Michael W. Smith will welcome an impressive lineup of fellow artists for his upcoming holiday season release Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas, which will release Sept. 30. Bono, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Nettles, Amy Grant and Michael McDonald have all recorded tracks for the project.
Pictured (L-R): Robert Deaton, Carrie Underwood, Michael W. Smith. Photo: Ryan Smith.
The project also marks Robert Deaton‘s debut as an album producer. The CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas producer approached Smith about creating a full Christmas recording after Smith’s performance with Nettles during the 2013 Country Christmas program. Orchestral maestro David Hamilton was brought in as the third co-producer, and arranged and oversaw the London Symphony Orchestra’s recordings on the album.
“When we started talking about who could be on this record with him, the list got really narrow really fast,” remarked co-producer Deaton. “There’s a difference between a singer and an artist, or a celebrity and an artist. While we were fortunate to have these amazing guests on the record, it all feels like a cohesive piece and you never leave the fact that it’s a Michael W. Smith record. That was important. That, along with working with co-producer David Hamilton, who is the resident genius, was amazing. This entire process has just been phenomenal.”
Little Big Town with Michael W. Smith. Photo: Ryan Smith
This marks Smith’s fourth Christmas album, following 1989’s Michael W. Smith Christmas, 1998’s Christmastime, and 2007’s It’s A Wonderful Christmas.
“This is the most unique and unusual record I’ve ever done in my 31-year career. The entire record was sequenced together before we recorded one song,” comments Smith. “Sonically you’re hearing me in a way that you’ve probably never heard me before. At one point it’s like Smitty meets Bublé. There’s my granddaughter’s voice singing the song from ‘Home Alone,’ plus the whole orchestral and symphonic feeling of Christmas, mixed together with all these amazing voices and guests – yet it all fits together in a remarkable way.”
Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas Track Listing
1. The Miracle of Christmas
2. It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
3. Happy Holidays/Holiday Season
4. Christmas Time Is Here (feat. Vince Gill)
5. White Christmas (feat. Lady Antebellum)
6. Somewhere In My Memory
7. The Spirit of Christmas (Deck the Halls, Good King Wenceslas, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Feels Like Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful)
8. Silent Night (feat. Little Big Town)
9. What Child Is This (feat. Martina McBride)
10. Almost There (feat. Amy Grant)
11. All Is Well (feat. Carrie Underwood)
12. Christmas Day (feat. Jennifer Nettles)
13. The Darkest Midnight (Spoken Word by Bono)
14. Peace (with Special Guest Michael McDonald)
About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
