over the Ground" / "Hear Ye the Message" / "Sweet Bells") (Traditional, Farian, Jay) - 7:51
- Full-length version including the previously unreleased "Sweet Bells". Features Amy & Elaine Goff singing the first verse of "Silent Night, Holy Night" in German - instead of Liz Mitchell singing the first verse in English.
- "Oh Christmas Tree" ("O Tannenbaum") (Traditional, Farian) - 2:54
- "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (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...
, Farian) - 3:03 - "Zion's Daughter" (George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, Traditional, Farian, Jay, Rulofs) - 3:50 - "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...
) - 3:03 - "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" (Traditional, Farian) - 3:41
- "Petit Papa Noël" (Martinet, Vincy) - 1:41
- "Darkness Is Falling" (Jay, Rulofs) - 3:02
Side B
- "Joy to the WorldJoy to the World"Joy to the World" is a Christian Christmas carol.The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and...
" (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...
, Isaac WattsIsaac WattsIsaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
) - 2:32 - "White ChristmasWhite Christmas (song)"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as...
" (Irving BerlinIrving BerlinIrving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
) - 3:21- Edited version
- "Jingle BellsJingle Bells"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857...
" (James Lord Pierpont, Farian) - 3:28 - "Feliz NavidadFeliz NavidadFeliz Navidad may refer to:* a Spanish phrase meaning "happy Nativity"; comparable to Merry Christmas* Feliz Navidad , an album by José Feliciano** Feliz Navidad , a 1970 song from that album...
" (José FelicianoJosé FelicianoJosé Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer, virtuoso guitarist and composer known for many international hits including the 1970 holiday single "Feliz Navidad".-Childhood:...
) - 2:21 - "When a Child Is BornWhen a Child Is Born"When a Child is Born" is a popular Christmas song. The original melody was "Soleado", a tune from 1972 by Ciro Dammicco , composer for the Italian group Daniel Santecruz Ensemble. The English language lyrics were written later by Fred Jay....
" (Jay, Zacar) - 3:19 - "Little Drummer BoyLittle Drummer Boy"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry...
" (Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone) - 4:21 - "Mary's Boy ChildMary's Boy Child"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston. With its religious content, it is also widely performed as a Christmas carol....
/ Oh My Lord" (Jester HairstonJester HairstonJester Joseph Hairston was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".-Early life:Hairston...
, Farian) - 5:09- Edited version
- "Auld Lang SyneAuld Lang Syne"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song . It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight...
" (Robert BurnsRobert BurnsRobert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
, Traditional) - 2:34
Personnel
- Liz MitchellLiz MitchellLiz Mitchell is a singer, best known as the former lead singer of the 1970s disco/pop band, Boney M.-Early life:...
- lead vocals (except trk. A2, A5, A6, B1, B8), backing vocals - Marcia BarrettMarcia BarrettMarcia Barrett , is one of the original singers with the vocal group, Boney M.-The early years:...
- backing vocals (track B3, B4, B7) - Frank FarianFrank FarianFrank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
- backing vocals - Reggie TsiboeReggie TsiboeReggie Tsiboe was born on 7 September 1950 in Kumasi was one of the lead singers of the disco group Boney M. between 1982-1986 and later between 1989-1990....
- lead vocals, backing vocals (tracks A2, A5, A6, B1 & B8) - London Christmas Choir - choirChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
(tracks A1, A5, A7, A8, B2, B5 & B6) - Amy & Elaine Goff - lead- and backing vocals (tracks A1, A2, A3, A5, A6, B1 & B8)
- London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic OrchestraThe London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
- orchestra
Release history
- Germany 1986: Die 20 schönsten Weihnachtslieder der Welt Hansa RecordsHansa RecordsHansa Records was a record label founded in the 1960s based in Berlin, Germany....
208 018-630, LP - EU 1986: The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs Hansa 208 116-320, LP
- EU 1986: The 20 Greatest Christmas Songs Hansa 258 116-200, CD
- Germany 1991: Happy Christmas BMG-Ariola/Ariola Express 295 603-200, CD
Sources and external links
- Rate Your Music, detailed discography
- Discogs.com, detailed discography
- [ Allmusic, biography, discography etc.]