Wikipedia

Christmas Is Here (Danny Gokey album)

Christmas Is Here is the first Christmas album and third studio album recorded by Danny Gokey. BMG Records released the album on October 16, 2015. He worked with Keith Thomas, in the production of this album.[1] An original track co-written by Gokey, "Lift Up Your Eyes", was released September 25, 2015 as the lead single.[2] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart and in the top 10 of the Christian and Independent albums charts.

Christmas Is Here
Studio album by
Danny Gokey
ReleasedOctober 16, 2015 (2015-10-16)
Studio
  • Willowbrooke Studios (Franklin, Tennessee)
Genre
Length37:21
LabelBMG
ProducerKeith Thomas
Danny Gokey chronology
Hope in Front of Me
(2014) 		Christmas Is Here
(2015) 		La Esperanza Frente a Mi
(2016)
Singles from Christmas Is Here
  1. "Lift Up Your Eyes"
    Released: September 25, 2015

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
365 Days of Inspiring Media     [3]
CCM Magazine     [4]
The Christian Beat     [5]
New Release Today     [6]

Rating the album three and a half stars for CCM Magazine, Kevin Sparkman says, "Christmas may be here, but Danny Gokey's vocals are always in season."[4] Caitlin Lassiter, indicating in a four star review by New Release Today, describes, "Christmas Is Here is a perfect example of how to take classic favorites and remake them into modern songs of holiday praise and worship."[6] Joshua Andre, awarding the album four stars at 365 Days of Inspiring Media, writes, "Well done Danny for such a poignant, powerful and prolific Christmas album".[3] Giving the album four stars from The Christian Beat, Sarah Baylor states, "Danny Gokey's Christmas Is Here is definitely the perfect album to get you in the holiday spirit."[5]

Track listing

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Christmas Is Here
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What Christmas Means to Me"Anna Gordy Gaye, George Gordy, Allen Story3:21
2."It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"Edward Pola, George Wyle2:15
3."White Christmas"Irving Berlin2:57
4."Mary, Did You Know?"Buddy Greene, Mark Lowry4:49
5."Lift Up Your Eyes"Mia Fieldes, Danny Gokey, Jonathan Smith4:14
6."The Christmas Song"Robert Wells, Mel Tormé2:32
7."Christmas Is Here"Gokey, Becca Mizell, Sam Mizell, Keith Thomas3:15
8."This Christmas"Donny Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor3:28
9."O, Holy Night"Traditional4:56
10."Give Me Jesus"Traditional5:34
Total length:37:21

Personnel

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  • Danny Gokey – vocals
  • Keith Thomas – keyboards, programming, acoustic piano, arrangements
  • Pat Coil – acoustic piano
  • Jonathan Crone – guitars
  • Craig Nelson – bass
  • Ben Phillips – drums
  • Scott Williamson – drums
  • Willowbrooke Philharmonic – orchestra
  • Chris Harris – backing vocals
  • Debi Selby – backing vocals
  • Celica Westbrook – backing vocals

Choir

  • Susan Bailey, Lindel Cooley, Marcia Daugherty, Michael Daugherty, Eric Droke, Rebecca Edwards, Joy Gardner, Rachelle Graber, Lisa Graham, Tammi Harris Cleek, Christina Metzger, Jeremy Pate, Terry White and Melanie Winters

Production

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  • Penny Railey – executive producer
  • Mitchell Solarek – executive producer
  • Keith Thomas – producer, engineer
  • Jonathan Crone – engineer, mixing, assistant tracking engineer
  • Dave McNair – mastering at Dave McNair Mastering (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
  • Daryl Bush – production coordinator
  • Lisa Stuart – production coordinator
  • Jeremy Cowart – photography
  • Danny Gokey – liner notes

Chart performance

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Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[7] 9
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] 10
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[9] 1

References

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  1. ^ "Christmas Is Here - Danny Gokey : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  2. ^ "Danny Gokey: Lift Up Your Eyes - Music on Google Play". Google Play Music. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Andre, Joshua (November 8, 2015). "Music Reviews: Danny Gokey – Christmas Is Here". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Sparkman, Kevin (November 16, 2015). "Danny Gokey – 'Christmas Is Here'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Baylor, Sarah (October 28, 2015). "Danny Gokey's "Christmas Is Here": Soulful & Upbeat". The Christian Beat. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Lassiter, Caitlin (October 23, 2015). "Soulful Christmas Music". New Release Today. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  7. ^ "Danny Gokey Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "Danny Gokey Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Danny Gokey Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
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