Steven Curtis Chapman's 'The Music of Christmas' Turns 25
NRT's J.J. Francesco looks back at Steven Curtis Chapman's inaugural Christmas project, the nostalgia-infued 'The Music of Christmas,' as it turns 25 this holiday season.
It's hard to tell exactly when recording a Christmas album became a right of passage for an established artist. In 2020, it seems recording a collection of Christmas tunes is almost contractually required of most popular artists of contemporary or pop genres. Back in the 1980s, this was sort of a burgeoning trend, with most artists offering up a single or two, or an appearance on a compilation. Dropping full-length Christmas projects was still often reserved for the A-listers. By the time we got to the 1990s, it seems like the industrial shift was beginning to take shape, but an artist releasing a Christmas album was still a fairly big deal.
For Christian music, industry giants Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant had already begun to leave their mark on Christmas music. Steven Curtis Chapman's career was on a rapid upward trajectory at this point, with several albums that would be Certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America under his belt, he was just a few years off from recording what would be some of the biggest albums of his career. Thus, it seemed quite an opportune time to drop a Christmas album. Chapman's warm, contemporary voice fits in perfectly with where Christian music was at in the 1990s and made him one of the most successful artists of the genre. Thus, it should surprise nobody that his first Christmas album was bathed in those sounds of the time.
As this album turns 25 years old, we take a look back at the first of several of Chapman's holiday hits.
Overflowing Nostalgia
In the turbulent days of 2020, nostalgia for the 1980s and 1990s is through the roof right now. While these days probably seemed just as trying at the time to those going through them, history has a way of bathing the past in a rosy veneer. Chapman's first Christmas album sounds like something probably a few years older than it actually is, maybe from the 1980s. The chamber-pop production and contemporary vibes arguably carried nostalgic waves even upon their initial release. 25 years later, they call to mind memories of childhood. Of course, dated production may usually be viewed as a negative, but if there's one time where these things get a pass, it would be Christmas.
Chapman's signature "Christmas is All in the Heart" is probably his best known Christmas song, even with several more albums under his belt since. It melded appreciation for the simple joys of Christmas melded with a look back on the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child. Add in the recapturing of that childlike joy through the eyes of a parent, and you have something that can relate to listeners of several generations. As those who were children when the song came out are now themselves parents, they'll appreciate the song in a whole new way. Chapman's delivery is so inviting that it can almost warm the cold December up.
Chapman's take on the classic "Angels We Have Heard On High" changes the melody up some to a foot-tapping romp that overflows with an 80s-style hook that will have you bobbing along. I was reminded of something that Michael W. Smith might've done back then.
And going through each track, you're likely to get similar feelings. Maybe it's the children's choir on "O Come All Ye Faithful" or the anthemic delivery of "This Baby." Regardless, you're likely to find something to trigger happy memories of a time when Christmas was magical. While Chapman's future Christmas offerings had slicker production, these songs feel almost more timeless because of being pinned into a musical era. Kind of like preferring the old films to remain in black and white.
A Play For Originals
When so many Christmas albums take an easy route of just having an artist sing known carols, Chapman's first effort contains a surprising amount of originals. At 12 tracks, over half of these contain original compositions. While we have several outright new songs, some are also reworked with an original melody (i.e. "Angels..."). The aforementioned "Christmas is All In The Heart" proved to be an instant classic. "This Baby" was an energetic look at the life of Christ from infancy into his adulthood. Perhaps this one sounds the least Christmassy of the bunch and the most like something that could've been on a standard Chapman release. It's nevertheless a fun and engaging pop number that boasts some of the best hallmarks of the genre's sound at the time.
The title track that opens up the album is another highlight with choral backing and a rousing chorus that sets the tone for the entire album. Quiet numbers like "Going Home For Christmas" or "Precious Promise" offer sonic balance to the more foot-tapping anthems.
With so many originals here, it'd be nice to see some of them start making their way into the canon of Christmas standards artists pick from for their own recordings, instead of hearing the same covers of the same songs. I suppose only time will tell. But as these songs are now a quarter of a century old, they can indeed make legitimate claims to the title of "classic."
The Beginnings of Tradition
Steven Curtis Chapman would go on to produce several more Christmas albums in the coming years. From the moving "All I Really Want For Christmas" or the danceable "Christmas Time Again," this collection would hardly be the last time listeners would hear Yuletide tunes from Chapman. Still, despite the dated veneer of these songs and slicker production of future recordings, it's difficult to argue that this collection may be the one that is the most joy to revisit come Christmas time. If you have made Chapman's Christmas hits part of your Christmas traditions, revisit this collection for the silver anniversary and see if there are any songs you missed.
J.J. Francesco is a longtime contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community.
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