Songs for Christmas

~ Release by Sufjan Stevens (see all versions of this release, 8 available)

Annotation

Recorded at home in Brooklyn, New York, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 2003, by Santa Sufjan with Denison Witmer, Shara Worden, Laura Myers, Colin Stevens, and Vito & Monique Aiuto. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side. Cover illustration by Stephen Halker.

All songs recorded at home Brooklyn, New York, December 2001, by Santa Sufjan and Matt Morgan. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side. Cover illustration by Stephen Halker.

All songs recorded at home in Brooklyn, New York, November 2002, by Santa Sufjan, with Vito & Monique Aiuto. Drums on "Put The Lights on the Tree," recorded at The Buddy Project, 2006. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side. Cover illustration by Stephen Halker.

All songs recorded at home in Brooklyn, New York, and at Atlantic Sound Studios in DUMBO, and at the Buddy Project in Astoria, Queens, June 2006, excpet auxiliary drums and percussion on track 7, engineered by Casey Foubert at Home, Seattle, WA. Cover illustration by Stephen Halker.

All songs recorded at home in Brooklyn, New York and at the Buddy Project in Astoria, Queens, December, 2005, by Santa Sufjan, with Bridgit DeCook. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side. Cover illustration by Stephen Halker.

Annotation last modified on 2012-11-20 05:12 UTC.

Tracklist

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▼ CD 1: Noel
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Silent Night
acoustic guitar and electric guitar:
Sufjan Stevens
instrumental cover recording of:
Silent Night (Christmas carol, English translation)
lyricist:
Josef Mohr (in 1816)
composer:
Franz Xaver Gruber (in 1818)
translator:
John Freeman Young (in 1859)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 27088)
translated version of:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
recording of:
Silent Night (Christmas carol, English translation)
lyricist:
Josef Mohr (in 1816)
composer:
Franz Xaver Gruber (in 1818)
translator:
John Freeman Young (in 1859)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 27088)
translated version of:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Sufjan Stevens0:45
2O Come O Come Emmanuel
acoustic guitar, banjo, membranophone and recorder:
Sufjan Stevens
electric guitar:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
vocals:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes) and Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Neale lyrics)
lyricist and translator:
John Mason Neale
composer:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861 edition (first edition)) (number: 36)
arrangement of:
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
translated version of:
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
Sufjan Stevens4:01
3We’re Goin’ to the Country!
acoustic guitar, banjo, bell [sleigh bells] and background vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
electric guitar and lead vocals:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
recording of:
We’re Goin’ to the Country!
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens feat. Matt Morgan2:17
4Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming
acoustic guitar, electric guitar and glockenspiel [glock]:
Sufjan Stevens
banjo:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
vocals:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes) and Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (English version of “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”)
additional composer:
Michael Praetorius (composer and organist)
composer:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
translator:
Theodore Baker (in 1894)
translated version of:
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Praetorius’ harmonisation)
Sufjan Stevens3:22
5It’s Christmas! Let’s Be Glad!
acoustic guitar, banjo, bell [sleigh bells], electronic organ and membranophone:
Sufjan Stevens
electric guitar:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
vocals:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
recording of:
It’s Christmas! Let’s Be Glad!
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens1:55
6Holy Holy, Etc.
electric guitar:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
arranger:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
instrumental cover recording of:
Holy, Holy, Holy (tune Nicaea)
lyricist:
Reginald Heber (Hymn-writer) (in 1926)
composer:
John Bacchus Dykes (in 1861)
Sufjan Stevens0:41
7Amazing Grace
acoustic guitar and banjo:
Sufjan Stevens
electric guitar:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes)
vocals:
Matt Morgan (Con Los Dudes) and Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Amazing Grace (popular hymn first published 1779, catch‐all)
publisher:
Alfred Music (publisher of sheet music for music education)
lyricist and writer:
John Newton (English poet) (in 1779)
additional composer:
Edwin Othello Excell
composer:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist) and [traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Patterdale Music Ltd., Rokstone Music Ltd., Universal Classics & Jazz (Japanese label division - read the annotation before using!), Universal Music Publishing Group Japan (work publisher – do NOT use as a release label), イーエムアイ音楽出版 C・F事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (sub‐publisher for foreign (non‐Japanese) works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
part of:
Viisikielinen (Song book of "Viides herätysliike") (number: 94)
Sufjan Stevens4:09
▼ Enhanced CD 2: Hark!
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Angels We Have Heard on High
bell and glockenspiel:
Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Angels We Have Heard on High
lyricist:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
translator:
James Chadwick (bishop) (in 1862)
version of:
Les Anges dans nos campagnes
Sufjan Stevens0:46
2Put the Lights on the Tree
bell, glockenspiel, keyboard [electronic keyboard], oboe, piano and recorder:
Sufjan Stevens
membranophone and percussion:
James McAlister
background vocals:
Monique Aiuto, Vito Aiuto and Marla Hansen
other vocals [elfin chuckles and reindeer giggles]:
Monique Aiuto and Vito Aiuto
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Put the Lights on the Tree
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens1:48
3Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
acoustic guitar:
Vito Aiuto
banjo, bell [sleigh bells], electric piano [electronic piano], glockenspiel and piano:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Monique Aiuto, Vito Aiuto and Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (with tune “Nettleton”)
lyricist:
Robert Robinson (18th century hymn author) (in 1758)
Sufjan Stevens4:43
4I Saw Three Ships
banjo, bass, bell [sleigh bells], membranophone, oboe, recorder and background vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
guitar and lead vocals:
Vito Aiuto
cover recording of:
I Saw Three Ships
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 700)
Sufjan Stevens feat. Vito Aiuto2:35
5Only at Christmas Time
acoustic guitar, bell [sleigh bells], electric piano [electronic piano] and membranophone:
Sufjan Stevens
background vocals:
Monique Aiuto and Vito Aiuto
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Only at Christmas Time
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens2:14
6Once in Royal David’s City
banjo, bell [sleigh bells], membranophone, oboe, piano and background vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
guitar and lead vocals:
Vito Aiuto
cover recording of:
Once in Royal David’s City
lyricist:
Cecil Frances Alexander (in 1848)
composer:
Henry John Gauntlett (in 1849)
part of:
The New English Hymnal (hymn book) (number: 34)
Sufjan Stevens feat. Vito Aiuto3:40
7Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
bell and glockenspiel:
Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Christmas carol)
additional lyricist:
George Whitefield (in 1753)
lyricist:
Charles Wesley (hymn writer) (in 1739)
additional composer:
William H. Cummings (in 1855)
composer:
Felix Mendelssohn (composer) (in 1840)
part of:
The New English Hymnal (hymn book) (number: 26)
part of:
Psalty's Family Christmas Sing-A-Long
Sufjan Stevens0:46
8What Child Is This Anyway?
acoustic guitar:
Vito Aiuto
banjo, bass, bell [sleigh bells], keyboard [electronic keyboard], membranophone, organ and piano:
Sufjan Stevens
background vocals:
Monique Aiuto
vocals:
Vito Aiuto and Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
What Child Is This?
lyricist:
William Chatterton Dix (in 1865)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 25608)
version of:
Greensleeves (generic entry for traditional and unknown arrangements)
Sufjan Stevens6:47
9Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Vito Aiuto
other instruments [telephone]:
Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
translated version of:
Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle
Sufjan Stevens feat. Vito Aiuto1:39
▼ CD 3: Ding! Dong!
#TitleRatingLength
1O Come O Come Emmanuel
piano:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Neale lyrics)
lyricist and translator:
John Mason Neale
composer:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861 edition (first edition)) (number: 36)
arrangement of:
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
translated version of:
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
1:04
2Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!
banjo, bass, bell [sleigh bells], flute, glockenspiel, guitar, membranophone, piano, recorder, shakers and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
background vocals and other vocals [Christmas cheer]:
Laura Myers and Colin Stevens
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer
recording of:
Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
3:50
3We Three Kings
acoustic guitar:
Denison Witmer
banjo, bass, electric piano [electronic piano], electronic organ [electric organ], glockenspiel, recorder [funny recorders] and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer
cover recording of:
We Three Kings
lyricist and composer:
John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (composer, “We Three Kings”)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 24751)
2:59
4O Holy Night
acoustic guitar:
Denison Witmer
background vocals:
Colin Stevens
other vocals [Christmas cheer]:
Shara Nova and Colin Stevens
other vocals [high notes]:
Shara Nova
vocals:
Shara Nova and Denison Witmer
cover recording of:
O Holy Night
lyricist:
John Sullivan Dwight (in 1855)
composer:
Adolphe Adam (composer) (in 1847)
translated version of:
Cantique de Noël “Minuit chrétiens” (French original of “O Holy Night”)
4:04
5That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
acoustic guitar, banjo, piano and other vocals [earthly vocals]:
Sufjan Stevens
other vocals [angelic vocals]:
Shara Nova
recording of:
That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
3:18
6Ding! Dong!
bell, glockenspiel and recorder:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Ding! Dong!
composer:
Sufjan Stevens
0:56
7All the King’s Horns
acoustic guitar, banjo, bass, electric piano [electronic piano], glockenspiel, membranophone, piano and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
other vocals [creepy vocals]:
Monique Aiuto and Vito Aiuto
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
All the King’s Horns
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
2:59
8The Friendly Beasts
banjo, bass, electric piano [electronic piano], glockenspiel, guitar, membranophone, oboe, piano, recorder, shakers, tambourine and other vocals [The Narrator]:
Sufjan Stevens
other vocals [The Cow]:
Laura Myers
other vocals [The Donkey]:
Denison Witmer
other vocals [The Doves]:
Monique Aiuto and Vito Aiuto
other vocals [The Sheep]:
Shara Nova
cover recording of:
The Friendly Beasts
lyricist:
Robert Davis (lyricist, 1881-1950)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
3:42
▼ CD 4: Joy
#TitleRatingLength
1The Little Drummer Boy
acoustic guitar, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Bridgit DeCook and Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Carol of the Drum (aka “The Little Drummer Boy”)
lyricist and composer:
Katherine K. Davis (in 1941)
additional composer:
Henry Onorati (in 1958) and Harry Simeone (in 1958)
publisher:
EMI Mills Music (ASCAP-affiliated), International Korwin Corp., Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp. (in 1955) and Mills Music, Inc. (in 1964)
is based on:
Trad. (traditional Czech carol, became “Carol of the Drums”)
part of:
Psalty's Family Christmas Sing-A-Long
3:44
2Away in a Manger
acoustic guitar, banjo and electric guitar:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Bridgit DeCook and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Away in a Manger (Mueller variation)
additional lyricist:
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (in 1892)
lyricist:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
writer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
composer:
Carl Mueller and James Ramsey Murray (in 1885)
2:54
3Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time!
bass, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar, membranophone and percussion:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Bridgit DeCook and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time!
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
4:41
4The First Noel
acoustic guitar, banjo and electric guitar:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
The First Noël
publisher:
William B. Sandys (in 1823, in 1833)
additional lyricist:
Davies Gilbert (in 1823)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
additional arranger:
Sir John Stainer (in 1871)
arranger:
Davies Gilbert (in 1823)
part of:
The New English Hymnal (hymn book) (number: 36)
version of:
The First Nowell
part of:
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944 film)
0:53
5Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)
acoustic guitar, banjo, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar, keyboard [electronic keyboard], shakers and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Bridgit DeCook and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
3:22
6The Incarnation
electric guitar:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
The Incarnation
composer:
Sufjan Stevens
2:23
7Joy to the World
acoustic guitar, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Bridgit DeCook and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Joy to the World (Christmas carol)
lyricist:
Isaac Watts (hymn writer)
additional composer:
Lowell Mason (in 1839)
composer:
George Frideric Handel (German‐British baroque composer)
4:21
▼ CD 5: Peace
#TitleRatingLength
1Once in Royal David’s City
piano [four slightly out-of-tune pianos]:
Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Once in Royal David’s City
lyricist:
Cecil Frances Alexander (in 1848)
composer:
Henry John Gauntlett (in 1849)
part of:
The New English Hymnal (hymn book) (number: 34)
2:01
2Get Behind Me, Santa!
bass, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar, Hammond organ, piano, Rhodes piano, shakers and synthesizer [weird synthesizer sounds]:
Sufjan Stevens
membranophone:
James McAlister
trombone:
Ben Lanz (trombonist)
trumpet:
C.J. Camerieri
vocals:
Marla Hansen and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Get Behind Me, Santa!
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
3:49
3Jingle Bells
piano:
Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Jingle Bells
lyricist and composer:
James Lord Pierpont (in 1850)
publisher:
Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
composed at and lyrics written at:
Simpson Tavern in Medford, Massachusetts, United States (in 1850)
0:36
4Christmas in July
bass guitar, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar, Hammond organ, piano, Rhodes piano, shakers and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
cello:
Maria Bella Jeffers
membranophone:
James McAlister
trombone:
Ben Lanz (trombonist)
trumpet:
C.J. Camerieri
viola:
Marla Hansen
violin:
Rob Moose and Naho Tsutsui
vocals:
Marla Hansen and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Christmas in July
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
3:17
5Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming
piano:
Sufjan Stevens
instrumental cover recording of:
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (English version of “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”)
additional composer:
Michael Praetorius (composer and organist)
composer:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
translator:
Theodore Baker (in 1894)
translated version of:
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Praetorius’ harmonisation)
1:46
6Jupiter Winter
acoustic guitar, bass, bell [sleigh bells], electronic organ, piano, Rhodes piano and shakers:
Sufjan Stevens
cello:
Maria Bella Jeffers
membranophone:
James McAlister
trombone:
Ben Lanz (trombonist)
trumpet:
C.J. Camerieri
viola:
Marla Hansen
violin:
Rob Moose and Naho Tsutsui
vocals:
Marla Hansen and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Jupiter Winter
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
3:51
7Sister Winter
acoustic guitar, bass, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar, piano and tambourine:
Sufjan Stevens
celesta [celeste], vibraslap and wind chime:
James McAlister
cello:
Maria Bella Jeffers
membranophone:
James McAlister and Sufjan Stevens
trombone:
Ben Lanz (trombonist)
trumpet:
C.J. Camerieri
viola:
Marla Hansen
violin:
Rob Moose and Naho Tsutsui
vocals:
Marla Hansen and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Sister Winter
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
5:05
8O Come O Come Emmanuel
piano:
Sufjan Stevens
instrumental cover recording of:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Neale lyrics)
lyricist and translator:
John Mason Neale
composer:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861 edition (first edition)) (number: 36)
arrangement of:
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
translated version of:
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
1:06
9Star of Wonder
acoustic guitar, bass, bell [sleigh bells], electric guitar, flute, membranophone, oboe, organ, piano, recorder and synthesizer [funny synthesizer sounds]:
Sufjan Stevens
trombone:
Ben Lanz (trombonist)
trumpet:
C.J. Camerieri
vocals:
Marla Hansen and Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Star of Wonder
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
7:08
10Holy, Holy, Holy
guitar and piano:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Marla Hansen and Sufjan Stevens
cover recording of:
Holy, Holy, Holy (tune Nicaea)
lyricist:
Reginald Heber (Hymn-writer) (in 1926)
composer:
John Bacchus Dykes (in 1861)
3:50
11The Winter Solstice
bell [sleigh bells], guitar, Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer [funny synthesizer sounds], tambourine and vibraphone:
Sufjan Stevens
vocals:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
The Winter Solstice
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
3:23