Christmas Spirit (1994)

"Buy this one or else!" - a crazy webmistress, 1994-2020

Yes, it's the holiday season and that can only mean one thing - it's time for me to get back on my soapbox in my never-ending quest to get the whole world to accept Christmas Spirit as the best album ever made. (No, I'm not TOO fanatical, am I?  LOL)

If you haven't figured it out yet (or if you've been lucky enough to have missed any of my previous raves about this album), Christmas Spirit is my all time favorite album by any artist in any genre for any time of year. I know this may sound insane, but I literally play it all year long. It's the album I turn to when I'm stressed out, it's the album I play when I cannot sleep, it's the old friend I turn to when the world becomes too big and scary to deal with. (That would be the day after every election day when the winners have been announced! LOL) It is the album I brought to Atlantic City the very first time I met Donna. It just seemed fitting that if I was going to have any of my CDs signed, it would HAVE to be that one.

Christmas Spirit is ten tracks of pure heaven. The songs are a good mix of holiday tunes ranging from the old (like the classic White Christmas) to the then brand new (Christmas Is Here), and from the overtly Christian (Breath Of Heaven) to the mostly secular (I'll Be Home For Christmas). But make no mistake about it - there is no disco Christmas here. The songs are all very traditional, the album itself having been inspired by the holiday fare of Nat "King" Cole and Barbra Streisand. Had the CD been more aggressively marketed, it could have exposed a whole new audience to Donna Summer music. I personally have played Christmas Spirit for non-fans - people who probably would never even listen to Donna's dance songs - and without fail they have loved the album and been amazed to learn who the artist is. Other fans have had similar experiences playing it for their friends and family. But unfortunately, the greatest hits compilation, Endless Summer, stole the spotlight from Christmas Spirit, leaving it a largely under-appreciated hidden gem. These days, it has been virtually impossible to find in offline music stores, even in large cities - but thankfully is it available all year long at most online vendors.

excerpt of Billboard's September 3, 1994 interview with Donna:

Billboard: You're recording your own Christmas album. Do you have a favorite holiday season recording? Will that influence your album?

Donna Summer: One of my favorites is the Nat "King" Cole Christmas album, which I listen to yearly. I also love Barbra Streisand's Christmas album. Every year, we will listen to almost all the Christmas albums and then we will revert to one or two of them, because they are the most atmospheric records and make us feel like Christmas. I've tried to analyze as much of that as I could and go with that feeling.

BB: What songs are you including on your Christmas album?

Amy Grant's Christmas album had a wonderful song on it called "Breath of Heaven" which I have recorded. I also recorded "The Christmas Song," "White Christmas," "O Come All Ye Faithful," a medley of three other Christmas songs, and "O Holy Night." That song starts off fairly conservatively, then it goes into a fairly funky, gospel choral in the end. This album has something for everyone. I co-wrote three new songs, as well.

BB: Why are you recording a Christmas album at this point in your career?

DS: I have longed to make a Christmas album. Every year I start off planning to do one, but then February and March roll around and it doesn't happen--my life takes off and I never get a chance to do it.

BB: It must have been a thrill to finally cut this album you have been planning for years.

DS: Yes, it was. Michael Omartian did a wonderful job producing, and I absolutely adored playing with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. When they first started playing "White Christmas," tears just welled up in my eyes and I had to leave the room, because it sounded so beautiful and it had taken so long to finally start this project. It was just a wonderful feeling, and I think that comes across on the record.

BB: Was it hard to get into the Christmas spirit when you were recording the album earlier in the year?

Click the icons for streaming MP3 audio clips

What Child Is This (W.C. Dix)
Do You Hear What I Hear (N. Regney/ G. Shayne)
Joy To The World (G. F. Handel)

Bonus clips

Child Of The Promise may be difficult to find offline except in Christian Music stores, but it is available online at places like Amazon.com.  Amazon UK lists it too - but as with Christmas Spirit, you'll probably have to buy it used.

Another Rosie Christmas is available at on and offline music vendors including Amazon.com. This is another one listed at Amazon UK that you'll probably have to get used. (They actually say you can get it new, but it takes weeks. Ugh!)

*Note: These albums are usually only available at offline stores during the holiday shopping season.