A Holiday Carole
Encyclopedia
A Holiday Carole is a holiday album, released on November 1, 2011, by American singer-songwriter Carole King
. It is King's 17th studio album and her first studio album in 10 years when she released Love Makes the World
. It is also her first original, non-compilation album since she released Live at the Troubadour
with longtime friend James Taylor
in May 2010.
, revealed on Myspace
that she was working with Carole King on her first ever holiday album, stating "I am currently busy in the studio producing the new Carole King Holiday Record, set to release in 2011. We've had a fabulous time so far, working with the amazing Nathaniel Kunkel (engineer) and many talented musicians and background singers." However, no statements were made by King until on June 22, 2011, when a picture was posted on her Facebook
profile with the caption "CK on upcoming holiday album: 'So this is what it boils down to…'"
On July 27, 2011, Billboard
posted an article on the home page of its official website, stating various information about the record, including the first official announcement of the title of the album. The article stated that A Holiday Carole will "span an array of musical styles," including Latin and jazz.
and YouTube
, as well as an interview and article on AARP's website, where King debuted the music video for the album's closing track, "New Year's Day." However, according to Shore Fire Media, King's publicity agent, there are numerous public television appearances scheduled to promote the album during the upcoming holiday season. These appearances include performances and showings at NBC
's Rockefeller Center
Christmas tree lighting on November 30, Today on November 22, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
on December 19, as well as CBS
's The Talk
, and PBS's The Tavis Smiley Show
.
revealed the official tracklist.
Unlike previous albums released by King, none of the songs were written or co-written by her.
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
. It is King's 17th studio album and her first studio album in 10 years when she released Love Makes the World
Love Makes the World
Love Makes the World is a 2001 studio album by Carole King. Distributed by Koch Records, it was her first release on her Rockingale Records label....
. It is also her first original, non-compilation album since she released Live at the Troubadour
Live at the Troubadour (Carole King and James Taylor)
Live at the Troubadour is a live album by Carole King and James Taylor released in 2010. The album was recorded at The Troubadour in West Hollywood in November 2007 to celebrate the venue's 50th anniversary...
with longtime friend James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
in May 2010.
Album History
On November 4, 2010, King's daughter, Louise GoffinLouise Goffin
Louise Lynn Goffin is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Signed by record executive Lenny Waronker to Dreamworks in 1999, Louise released her critically acclaimed CD Sometimes a Circle on Dreamworks in 2002...
, revealed on Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
that she was working with Carole King on her first ever holiday album, stating "I am currently busy in the studio producing the new Carole King Holiday Record, set to release in 2011. We've had a fabulous time so far, working with the amazing Nathaniel Kunkel (engineer) and many talented musicians and background singers." However, no statements were made by King until on June 22, 2011, when a picture was posted on her Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
profile with the caption "CK on upcoming holiday album: 'So this is what it boils down to…'"
On July 27, 2011, Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
posted an article on the home page of its official website, stating various information about the record, including the first official announcement of the title of the album. The article stated that A Holiday Carole will "span an array of musical styles," including Latin and jazz.
Promotion
Despite being Carole King's first holiday album, there currently has been little publicity for the project. Other than an article in USA Today and an article on Billboards website, publicity has been limited and has included promotional videos on Amazon.comAmazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
and YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, as well as an interview and article on AARP's website, where King debuted the music video for the album's closing track, "New Year's Day." However, according to Shore Fire Media, King's publicity agent, there are numerous public television appearances scheduled to promote the album during the upcoming holiday season. These appearances include performances and showings at NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
Christmas tree lighting on November 30, Today on November 22, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
on December 19, as well as CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's The Talk
The Talk (U.S. TV series)
The Talk is a talk show created by actress Sara Gilbert, who also serves as the executive producer. The show premiered on October 18, 2010, and airs on CBS as a part of CBS Daytime...
, and PBS's The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show is an American public broadcasting radio talk show. A television show, simply titled Tavis Smiley, is a late night television program on Public Broadcasting Service . Both shows feature Tavis Smiley as host....
.
Track listing
On July 28, 2011, USA TodayUSA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
revealed the official tracklist.
- "My Favorite ThingsMy Favorite Things (song)"My Favorite Things" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music.-The Sound of Music version:The song was first introduced by Mary Martin in the original Broadway production, and sung by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film.In the musical, the lyrics to the song are a...
" (Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers) - "Carol of the BellsCarol of the Bells"Carol of the Bells" is the common English language title of a Christmas carol of Ukrainian origin, which has in recent years grown in popularity, particularly in English-speaking countries. The work was originally a choral miniature composition by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych based on...
" (Mykola Leontovych) - "Sleigh RideSleigh Ride"Sleigh Ride" is a popular light orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946; he finished the work in February 1948. Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter's day with another person,...
" (Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Paris) - "Christmas Paradise" (Louise Goffin, George Noriega and Jodi Marr)
- "Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday" (William Bell and Booker T. Jones)
- "Chanukah Prayer" (Traditional, Arrangement by Louise Goffin and Lee Curreri)
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little ChristmasHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics, which has become more common than the original. The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane...
" (Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin) - "I've Got My Love to Keep Me WarmI've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" is a popular song written in 1937 by Irving Berlin. It was introduced in On the Avenue by Dick Powell and Alice Faye. Les Brown's instrumental version, arranged by Skip Martin and recorded in 1946 as Columbia #38324, became a million-seller and Billboard top ten...
" (Irving Berlin) - "Christmas in the Air" (Louise Goffin and Jodi Marr)
- "Do You Hear What I Hear" (Gloria Shayne and Noel Regney)
- "This Christmas" (Donny Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor)
- "New Year's Day" (Louise Goffin and Guy ChambersGuy ChambersGuy Chambers is an English songwriter and record producer, perhaps best known for his long partnership with Robbie Williams.- Biography :...
)
Unlike previous albums released by King, none of the songs were written or co-written by her.
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 71 |
| US Billboard Holiday Albums | 8 |