Christmas in My Home Town

Christmas in My Hometown
Studio album by
Charley Pride
ReleasedNovember 1970 (1970-11)
RecordedAugust 27, 1969
StudioRCA, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerJack Clement (original)
Charley Pride chronology
Charley Pride's 10th Album
(1970) 		Christmas in My Hometown
(1970) 		From Me to You
(1970)
Singles from Christmas in My Home Town
  1. "Christmas in My Home Town"
    Released: November 1970

Christmas in My Home Town is a studio album by American country artist Charley Pride. It was released in November 1970 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Jack Clement. The album was Pride's first collection of holiday music and his ninth studio recording, overall. The project originally contained ten tracks in its initial release, but was re-released with additional tracks in 2013. Christmas in My Home Town received positive reviews from critics following its release.

Background and content

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By 1970, Charley Pride had several major hits after becoming country music's first commercially successful African-American artist. He had recently had five number one hits, which heightened his musical popularity: "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)," "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again," "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" and "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me."[2] Pride's commercial success prompted his record label to have him record album of Christmas music. The project was first recorded on August 27, 1969, at the RCA Victor Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were originally produced by Jack Clement.[3]

Christmas in My Home Town contained a mix of holiday classics and original tunes.[3] The album originally contained ten tracks, but a re-release added three more. Two of the project's tracks were composed by Pride himself: "Santa and the Kids" and "Happy Christmas Day." Other original tracks featured were the title track, composed by Lassaye Van Buren Holmes and "The First Christmas Morn." Holiday covers included "Silent Night," "Little Drummer Boy" and "O Holy Night."[1]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
BillboardFavorable
Ultimate TwangFavorable

Christmas in My Home Town has received positive reviews since its initial release in 1970. In a November 1970 issue of Billboard magazine, writers praised Pride's performance on the record. "Country Charley Pride has a sure winner in this top program of new and older Christmas favorites." He called his covers of songs such as "O Holy Night" to be "first rate treatments." They also praised Pride's original material that was also included on the album.[4] The online music publication, Ultimate Twang, reviewed the original LP as well and also gave it a positive reception. Writers commented that it was "an excellent album, by one of the best country singers of all-time."[5] The re-released version of the album was reviewed by Allmusic's David A. Milberg, who rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars. "The title tune was a great Christmas hit. This is mellow C&W for the holidays," he wrote.[1]

Release

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Christmas in My Home Town was originally released in November 1970 on RCA Victor Studios. It was Pride's ninth studio recording in his career.[6] The project was originally distributed as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on either side of the record.[7] The album was then re-released on a compact disc in 2013, and featured three additional holiday tracks that first been recorded for various Christmas compilations. The newer version featured re-mastering and production as well. The re-release was issued on Music City Records, Pride's record label at the time.[3][1] The re-released version was also issued to digital and streaming services, which included Apple Music.[8] The title track was the album's only single. It was released in November 1970.[9] The single received significant holiday airplay and became one of the year's top holiday tunes.[3][1]

Track listings

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Vinyl version

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Side one[7][6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Christmas in My Home Town"Lassaye Van Buren Holmes2:03
2."Deck the Halls"Traditional1:50
3."They Stood in Silent Prayer"Alex Zanetis4:02
4."Santa and the Kids"
  • Sue Lane
  • Charley Pride
1:51
5."Silent Night"Traditional3:00
Side two[7][6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Little Drummer Boy"
2:03
2."Happy Christmas Day"
  • Lane
  • Pride
2:09
3."The First Christmas Morn"Lane3:12
4."Christmas and Love"Holmes2:01
5."O Holy Night"Traditional4:15

Digital and compact disc versions

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Side one[3][8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Christmas in My Home Town"Van Buren Holmes2:07
2."Deck the Halls"Traditional; arranged by Charley Pride1:54
3."They Stood in Silent Prayer"Alex Zanetis4:05
4."Santa and the Kids"
  • Sue Lane
  • Pride
1:55
5."Silent Night"Traditional; arranged by Charley Pride3:05
6."Little Drummer Boy"
  • Harry Simeone
  • Katherine K. Davis
  • Henry Onorati
2:06
7."Happy Christmas Day"
  • Sue Lane
  • Pride
2:15
8."The First Christmas Morn"Sue Lane3:15
9."Christmas and Love"Holmes2:06
10."O Holy Night"Traditional; arranged by Charley Pride4:20
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Out of the East"Harry Noble3:34
12."Christmas Without Mary"
3:48
13."Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"
1:51

Personnel

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All credits are adapted from the 2013 liner notes of Christmas in My Home Town.[3]

Musical personnel

Technical personnel

  • Jack Clement – producer
  • Doug Crider – assistant engineer
  • Greg Gosselin – art direction, design, liner notes, project supervisor
  • Bill Harris – engineer
  • Jack D. Johnson – arranger
  • Les Ladd – recording technician
  • Blake Mevis – producer
  • Jimmy Moore – cover photo
  • Al Pachucki – engineer
  • Tom Pick – engineer
  • Roy Shockley – recording technician
  • Bergen White – arranger
  • M.G. Wilder – mastering
  • Norro Wilson – producer

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
Canada November 1970 Vinyl RCA Victor Records [11]
United States [6][7]
United Kingdom 1973 [12]
United States 1976 [13]
2010s
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Sony Music Entertainment [8]
2013 Compact disc Music City Records [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Milberg, David A. "Christmas in My Home Town: Charley Pride: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  2. ^ Vinopal, David. "Charley Pride: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Pride, Charley (2013). "Christmas in My Home Town (CD Liner Notes & Album Information)". Music City Records.
  4. ^ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 82, no. 45. November 7, 1970. p. 36. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. ^ "Charley Pride "Christmas In My Hometown, 1970, Classic Album Review". Ultimate Twang. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Pride, Charley (December 1970). "Christmas in My Home Town (LP Liner Notes & Album Information)". RCA Victor.
  7. ^ a b c d "Charley Pride – Christmas in My Home Town (1970, LP) (U.S.)". Discogs. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Christmas in My Home Town (Expanded Edition) by Charley Pride". Apple Music. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  10. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Charley Pride – Christmas in My Home Town". Music Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  11. ^ "Charley Pride – Christmas in My Home Town (1970, LP) (Canada)". Discogs. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Charley Pride – Christmas in My Home Town (1973, LP) (U.K.)". Discogs. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  13. ^ "Charley Pride – Christmas in My Home Town (1976, LP) (U.S.)". Discogs. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  14. ^ "Charley Pride – Christmas in My Home Town (2013, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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