1998 Brian McKnight – Bethlehem
Bethlehem is the fourth studio album by American singer Brian McKnight, his first with Motown Records, released on October 20, 1998. The album is his first Christmas album. Bethlehem consists of eleven tracks, featuring original songs and cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, several of which are duets featuring recording artists such as Boyz II Men, Dave Koz, Michael Sembello, Tim Miner, and Maria Cole as well McKnight’s brother Claude, his then-wife Julie and his sons.
Tracks
1 Hail Mary (William L Dawson) 02:09
2 Bethlehem Tonight (Brian McKnight) 03:32
3 Let It Snow ’98 (Brian McKnight; Wanya Morris) 04:24
4 Silent Night – Interlude (Traditional) 01:15
5 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin; Ralph Blane) 03:58
6 It’s All About Love (Brian McKnight) 05:14
7 Christmas Time Is Here (Brian McKnight) 03:26
8 The First Noel (Traditional) 03:35
9 Home For The Holidays (Brian McKnight) 03:18
10 Don’t Let Me Go (Brian McKnight) 04:13
11 Christmas Eve With You (Brian McKnight) 06:20
Biography
Musicians
1 Hail Mary (feat. The McKnight Family Choir)
| Vocals | Mike McKnight |
| Vocals | Fred McKnight |
| Vocals | Claude McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
2 Bethlehem Tonight
| Drums (programming) | Anthony Nance |
| Guitar | Michael Sembello |
| Keyboards | Brian McKnight |
| Flute | Dan Higgins |
| Flute | Gerry Rotella |
| Flute | Valerie King |
| Vocals | Michael Sembello |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
3 Let It Snow ’98 (feat. Boyz II Men)
| Drums (programming) | Anthony Nance |
| All Other Instruments | Brian McKnight |
| Background Vocals | Brian McKnight |
| Background Vocals | Nathan Morris |
| Background Vocals | Wanya Morris |
| Background Vocals | Shawn Stockman |
| Vocals | Wanya Morris |
| Vocals | Shawn Stockman |
| Vocals | Nathan Morris |
| Vocals | Michael McCary |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
4 Silent Night – Interlude
| Organ | Rob Lewis |
| Spoken Word | Maria Cole |
5 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
| Fender Rhodes | Bill Meyers |
| Programming | Jimi Randolph |
| Harmonica | Tollak Ollestad |
| Clarinet | Dan Higgins |
| Flute | Dan Higgins |
| Flute | Gerry Rotella |
| Flute | Valerie King |
| French Horn | Richard Todd |
| French Horn | Phil Yao |
| French Horn | Dan Kelly |
| Background Vocals | Brian McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
6 It’s All About Love
| Drums (programming) | Anthony Nance |
| All Other Instruments | Brian McKnight |
| Background Vocals | Brian McKnight Jr |
| Background Vocals | Niko McKnight |
| Background Vocals | Daddy |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight Jr |
| Vocals | Niko McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
7 Christmas Time Is Here
| Background Vocals | Brian McKnight |
| Vocals | Mike McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
8 The First Noel
| All Instruments | Brian McKnight |
| Background Vocals | Brian McKnight |
| Vocals | Tim Miner |
| Vocals | Claude McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
9 Home For The Holidays
| Bass | Carl Carter |
| Drums | Prescott Ellison |
| Guitar | Derrick Cummings |
| Organ | Rob Lewis |
| Background Vocals | Brian McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
10 Don’t Let Me Go
| Drums (programming) | Anthony Nance |
| All Other Instruments | Brian McKnight |
| Background Vocals | Brian McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
11 Christmas Eve With You
| Drums | Prescott Ellison |
| Sax | Dave Koz |
| All Other Instruments | Brian McKnight |
| Vocals | Julie McKnight |
| Vocals | Brian McKnight |
Choir & Orchestra
Choir – Kameka Britton, Kellye Britton, Lawrence Britton, Ava Crump, Lauren Edgecomb, Leah Edgecomb, Linda Edgecomb, Ransom Fields, Angela Gill, Conrad Gill, Mildred Gill, Keith Gill, Shelton Gill, Curtis Harraway, Pamela Harraway, Michael McKnight, Andrea Rivers, Cleo Willis, Fred Willis, Karen Willis, Katrina Willis, Lynne Willis, Paul Willis, Ruth Willis, Antoine Wilson, Cleveland Wilson, Danita Wilson, Gina Wilson (Track 1)
Cello – Larry Corbett, Stefanie Fife, Suzie Katayama, Dane Little, Steve Richards, Dan Smith, Tina Soule, Rudy Stein (Track 2)
Upright Bass – Chris Hanulik (Track 2)
Viola – Bob Becker, Denyne Buffum, Matt Funes, Peter Hatch, Vicky Miskolosky, Maria Newman (Track 2)
Violin – Bruce Dukov, Jackie Brand, Susan Chatman, Ron Clark, Mario DeLeon, Joel Derouin, Charlie Everett, Berj Garabedian, Robert Gerry, Peter Kent, Brian Leonard, Mike Markman, Bob Peterson, Michele Richards, Haim Shtrum, Eddie Stein, David Stenske, John Wittenberg (Track 2)
Liner Notes
Producer – Brian McKnight
Producer – Brian McKnight, Bruce Carbone (Track 4)
Co-Producer – Bill Meyers (Track 5)
Arranged By – Fred Willis Sr, Fred Willis Jr, Brian McKnight (Track 1)
Arranged By (Orchestra) – Bill Meyers (Track 2, 5)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Bill Meyers (Track 5)
Arranged By – Brian McKnight (Track 8)
Conductor – Bill Meyers (Track 2)
Contractor – Suzie Katayama (Track 2)
Mastered By – Eddy Schreyer
Mixed By – Dave Pensado, Dave Pensado
Mixed By (Assistant) – Jazzy Jeff Griffin
Recorded By – Chris Wood, Paul Klingberg, Mike Secher, Jimi Randolph
Recorded By (Assistant) – Mary Ann Souza, Rich Veltrop, Luis Quine, Charlie Paakkari
Photography – Michael Lavine
Mixed At The Enterprise, Burbank, CA
Mastered At Oasis Mastering, Studio City, CA
Recorded At Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA
Recorded At Backroom Studios, Glendale, CA
Recorded At Andora Studios, Studio City, CA
Recorded At Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA
Recorded At Bossanova Hotel Studio, San Fernando, CA
Recorded At The Record Plant, Hollywood, CA
Recorded At Soundtrack Studios, Boston, MA
Recorded At Mr. Hill’s Playhouse, Hollywood, CA
Phonographic Copyright Motown Record Company LP
Copyright Motown Record Company LP