Michael W. Smith, also known as Smitty, is one of the most prolific artists in Christian music history. Now entering his 5th decade in the industry, he remains one of the most renowned names in the biz. He's also no stranger to Christmas music, having released five full-length Christmas albums as of this writing. To celebrate 35 years since the release of his first Christmas project in 1989, we look back at the highlights from each of his five full-length Christmas albums.
Christmas
Smitty's first Christmas album bears many of the hallmarks of his 1980s styles. His youthful voice still had the power to carry arena rock sounds. Yet the seeds of what would become his Christmas signatures are set here. Big choral numbers produce some of the most memorable cuts on the album. A children's choir leads "Lux Venit" into an unforgettable introduction to the world of Michael W. Smith's Christmas music. "Gloria" was perhaps the most well-known hit from the project. Still played in stores today, this twist on "Angels We Have Heard on High" reinvented the melody and made the song Smitty's own in a way that few artists before could pull off. (Although in the decades since, many other artists have run with the inspiration from this track to make their memorable spins on the song.) Smitty's penchant for performing instrumental pieces on his Christmas album also begins with several festive cuts to get you in the mood for the season.
Christmastime
One of Smitty's most commercial Christmas albums, Christmastime, refined his signature Christmas style while offering many broadly appealing hits. His rendition of "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" makes for a fun throwback hit that revitalizes the often-tired song and turns it into a rollicking showstopper. A cover of Christian artist Chris Rice's "Welcome to Our World" is a highlight, with Smitty's vocals serving the tender ballad well. "Carols Sing" is a children's choir song that will put you in the Christmas mood with one listen.
The title track was a crossover hit that combined Smitty's cinematic musicianship, choir backing, and Christmassy vibes into one of his catalog's best Christmas songs. The song sings of the wonder of Christmas time, and wonder is precisely what you'll feel when listening to it. Several medleys in the album's back half offer additional engaging dynamics, balancing quiet, reflective moments with beautifully bombastic highs to create memorable tunes that will echo in your head long after the holidays.
It's A Wonderful Christmas
Michael W. Smith's Christmas albums are known for their big instrumentals with cinematic sound and originals with powerful choral backings that sound like they could be snippets of the Choirs of Angels themselves. With four choirs and a 65-piece orchestra backing him, It's A Wonderful Christmas was the one that leaned most heavily into this dynamic. Devoid of covers of the usual standards, this album embraced the uniqueness of Smitty's Christmas musical styles. The title track sounds like a long-lost piece from instrumentalist John Williams' Home Alone score. Originals like "The Promise" and "Son of God" redefine theatrical epic in sound.
I always thought that Smitty wanted to produce an epic television special or score a significant Hollywood Christmas epic, and these songs feel like they are gesturing toward such lofty goals. "Christmas Angels" has always been a favorite of mine, with a grand and lush seasonal musical sound. Perhaps the best known from this is the single "Christmas Day" featuring the late Christian pop artist Mandisa. In light of losing Mandisa so young this past year, this one carries a bittersweet vibe. Its larger-than-life joyous sound is vibrant and wondrous, balancing Christmas music's fun and majestic sides in a truly memorable track.
The Spirit of Christmas
Suppose the last album was about Smitty's original Christmas compositions. In that case, The Spirit of Christmas runs the opposite way. The album is almost entirely composed of covers of popular Christmas songs, with only a few originals sprinkled in. But in the spirit of capturing Smitty's penchant for Christmas grandeur, this album features prominent country music guest vocalists on nearly every song. Further cementing the idea that Smitty should be producing Christmas specials, everyone from Amy Grant to Bono appears here. With significant acts like Lady A, Little Big Town, Jennifer Nettles, and Carrie Underwood featured, the album reads like a who's who list of performers. Smith's solo efforts on "Happy Holidays (Holiday Season)" and "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" prove that he's still a headliner of a performer in his own right. Although this album did not produce a radio hit as significant as those from his previous album, it still demonstrated that even a seasoned veteran like Michael W. Smith, with his fourth Christmas album, can discover new ways to approach the genre.
Every Christmas
Smith's most recent Christmas project began as the Christmas At Home EP released in 2022 and expanded into a full-length album in 2023. The album boasts all of Smitty's signature Christmas hallmarks: heartfelt originals, cinematic instrumentals, and spine-tingling choral numbers designed to be sung in the grandest Cathedral. Originals like "Christmas Is Here" and "Freeze the Frame" tap into both the nostalgia for holidays past and the desire not to miss the beauty of the Christmas moments before us right now. These songs feel like wisdom from a seasoned artist speaking to a younger audience and are a great addition to Smitty's Christmas collection.
While we've yet to see Smitty properly realize his calling to score a Christmas movie or produce a significant holiday television special, he has one of the most extensive collections of holiday recordings of any Christian artist. His voice and the theatrical sounds of his Christmas music will always be a welcome addition to the musical sounds of the Christmas season.
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. His new novel, 'When Miracles Can Dream,' is out NOW!
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