A A Mary Christmas [The Anniversary Edition]

by Mary J. Blige

Overview

A truly Mary Christmas would match the distraught look on the cover. Blige's first Christmas album, guided by David Foster and Jochem van der Saag, doesn't feature sad or embittered chestnuts like "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" or "Fairytale of New York" (was Method Man busy?). Instead, it contains a mix of standard holiday songs -- a couple playful, many solemn, all dramatic. It's a big production; an orchestra backs Blige on most of the songs. She pours herself into all of the material, even when she's joined by Jessie J (of all people) for a version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" that is overcooked. It could use a couple more joyous songs in the vein of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," which is a delight despite so many versions since the original 1970 version. A Mary Christmas won't likely reach the high status of, say, Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas, but it's a full-effort holiday release that many of her fans should be able to enjoy for several years. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	10/06/2023
Label:	Interscope / Verve
UPC:	0602458125214
Rank:	26510

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mary J. Blige   Primary Artist,Vocals
Barbra Streisand   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Marc Anthony   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
The Clark Sisters   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Chris Botti   Primary Artist,Trumpet,Featured Artist
Jessie J   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Ramon Stagnaro   Guitar,Soloist
Derrick "Swol" Ray   Bass
Asaph Ward   Keyboards
Chris Walden   Piano,Trumpet,Trombone
Rexsell Hardy Jr.   Drums
Angela Fisher   Vocals (Background)
Rexell Hardy, Jr.   Drums
Derrick Ray   Bass (Vocal)
Everton Nelson   Orchestra Leader
Caroline Dale   Cello
Jeff Driskill   Soloist,Saxophone
Chuck Berghofer   Bass,Bass (Vocal)
Dean Parks   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Alex Al   Bass
Wayne Bergeron   Trumpet
Caroline Campbell   Violin,Soloist
Jochem van der Saag   Synthesizer
Bethany Devine   Vocals (Background)
Guido Joeris   Drums
Dustin Higgins   Guitar
Juliane Gralle   Trombone
Andreas Varady   Guitar,Soloist
Wayne Bergerson   Trumpet
Kevin Powell   Organ
William Ross   Conductor,Orchestra
Vinnie Colaiuta   Drums
Steve Genewick   Horn Engineer
David Foster   Piano,Accordion,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes

Technical Credits

Jorge Vivo   Engineer
Kendu Isaacs   Management,Drum Programming,Executive Producer
Isobel Griffiths   Contractor
Henry Onorati   Composer
Jacky Clark-Chisholm   Composer,Group Member
Asaph Ward   Arranger,Recording Arranger,Additional Production
Chris Walden   Arranger,Recording Arranger,Orchestral Arrangements
Buddy Greene   Composer
Harry Simeone   Composer
Vlado Meller   Mastering
Gloria Adele Shain   Composer
Robert Wells   Composer
Nadine McKinner   Composer
Gloria Shayne   Composer
Serge Tsai   Engineer
Gina Zimmitti   Contractor
Indrani   Photography
David Hage   Music Copyist
Katherine Frangetis-Tempesta   A&R
Steve Price   Engineer
Jochem van der Saag   Mixing,Engineer,Overdubs,Producer,Programming,Sound Design,Mixing Engineer,Synthesizer Programming
Mark Lowry   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Johnny Marks   Composer
Hugh Martin   Composer
Donny Hathaway   Composer
Dorinda Clark-Cole   Group Member
Twinkie Clark   Composer,Group Member
Dave Reitzas   Vocal Engineer
Jay Landers   A&R
Leigh Harline   Composer
Jerry Hey   Orchestration,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements
Nadine McKinnor   Composer
Ned Washington   Composer
Mel Torme   Composer
Noel Regney   Composer
Christine Telleck   Production Manager
Richard B. Smith   Composer
Karen Clark-Sheard   Group Member,Composer
Steve Genewick   Engineer
Adam Miller   Pro-Tools
Vartan Kurjian   Creative Director
Henri Martinet   Composer
Raymond Vincy   Composer
Lucy Whalley   Assistant Contractor
Evelyn Morgan   A&R
Julian Peploe   Design,Art Direction
Katherine Davis   Composer
Donny Pitts   Composer
Dorinad Clark Cole   Composer
Olivier Bassil   Music Copyist
William Ross   Orchestration,Orchestral Arrangements
Felix Bernard   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Katherine K. Davis   Composer
David Foster   Arranger,Producer,Orchestration,Horn Arrangements,Recording Arranger,String Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements
Ralph Blane   Composer