Santa Claus Lane
Encyclopedia
Santa Claus Lane is the debut studio album
by American recording artist Hilary Duff
. The album was released on October 15, 2002 by Buena Vista Records. After beginning an acting career, Duff became interested in a singing career in 2001. She appeared on various soundtracks the following year, before the release of Santa Claus Lane. The holiday album
comprises teen pop and dance-pop music, while featuring guest appearances from Christina Milian
, Lil' Romeo
and Duff's sister Haylie
.
The album peaked at the second position of Billboard
magazine's Top Heatseekers
and Top Kid Audio charts, and peaked at the 154th position on the Billboard 200
. It has been certified Gold
by the Recording Industry Association of America
for shipping 500,000 copies to retailers.
series Lizzie McGuire
. She became interested in pursuing a music career after attending a Radio Disney
concert in 2001. "There were all these pop
acts backstage at the concert," Duff explained. "They were all getting ready backstage and warming up, and I was like, 'I want to do this so bad.'" One day, Duff met Andre Recke, who would soon become her manager. She told him of her interest in becoming a singer and briefly performed for him. This prompted him to tell her, "I want to work with you." Recke said of his encounter with Duff, "When I met Hilary, I knew she had something special. Sometimes you just have that feeling, that, 'Wow, she's a star.'"
Duff's music career began with two soundtrack appearances. In 2002, she appeared on the soundtrack to Lizzie McGuire
, performing a cover of Brooke McClymont
's "I Can't Wait", and the Walt Disney Records
compilation DisneyMania
, performing a cover of "The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
". Recke noted of Duff's DisneyMania appearance, "That was the first test to see how her fans would react to her as a singer and not just an actress". Duff stated that she felt Christmas
came early for her when she recorded Santa Claus Lane. She continued, "I really loved singing these songs. It was a lot of hard work, but also big fun!"
, includes songs of the teen pop
and dance-pop
genres. "I Heard Santa on the Radio" and "Tell Me a Story (About the Night Before)" are duets with Christina Milian
and Lil' Romeo
, respectively, and "Same Old Christmas" features Duff's sister Haylie
. Santa Claus Lane features production from Matthew Gerrard
, Chris Hamm, Alain Bertoni, Charlie Midnight
and Chico Bennett
; on the 2003 reissue, the bonus track "What Christmas Should Be" is produced by Charlton Pettus.
on October 15, 2002 by Buena Vista Records. It was reissued on October 14 of the following year with the bonus track "What Christmas Should Be".
The song "Santa Claus Lane" had a music video to promote the movie Santa Claus 2. "Tell Me a Story (About the Night Before)
" (featuring Lil' Romeo) also had a music video and a radio release. It was promoted heavily on Disney Channel
.
in the United States, and also reached the second position of both the Top Heatseekers
and Top Kid Albums
charts. On December 9, 2003, the album was certified Gold
by the Recording Industry Association of America
for 500,000 shipments to retailers.
Jaan Uhelszki, in an editorial review for Amazon.com
, gave Santa Claus Lane a negative review. She noted that the album, consisting mostly of covers, "add[s] little to the holiday music canon". She also felt that it only "perks up" on songs that feature guest musicians.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American recording artist Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
. The album was released on October 15, 2002 by Buena Vista Records. After beginning an acting career, Duff became interested in a singing career in 2001. She appeared on various soundtracks the following year, before the release of Santa Claus Lane. The holiday album
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
comprises teen pop and dance-pop music, while featuring guest appearances from Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
, Lil' Romeo
Romeo Miller
Percy Romeo Miller, Jr. , better known by his stage name Romeo , is an American rapper, actor, basketball player, entrepreneur, and model. He is the son of rapper and entrepreneur Master P and former rapper Sonya C. He is the nephew of rappers C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker and the brother of...
and Duff's sister Haylie
Haylie Duff
Haylie Katherine Duff is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is the older sister of actress and singer Hilary Duff...
.
The album peaked at the second position of 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...
magazine's Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
and Top Kid Audio charts, and peaked at the 154th position on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. It has been certified Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for shipping 500,000 copies to retailers.
Background
In 2001, Duff gained fame through her starring role in the Disney ChannelDisney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
series Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire is an American teen sitcom which premiered on the Disney Channel on January 12, 2001 and ended February 14, 2004. A total of 65 episodes were produced and aired. Its target demographic was preteens and adolescents...
. She became interested in pursuing a music career after attending a Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
concert in 2001. "There were all these pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
acts backstage at the concert," Duff explained. "They were all getting ready backstage and warming up, and I was like, 'I want to do this so bad.'" One day, Duff met Andre Recke, who would soon become her manager. She told him of her interest in becoming a singer and briefly performed for him. This prompted him to tell her, "I want to work with you." Recke said of his encounter with Duff, "When I met Hilary, I knew she had something special. Sometimes you just have that feeling, that, 'Wow, she's a star.'"
Duff's music career began with two soundtrack appearances. In 2002, she appeared on the soundtrack to Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire (soundtrack)
Lizzie McGuire is the soundtrack to the television series of the same name. The album is a collection of hits by various artists, used as background music in the show or inspired by it. It also includes the show's theme song and a song by Hilary Duff, the actress who plays Lizzie. This was Hilary's...
, performing a cover of Brooke McClymont
Brooke McClymont
Brooke Maree McClymont is an Australian singer and songwriter. She has written songs for Kate DeAraugo and Olivia Newton-John and been a support act for Troy Cassar-Daley and Ronan Keating...
's "I Can't Wait", and the Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records is a family music record label owned by the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Records was formed in 1956 as Disneyland Records. Before that time, Disney recordings were licensed out to a variety of other labels such as . It was Walt Disney’s brother Roy O...
compilation DisneyMania
DisneyMania
Disneymania is the first of a series of albums released by Walt Disney Records featuring various musical artists performing Disney songs. The original album, released on September 17, 2002, featured contemporary Disney classics...
, performing a cover of "The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
"The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room" is the official song for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. It was written in 1963 by Disney staff songwriters, Robert & Richard Sherman...
". Recke noted of Duff's DisneyMania appearance, "That was the first test to see how her fans would react to her as a singer and not just an actress". Duff stated that she felt Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
came early for her when she recorded Santa Claus Lane. She continued, "I really loved singing these songs. It was a lot of hard work, but also big fun!"
Composition
Santa Claus Lane, a Christmas albumChristmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
, includes songs of the teen pop
Teen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards teenagers. Teen pop copies genres and styles such as pop, dance, R&B, hip hop, country and rock....
and dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
genres. "I Heard Santa on the Radio" and "Tell Me a Story (About the Night Before)" are duets with Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
and Lil' Romeo
Romeo Miller
Percy Romeo Miller, Jr. , better known by his stage name Romeo , is an American rapper, actor, basketball player, entrepreneur, and model. He is the son of rapper and entrepreneur Master P and former rapper Sonya C. He is the nephew of rappers C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker and the brother of...
, respectively, and "Same Old Christmas" features Duff's sister Haylie
Haylie Duff
Haylie Katherine Duff is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is the older sister of actress and singer Hilary Duff...
. Santa Claus Lane features production from Matthew Gerrard
Matthew Gerrard
Matthew Gerrard is a Canadian record producer and songwriter. He has written hit singles by artists such as Nick Carter , Kelly Clarkson , Hilary Duff , Eden's Crush and Jesse McCartney...
, Chris Hamm, Alain Bertoni, Charlie Midnight
Charlie Midnight
Charlie Midnight is an American songwriter and record producer who has been nominated for a Grammy Award , two Golden Globe Awards; and has been a producer and/or writer on several Grammy-winning albums, including:The Bodyguard Soundtrack Album ; Turbulent Indigo Charlie Midnight is an American...
and Chico Bennett
Chico Bennett
Chico Bennett is an American record producer , musician, and songwriter. He created Zero 1 Entertainment, Inc., a music production company, in 2000. He has produced, remixed, and written for artists such as Madonna , Nelly Furtado, The Killers, Hilary Duff, Usher , and Destiny’s Child to name just...
; on the 2003 reissue, the bonus track "What Christmas Should Be" is produced by Charlton Pettus.
Release and promotion
The album was released in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on October 15, 2002 by Buena Vista Records. It was reissued on October 14 of the following year with the bonus track "What Christmas Should Be".
The song "Santa Claus Lane" had a music video to promote the movie Santa Claus 2. "Tell Me a Story (About the Night Before)
Tell Me a Story (About the Night Before)
"Tell Me a Story " is a song by singer Hilary Duff and rapper Lil' Romeo, and was the first single from Duff's Christmas album, Santa Claus Lane . The single was released on October 14, 2002; it was not released for retail sale, but as a radio single...
" (featuring Lil' Romeo) also had a music video and a radio release. It was promoted heavily on Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
.
Reception
The album peaked at number 154 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the United States, and also reached the second position of both the Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
and Top Kid Albums
Kid Albums
Kid Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top selling children's music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated September 9, 1995. It originally began as, and still is, a 15-position chart...
charts. On December 9, 2003, the album was certified Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for 500,000 shipments to retailers.
Jaan Uhelszki, in an editorial review for Amazon.com
Amazon.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...
, gave Santa Claus Lane a negative review. She noted that the album, consisting mostly of covers, "add[s] little to the holiday music canon". She also felt that it only "perks up" on songs that feature guest musicians.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits for Santa Claus Lane adapted from Allmusic.- Deborah Araya – Stylist
- Chico Bennett – Producer
- Alain Bertoni – Producer
- Savina Ciaramella – A&R
- J. Fred Coots – Composer
- Matthew Gerrard – Producer
- Haven Gillespie – Composer
- Chris Hamm – Producer
- Martin Häusler – Design
- Jay Landers – Executive Producer
- Gavin Lurssen – Mastering
- Dani Markman – Artist Coordination
- Charlie Midnight – Producer
- Andre Recke – Executive Producer
- Denny Weston, Jr. – Producer
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
154 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Kid Audio Kid Albums Kid Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top selling children's music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated September 9, 1995. It originally began as, and still is, a 15-position chart... |
2 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications |
|---|---|
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Gold |