The Sweetest Gift is a 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...

 album by country

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 singer Trisha Yearwood

Trisha Yearwood

Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...

 and is her fourth album overall. Yearwood sings a mixture of familiar traditional and popular material, along with more recent compositions such as "It Wasn't His Child" and "There's a New Kid in Town". Two of its tracks managed to achieve positions near the lower end of the Billboard

Billboard charts

The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...

 Hot Country Singles chart: "It Wasn't His Child" peaked at #60, and "Reindeer Boogie" at #63. The album rose to the #17 position in the Country Albums chart. A re-release of the album in 2000 has a different album cover, a promotional photograph taken during the Real Live Woman

Real Live Woman

Real Live Woman is the eighth album by country singer Trisha Yearwood.The album reached #4 on the Billboard country albums chart. It produced a #16 hit on the Billboard country music charts in "Real Live Woman" and a #45 hit in "Where Are You Now"...

 promotional period.

Yearwood covers a series of Christmas standards in a country music format. The album was a given a positive review by Allmusic, receiving 4 out of 5 stars.

Track listing

1. "Sweet Little Jesus Boy
   Sweet Little Jesus Boy
   Sweet Little Jesus Boy is a Christmas song composed by Robert MacGimsey and published in 1934. Its style is similar to African-American spirituals. It has been recorded by many choirs and solo artists....
   
   " (Bob MacGimsey) - 2:42
2. "Reindeer Boogie" (Charlie Faircloth, Hank Snow
   Hank Snow
   Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
   
   , Cordia Volkmar) - 2:38
3. "Take a Walk Through Bethlehem" (Ashley Cleveland
   Ashley Cleveland
   Ashley Cleveland is an American singer/songwriter perhaps best known as a background vocalist and Grammy-winning gospel singer. Ashley Cleveland was born in Knoxville, Tennessee...
   
   , John Barlow Jarvis, Wally Wilson
   Wally Wilson
   Wally Wilson , is an American record producer and songwriter based in Nashville.-Career:Wally Wilson has worked with artists as diverse as Leon Russell, Bo Diddley, the Neville Brothers, Junior Wells, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Lone Star, Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Rick Trevino, Rascal Flatts...
   
   ) - 3:49
4. "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
   Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
   Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
   
   ) - 3:00
5. "It Wasn't His Child" (Skip Ewing
   Skip Ewing
   Donald Ralph "Skip" Ewing is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1988, Ewing has recorded nine studio albums, and has charted fifteen singles on the Billboard country charts.-Career:...
   
   ) - 3:54
6. "Away in a Manger
   Away in a Manger
   "Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in 1885 in Philadelphia and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain it is one of the most popular carols, a 1996 Gallup Poll ranking it joint second.-History of the lyrics:...
   
   " (traditional) - 2:39
7. "The Sweetest Gift" (James Coats) - 3:02
8. "There's a New Kid in Town" (Don Cook, Curly Putman
   Curly Putman
   Claude "Curly" Putman, Jr. is an American songwriter, based in Nashville. His biggest success was "Green, Green Grass of Home" , which was covered by Elvis Presley, Johnny Darrell, Gram Parsons, Joan Baez, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roberto Leal, Merle Haggard, Bobby Bare, Joe Tex, Nana...
   
   , Keith Whitley
   Keith Whitley
   Jackie Keith Whitley , known professionally as Keith Whitley, was an American country music singer. Whitley's brief career in mainstream country music lasted from 1984 until his death in 1989, but he continues to influence an entire generation of singers and songwriters...
   
   ) - 4:27
9. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (Sammy Cahn
   Sammy Cahn
   Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
   
   , Jule Styne
   Jule Styne
   Jule Styne was a British-born American songwriter especially famous for a series of Broadway musicals, which included several very well known and frequently revived shows.-Early life:...
   
   ) - 2:26
10. "The Christmas Song
    The Christmas Song
    "The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer...
    
    " (Mel Tormé
    Mel Tormé
    Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
    
    , Robert Wells) - 3:58

Musical

• Bobby All — acoustic guitar
  Acoustic guitar
  An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
  
  
• Sam Bacco — percussion
• Eddie Bayers
  Eddie Bayers
  Eddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'...
  
   — drums
• Ashley Cleveland
  Ashley Cleveland
  Ashley Cleveland is an American singer/songwriter perhaps best known as a background vocalist and Grammy-winning gospel singer. Ashley Cleveland was born in Knoxville, Tennessee...
  
   — harmony vocals
• David Davidson — violin
  Violin
  The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
  
  
• Stuart Duncan
  Stuart Duncan
  Stuart Duncan is a bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. Born in Quantico, Virginia and raised in Santa Paula, California, where he played in the school band, he has been a member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band since 1985, and is a much-in-demand session musician...
  
   — fiddle
  Fiddle
  The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
  
  , mandolin
  Mandolin
  A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
  
  
• Connie Ellisor — violin
• Paul Franklin
  Paul Franklin (musician)
  Paul Franklin is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville,...
  
   — dobro
  Dobro
  Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
  
  , electric guitar
  Electric guitar
  An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
  
  , steel guitar
  Steel guitar
  Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
  
  
• Garth Fundis
  Garth Fundis
  Garth Fundis is an American country music record producer. Active since the 1970s, Fundis has produced albums for several country artists, including Alabama, Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland, and Keith Whitley. Fundis has also served as a judge on the Colgate Country Showdown.-References:...
  
   — harmony vocals
• Johnny Garcia — electric guitar
• Carl Gorodetzky — violin
• Jim Grosjean — viola
  Viola
  The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
  
  
• Jay Hager — bass
• Aubrey Haynie
  Aubrey Haynie
  Aubrey Haynie is an American bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle and mandolin. In his career, he has recorded three studio albums for the Sugar Hill Records label, all three of which contained mostly songs that he wrote himself...
  
   — fiddle
• John Hobbs — string arrangements
• Dann Huff
  Dann Huff
  Dann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
  
   — electric guitar
  Electric guitar
  An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
  
  
• Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson — harmonica
  Harmonica
  The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
  
  
• Lee Larrison — viola
• Brent Mason
  Brent Mason
  Brent Mason is an American session guitarist and occasional songwriter. He is known primarily for his work in the field of country music. In addition to releasing two instrumental studio albums, he holds several credits as a songwriter...
  
   — electric guitar
• Robert Mason — cello
  Cello
  The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
  
  
• Rick McClure — drums
• Nashville String Machine
  Nashville String Machine
  Nashville String Machine is a musical collective comprising session musicians and has been credited on recordings as far back as 1974. The Nashville String Machine's composition varies from project to project. It has appeared as large as an orchestra, or as small as a duo.-Notable members:Being a...
  
   — strings
• Steve Nathan — piano
  Piano
  The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
  
  , keyboards
  Keyboard instrument
  A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
  
  
• Scott Paschall — production assistant
  Production assistant
  A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
  
  , assistant producer
• Dave Pomeroy
  Dave Pomeroy
  Dave Pomeroy is a United States musician, known as a Nashville vocalist, songwriter, and producer , but is best known as a bassist. He has played electric and acoustic bass in the studio for many recording artists in addition to his solo and concert work...
  
   — bass
• Becky Priest — piano
• Heather Risser — fiddle
• Matt Rollings
  Matt Rollings
  Matt Rollings is an American composer, musician and record producer. He plays piano, organ, and keyboards.Known mainly for playing in Lyle Lovett's Large Band, he has worked with many artists, not all country...
  
   — piano
• Pamela Sixfin — violin
• Alan Umstead — violin
• Mary Kathryn Vanosdale — violin
• Billy Joe Walker Jr. — acoustic guitar
• Biff Watson — acoustic guitar
• Kristin Wilkinson — viola
• Trisha Yearwood
  Trisha Yearwood
  Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
  
   — vocals, harmony vocals

Technical

• Katherine DeVault — art direction, design
• Garth Fundis — producer, engineer, mixing
• Carlos Grier — digital editing
• Jerry Joyner — design
• Gary Laney — design
• Senor McGuire — photography
• Scott Paschall — assistant producer, production assistant
  Production assistant
  A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
  
  
• Denny Purcell — mastering
• Randee St. Nicholas — photography
• Dave Sinko — engineering, mixing
• Virginia Team — art direction
• Debra Wingo — hair stylist

Album

Chart (1994)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums	17
U.S. Billboard 200	105
U.S. Billboard Top Holiday Albums	17

Singles

Year	Single	Peak positions
		US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
1995	"It Wasn't His Child"	60
1999	"Reindeer Boogie"	63