It's a Wonderful Christmas is an album by Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith. Released in October 2007, this epic album is Smith's third album of Christmas music and features four choirs and a 65-piece orchestra. About half the album is instrumental pieces, including "What Child is This", "Audrey's Gift", and "It's a Wonderful Christmas". Vocal numbers such as "The Promise" and "Christmas Angels" reflect Smith's trademark personal touch and evoke his previous Christmas albums, Christmas (1989) and Christmastime (1998). Smith utilizes the full sound of the orchestra and choirs to produce an album that exudes a "mastery of the adult contemporary sound" and adds "so richly to the Christmas songbook."
All tracks written by Michael W. Smith, except where noted.
Sam Bacco – Scottish snare drum and bass drum (6)
Steven Beers – The Nashville Choir and Children's Choir recording assistant
Blackbird Studios, Nashville, Tennessee – recording location,New Cumberland Choir and Highland bagpipes for rhythm section
Michael Blanton – executive producer
Michelle Box – A&R production
Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tennessee – The Nashville Choir and Children's Choir recording location
Ronnie Brookshire – rhythm section recording engineer
Jeff Cain – digital editor
Brian Calhoon – mixing engineer
Lori Casteel – music preparation
Mike Casteel – music preparation
Children's Choir (1, 5)
The Choristers of Reigate St. Mary's – boys choir (3, 9)
Dominic Christie – boys choir recording assistant
Allen Clark – photography
Skip Cleavinger – Highland bagpipes and penny whistle (6), low whistle (8)
John Coates – The Nashville Choir director
David Davidson – violin solo "Song for the King"
Deer Valley Studios, Franklin, Tennessee – vocal recording location
Dave Dillbeck – vocal recording engineer, digital editor
Ric Domenico – music preparation
Andrew Dudman – orchestra and additional piano recording engineer
Humberto Gatica – orchestra, boys choir and additional piano recording engineer
Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee – mastering location
Kathy Goodrich – Children's Choir assistant director
James Gregory – bass guitar (1, 5)
Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
Ronn Huff – "Christmas Day" orchestra arrangement
David Hamilton – string conductor, orchestra arrangement (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11), choir arrangement (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), synthesizer (1, 5), Hammond B3 organ (5), celeste (5), piano (11), rhythm track arrangement (11), producer, digital editor
Sandy Hamilton – Children's Choir director
Ken Johnson – production manager
Bonnie Keen – backing vocals (11)
Derik Lee – Mandisa's vocal recording engineer
Legacy Recording Studios, New York City, New York – Mandisa's vocal recording location
Paul Leim – drums (1, 5, 11)
Melissa Leonelli – librarian, production assistant
Adam Lester – electric guitars (1, 5)
The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
Mandisa – "Christmas Day" vocals
Perry Montague-Mason – concertmaster
Charlotte Matthews – orchestra contractor
Carl Marsh – orchestra arrangement (1, 5)
Scrap Marshall – boys choir recording assistant
Jason McArthur – A&R coordination
Stephanie McBrayer – art direction, stylist
Andrew Mendelson – mastering
Marie Morris – Children's Choir assistant director
The Nashville Choir – choir (1, 3, 7, 9)
Craig Nelson – upright bass (11)
New Cumberland Choir – choir (3, 7, 9)
Paragon Studios, Franklin, Tennessee – vocal, additional piano recording location, mixing location
Fred Paragano – additional piano recording engineer
Tim Parker – art direction
Mark Petaccia – rhythm section recording assistant
Jeff Pitzer – "Song for the King" violin solo recording engineer
Eberhard Ramm – music preparation
Lowell Reynolds – New Cumberland Choir and Highland bagpipes recording assistant
Doug Sarrett – The Nashville Choir and Children's Choir recording engineer
David Schober – additional piano recording engineer
Studio One, Abbey Road Studios, London, England – recording location for orchestra, boys choir and additional piano
Michael W. Smith – vocals (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), piano (1-5, 8, 9, 10), arrangements, producer, executive producer
Greg Thomas – New Cumberland Choir contractor
John Tobin – Reigate St. Mary's choir master
Michealle Vanderpoolhair – hair and make-up
Bill Whittington – New Cumberland Choir and Highland bagpipes recording engineer
It's a Wonderful Christmas sold 12,759 copies in its first week, 6,000 of them digital. The album has since sold 39,000 copies.
The album was a critical success, receiving 4 stars out of 5 with every critic. However, Billboard gave the album mixed reviews.
In 2008, the album won a Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year at the 39th GMA Dove Awards.
