Songs for Christmas

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

Tracklist

1▼Digital Media
#TitleRatingLength
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
0:45
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
4:01
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
2:17
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)
3:22
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
1:55
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 (UK hymn writer) (in 1861)
0:41
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:
John Newton (English poet) (in 1779)
additional composer:
Edwin Othello Excell
composer:
[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 (EMI Music Publishing Japan C.F. division) (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 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
part of:
Viisikielinen (Song book of "Viides herätysliike") (number: 94)
4:09
8Angels 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
0:46
9Put 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
1:48
10Come Thou Font 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)
4:43
11I 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)
2:35
12Only 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
2:14
13Once in David’s Royal 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)
3:40
14Hark! 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)
0:46
15What 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)
6:47
16Bring 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
1:39
17O 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
18Come 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
19We 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
20O 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 (French composer) (in 1847)
translated version of:
Cantique de Noël “Minuit chrétiens” (French original of “O Holy Night”)
4:04
21That 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
22Ding! Dong!
bell, glockenspiel and recorder:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
Ding! Dong!
composer:
Sufjan Stevens
0:56
23All 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
24The 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
25The 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 (Katherine Kennicott Davis) (in 1941)
additional composer:
Henry Onorati (in 1958) and Harry Simeone (in 1958)
publisher:
EMI Mills Music (ASCAP-affiliated), International Korwin Corp., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music), Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp. (in 1955) and Mills Music, Inc. (in 1964)
is based on:
Trad. (traditional Czech carol, became “Carol of the Drums”)
3:44
26Away 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
27Hey 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
28The 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)
arrangement of:
The First Nowell
version of:
The First Nowell
part of:
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944 film)
0:53
29Did 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
30The Incarnation
electric guitar:
Sufjan Stevens
recording of:
The Incarnation
composer:
Sufjan Stevens
2:23
31Joy 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
32Once 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
33Get 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
34Jingle 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
35Christmas 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
36Lo! 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
37Jupiter 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
38Sister 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
39O 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
40Star 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
41Holy, 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 (UK hymn writer) (in 1861)
3:50
42The 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
43Put the Lights on the Tree
recording of:
Put the Lights on the Tree
lyricist and composer:
Sufjan Stevens
2:06