1994 Neil Diamond – The Christmas Album Volume II
The Christmas Album, Volume II is the twenty-second studio album by Neil Diamond, and his second to feature Christmas music. It was produced by Peter Asher and released by Columbia Records in 1994, only two years after Diamond’s previous Christmas album. It features orchestral and choir arrangements by David Campbell, who also worked on the first Christmas album, as well as several of Diamond’s other works. The album reached number 9 on the Billboard Holiday Album chart and was certified as gold by the RIAA on December 6, 1994.
Tracks
1 Joy To The World (Traditional) 02:40
2 Mary’s Little Boy Child (Jester Hairston) 02:59
3 Deck The Halls / We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Traditional) 01:42
4 Winter Wonderland (Dick Smith; Felix Bernard) 02:44
5 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin; Ralph Blane) 04:44
6 I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Buck Ram; Kim Gannon; Walter Kent) 03:42
7 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Johnny Marks) 04:04
8 Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson; Mitchell Parish) 02:42
9 Candlelight Carol (John Rutter) 04:09
10 Away In A Manger (Traditional) 02:33
11 O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional) 04:16
12 O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Traditional) 03:36
13 Angels We Have Heard On High (Traditional) 03:17
14 The First Noel (Traditional) 03:34
15 Hallelujah Chorus (Traditional) 03:33
Biography
Musicians
1 Joy To The World
| Bass | Jimmy Johnson |
| Drums | Carlos Vega |
| Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Guitar | Waddy Wachtel |
| Piano | Robbie Buchanan |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
2 Mary’s Little Boy Child
| Bass | Bob Magnusson |
| Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Woodwinds | Jon Clarke |
| Steel Drums | Vince Charles |
| Percussion | Peter Asher |
| Background Vocals | Kate Markowitz |
| Background Vocals | Laura Satterfield |
| Background Vocals | Valerie Carter |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
3 Deck The Halls / We Wish You A Merry Christmas
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
4 Winter Wonderland
| Bass | Jimmy Johnson |
| Drums | Carlos Vega |
| Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Guitar | Waddy Wachtel |
| Organ | Bill Payne |
| Background Vocals | Maxine Willard Waters |
| Background Vocals | Julia Tillman Waters |
| Background Vocals | Oren Waters |
| Background Vocals | Kate Markowitz |
| Background Vocals | Raven Kane |
| Background Vocals | Stephanie Spruill |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
5 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
| Bass | Bob Magnusson |
| Drums | Carlos Vega |
| Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Piano | Tom Hensley |
| Marimba | Alan Estes |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
6 I’ll Be Home For Christmas
| Bass | Bob Magnusson |
| Drums | Carlos Vega |
| Harmonica | Tommy Morgan |
| Piano | Tom Hensley |
| Vibraphone | Alan Estes |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
7 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
| Bass | Jimmy Johnson |
| Drums | Carlos Vega |
| Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Guitar | Waddy Wachtel |
| Organ | Bill Payne |
| Percussion | Carlos Vega |
| Percussion | Peter Asher |
| Background Vocals | Maxine Willard Waters |
| Background Vocals | Julia Tillman Waters |
| Background Vocals | Oren Waters |
| Background Vocals | Andrea Robinson |
| Background Vocals | Kate Markowitz |
| Background Vocals | Raven Kane |
| Background Vocals | Stephanie Spruill |
| Background Vocals | Wendy Fraser |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
8 Sleigh Ride
| Bass | Bob Magnusson |
| Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Vibraphone | MB Gordy |
| Percussion | Peter Asher |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
9 Candlelight Carol
| Piano | Alan Lindgren |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
10 Away In A Manger
| Bass | Bob Magnusson |
| Acoustic Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Acoustic Guitar | Waddy Wachtel |
| Mandolin | Kenny Blackwell |
| Accordion | Brian Mann |
| Background Vocals | Herb Pedersen |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
11 O Come All Ye Faithful
| Guitar | Bob Mann |
| Keyboards | Robbie Buchanan |
| Percussion | Peter Asher |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
12 O Little Town Of Bethlehem
| Piano | Robbie Buchanan |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
13 Angels We Have Heard On High
| Keyboards | Robbie Buchanan |
| Percussion | MB Gordy |
| Percussion | Robbie Buchanan |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
14 The First Noel
| Harmonium | Robbie Buchanan |
| Lute | Carl Smith |
| Flute | Jon Clarke |
| Percussion | MB Gordy |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
15 Hallelujah Chorus
| Bass | Jimmy Johnson |
| Drums | Carlos Vega |
| Guitar | Michael Thompson |
| Keyboards | Robbie Buchanan |
| Timpani | MB Gordy |
| Vocals | Neil Diamond |
Other Musicians
Choir – The Ambrosian Singers (Tracks 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Choir (Boys) – Angel Voices (Tracks 9, 11, 13, 14)
Vocals – Barbershop Quartet, 139th Street Quartet (Track 3)
Liner Notes
Producer – Peter Asher
Arranged By – David Campbell (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Arranged By – Walter Whitman (Track 1)
Arranged By – Alan Lindgren (Tracks 5, 6, 9)
Arranged By – Tom Hensley (Tracks 5, 6)
Chorus Master – John McCarthy (Tracks 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Conductor (Ambrosian Singers) – David Campbell (Tracks 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Conductor (Angel Voices) – Robert Prizeman (Tracks 9, 11, 13, 14)
Conductor (Brass) – David Campbell (Track 1)
Conductor (Choir) – Walter Whitman (Track 1)
Conductor (Horns) – David Campbell (Tracks 4, 7)
Conductor (Horns) – Alan Lindgren, Tom Hensley (Track 5)
Conductor (Orchestra) – David Campbell (Tracks 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
Engineer (Additional) – Bernie Becker, Julie Last
Engineer (Assistant) – John Radzin, Kirsten Cowie, Marnie Riley, Sean O’Dwyer
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Frank Wolf
Recorded By – Frank Wolf
Art Direction – David Kirschner
Design – Dylan Tran, Gabrielle Raumberger
Photography – Mauro Cararro, David Skernick
Mastered At The Mastering Lab
Recorded At Conway Studios
Recorded At Arch Angel Studios
Recorded At Angel Studios
Phonographic Copyright Sony Music Entertainment Inc
Copyright Neil Diamond