Katharine McPhee laughs and exclaims, “This feels so wrong,” as she reflects back on recording a Christmas album on a scorching hot July day in Los Angeles. Yet nothing could be more right than for the sensational singer to record some of her favorite Christmas songs for her third album titled Christmas Is The Time…To Say I Love You.
“Christmas really is my favorite time of year,” says McPhee. “It takes a little imagination to be recording in the summer, but I don’t need a ton of Christmas lights in the studio to inspire me. I know these songs so well. These are the songs I listened to growing up. Hopefully my versions will be unique, but at the same time timeless; full and rich yet simple and intimate.”
The idea for this holiday album came about after the success of her first Christmas single, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” which was released last year. The song was a huge hit, downloaded over 500,000 times exclusively on iTunes. “I've been blessed to share Christmas with my family and close friends. Life on the road has made me realize how many people spend Christmas alone. When visiting military hospitals or even meeting fellow travelers working during the holidays, it made me reflect on how hard it can be to celebrate anything when you're away from those you love. These experiences inspired me to write an original song for the album called ‘It’s Not Christmas Without You.’"
The producer of the album is Allen Sides, one of the most respected engineer/producers in music. A two-time Grammy® winner for albums with Burt Bacharach and Joni Mitchell, Sides has also worked with Eric Clapton, Alanis Morrisette, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald.
Co-producing the album is Grammy® nominated producer/engineer/ arranger Steven Miller who has worked with the Dave Matthews Band, Pink, Suzanne Vega and George Winston to name a few.
The title track of the CD, “Christmas Is The Time…To Say I Love You,” is a rarely covered song originally recorded by rocker Billy Squier in 1981. The album will also be filled with familiar classics, whether traditional or contemporary, from “O Holy Night” and “This Christmas” to a medley of “Away In A Manger”/“O Little Town Of Bethlehem” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” featuring trumpeter Chris Botti.
McPhee’s career launched with her renowned run on “American Idol” in 2006. She has already enjoyed success with Christmas releases from her 2007 single “O Come All Ye Faithful” to 2009’s “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” She has also become a fixture on television around holiday time, from a Christmas In Washington special performing for the First Family to the My Christmas concert starring Andrea Bocelli.
McPhee’s most cherished Christmas memory also involves singing, but strikes closer to home. “Actually it’s the day after Thanksgiving,” she says. “That was the day my sister and I would pull out all the decorations, put on Christmas music and go through the house singing with my mom and dad as we put up the Christmas tree.”
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01.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
02.
Jingle Bells
03.
It's Not Christmas Without You
04.
O Holy Night
05.
Silver Bells
06.
Medley: O Little Town of Bethlehem/Away In A Manger
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