''This Christmas, Aretha'' is the first Christmas album and thirty-sixth studio album by

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

singer Aretha Franklin. Produced by Franklin and Tena Clark, it was originally released on October 14, 2008, as a

Borders A border is a geographical boundary. Border, borders, The Border or The Borders may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * ''Border'' (1997 film), an Indian Hindi-language war film * ''Border'' (2018 Swedish film), ...

Bookstore exclusive, consisting of eleven cover versions of Christmas standards and carols. In 2009, the album was reissued in 2009 on DMI Records. ''This Christmas'' debuted and peaked at number 102 on the US ''Billboard'' 200.

Critical reception

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

editor Andy Kellman wrote:

Track listing

Credits taken from the album's liner notes.Franklin, Aretha. "This Christmas, Aretha" (Album Notes). DMI Records. 2008.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. Vocalists * Aretha Franklin – vocals (2-3, 8-9, 11, lead on 1, 4-7, 10) *

Tawatha Agee Tawatha Agee (born November 14, 1954) is an American backing vocalist and songwriter. Her voice has been described in ''The New York Times'' as an "acrobatic, gospel-charged soprano." She was the lead singer of funk and soul band Mtume; her soulf ...

– background vocals (4) *Bridgette Bryant – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *

Alvin Chea Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group integrates jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received several Grammy Awards as well as Do ...

– Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *Lynne Fiddmont – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *The Fire Choir – background vocals (1, 5-6, 10) * Lisa Fischer – background vocals (7) *Edward Franklin – vocals (2) *Wendy Fraser – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *

Dorian Holley Dorian Jose Holley is an American musician, backing singer and a vocal coach. He began his professional career as an on-stage backing vocalist for American entertainer Michael Jackson during his Bad World Tour in 1987. He staged a series of live c ...

– Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *Clydene Jackson – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *Shelly Ponder – background vocals (4) *Susie Stevens-Logan – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *Vanesse Thomas – background vocals (7) *

Fonzi Thornton Alfonso "Fonzi" Thornton is a U.S. songwriter/producer and vocal contractor. In a career spanning 40 years, Thornton has sung backing vocals for top artists across many genres of music. His vocal credits can be found on the recordings of Are ...

– background vocals (4, 7) * Carmen Twillie – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *

Oren Waters Oren Waters is an American vocalist best known for his work with the backup singing group The Waters, his siblings: Luther, Maxine and Julia. As an ensemble, Waters has been a part of 260 gold and over 100 platinum albums with artists ranging from ...

– Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *Gerald White – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) *Brenda White-King – background vocals (4, 7) *Terry Wood – Fire choir member (1, 5-6, 10) Instrumentalists *Aretha Franklin – acoustic piano (5, 8) *

Luis Conte Luis Conte (born 16 November 1954) is a Cuban percussionist best-known for his performances in the bands of artists including James Taylor, Madonna, Pat Metheny Group, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart and Shakira. He began ...

– percussion (2-3, 7) *Charles "Volley" Craig – bass played by (4, 8-9) *Matt Dahlgren – guitar (4, 9) * Nathan East – bass played by (1-3, 6, 7, 10) *

Brandon Fields Brandon David Fields (born May 21, 1984) is a former American football punter who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Michigan State University, and earned consensus All-American honors. He ...

– saxophone (7) *

Richard Gibbs Richard "Ribbs" Gibbs (born December 5, 1955) is an American film composer and music producer whose credits include '' Dr. Dolittle'', ''Big Momma's House'', '' Queen of the Damned'', the television series '' Battlestar Galactica'' and the fir ...

– piano (4, 9) *Timothy Heinz – keyboards (1, 6, 10) *Darryl Houston – organ played by (4, 9) * Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1-2, 6-7, 10) *

Ricky Lawson William Riser III (November 8, 1954 – December 23, 2013), better known as Ricky Lawson, was an American drummer and composer. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he worked extensively as a session musician, collaborating with Stevie Wonder, Mich ...

– drums (1-3, 6-7, 10) *Arthur Marbury – drums (4, 8-9) *Teddy Richards-White – guitar (4) *Michito Sanchez – percussion (7) *Onita Sanders – harp (8) *James "Big Jim" Wright – keyboards (2-3, 7) Technical *Aretha Franklin – producer (4, 8-9) *

H. B. Barnum Hidle Brown Barnum (born July 15, 1936) is an American pianist, arranger, record producer, songwriter, and former child actor. Biography After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the film ''Valley of the Su ...

– conductor (4, 8-9) *Tena Clark – producer (1-3, 5-7, 10-11) *Les Cooper – recording engineer (1-3, 5-7, 10-11) *Todd Fairall – recording engineer (4, 8-9) *Steve Genewick – Pro-tools editing *Don Goodrick – assistant recording engineer *George Gumbs – assistant recording engineer *Timothy Heinz – rhythm arrangements (1, 6, 10) *Bill Meyers – orchestral arrangement, orchestra conductor * Michael J. Powell – recording engineer (4, 8-9) *Tony Rizzo – assistant recording engineer *

Al Schmitt Albert Harry Schmitt (April 17, 1930 – April 26, 2021) was an American recording engineer and record producer. He won twenty Grammy Awards for his work with Henry Mancini, Steely Dan, George Benson, Toto, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, and other ...

– audio mixing, strings recording engineer *Carmen Twillie – choir arrangements, choir conductor (1, 5-6, 10) *Ed Woolley – assistant recording engineer *James "Big Jim" Wright – rhythm arrangements (2-3, 7)

Charts

References

Aretha Franklin albums 2008 Christmas albums Christmas albums by American artists Contemporary R&B Christmas albums {{2000s-RnB-album-stub