A Special Christmas is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album released by American female R&B trio SWV that was released in the United States on November 18, 1997, by RCA Records. The album follows the release of their third album Release Some Tension (1997) which was released four months earlier. It is a holiday album featuring cover versions. A Special Christmas would be the penultimate album the trio recorded together before they disbanded in 1998. Coko, the group's lead singer, released her first solo album in 1999.
| A Special Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album / Christmas album by | ||||
| Released | November 18, 1997 | |||
| Genre | Christmas | |||
| Length | 42:20 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Producer |
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| SWV chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | C−[2] |
Jose F. Promis, writing for Allmusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine write that "the endearing, sleek, soulful set finds the Sisters With Voices covering a sweet selection of holiday standards, and it differs from their previous albums because all three gals handle lead vocals [...] This album works because they treat the standards with respect and reverence, while still managing to put the SWV stamp on the recordings, and the sole new track is a highlight, instead of a bore, which many contemporary Christmas songs tend to be. A sweet, endearing, soulful set"[1]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 0:41 | ||
| 2. | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" | Michael J. Powell | 4:27 | |
| 3. | "This Christmas" |
| Powell | 3:56 |
| 4. | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | Powell | 4:28 | |
| 5. | "Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without the One You Love)" | Gamble and Huff | Powell | 3:15 |
| 6. | "Give Love on Christmas Day" | Powell | 3:49 | |
| 7. | "White Christmas" | Irving Berlin | Powell | 3:33 |
| 8. | "Silent Night" | Powell | 5:00 | |
| 9. | "Silver Bells" |
| 5:34 | |
| 10. | "O Holy Night" | Powell | 3:30 | |
| 11. | "My Favorite Things" | Rodgers and Hammerstein | Powell | 4:07 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[3] | 85 |
References
edit- ^ a b Promis, Jose F.. A Special Christmas review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
- ^ "A Special Christmas Review". Entertainment Weekly. December 5, 1997. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
- ^ "SWV Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.