The Christmas Album, Volume II is the twenty-second studio album by Neil Diamond, and his second to feature Christmas music. It was produced by Peter Asher and released by Columbia Records in 1994, only two years after Diamond’s previous Christmas album. It features orchestral and choir arrangements by David Campbell, who also worked on the first Christmas album, as well as several of Diamond’s other works. The album reached number 9 on the Billboard Holiday Album chart and was certified as gold by the RIAA on December 6, 1994.
Tracks 1 Joy To The World (Traditional) 02:40 2 Mary’s Little Boy Child (Jester Hairston) 02:59 3 Deck The Halls / We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Traditional) 01:42 4 Winter Wonderland (Dick Smith; Felix Bernard) 02:44 5 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin; Ralph Blane) 04:44 6 I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Buck Ram; Kim Gannon; Walter Kent) 03:42 7 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Johnny Marks) 04:04 8 Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson; Mitchell Parish) 02:42 9 Candlelight Carol (John Rutter) 04:09 10 Away In A Manger (Traditional) 02:33 11 O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional) 04:16 12 O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Traditional) 03:36 13 Angels We Have Heard On High (Traditional) 03:17 14 The First Noel (Traditional) 03:34 15 Hallelujah Chorus (Traditional) 03:33
Musicians
1 Joy To The World Bass - Jimmy Johnson Drums - Carlos Vega Guitar - Bob Mann Guitar - Waddy Wachtel Piano - Robbie Buchanan Vocals - Neil Diamond
2 Mary’s Little Boy Child Bass - Bob Magnusson Guitar - Bob Mann Woodwinds - Jon Clarke Steel Drums - Vince Charles Percussion - Peter Asher Background Vocals - Kate Markowitz Background Vocals - Laura Satterfield Background Vocals - Valerie Carter Vocals - Neil Diamond
3 Deck The Halls / We Wish You A Merry Christmas Vocals - Neil Diamond
4 Winter Wonderland Bass - Jimmy Johnson Drums - Carlos Vega Guitar - Bob Mann Guitar - Waddy Wachtel Organ - Bill Payne Background Vocals - Maxine Willard Waters Background Vocals - Julia Tillman Waters Background Vocals - Oren Waters Background Vocals - Kate Markowitz Background Vocals - Raven Kane Background Vocals - Stephanie Spruill Vocals - Neil Diamond
5 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Bass - Bob Magnusson Drums - Carlos Vega Guitar - Bob Mann Piano - Tom Hensley Marimba - Alan Estes Vocals - Neil Diamond
6 I’ll Be Home For Christmas Bass - Bob Magnusson Drums - Carlos Vega Harmonica - Tommy Morgan Piano - Tom Hensley Vibraphone - Alan Estes Vocals - Neil Diamond
7 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Bass - Jimmy Johnson Drums - Carlos Vega Guitar - Bob Mann Guitar - Waddy Wachtel Organ - Bill Payne Percussion - Carlos Vega Percussion - Peter Asher Background Vocals - Maxine Willard Waters Background Vocals - Julia Tillman Waters Background Vocals - Oren Waters Background Vocals - Andrea Robinson Background Vocals - Kate Markowitz Background Vocals - Raven Kane Background Vocals - Stephanie Spruill Background Vocals - Wendy Fraser Vocals - Neil Diamond
8 Sleigh Ride Bass - Bob Magnusson Guitar - Bob Mann Vibraphone - MB Gordy Percussion - Peter Asher Vocals - Neil Diamond
9 Candlelight Carol Piano - Alan Lindgren Vocals - Neil Diamond
10 Away In A Manger Bass - Bob Magnusson Acoustic Guitar - Bob Mann Acoustic Guitar - Waddy Wachtel Mandolin - Kenny Blackwell Accordion - Brian Mann Background Vocals - Herb Pedersen Vocals - Neil Diamond
11 O Come All Ye Faithful Guitar - Bob Mann Keyboards - Robbie Buchanan Percussion - Peter Asher Vocals - Neil Diamond
12 O Little Town Of Bethlehem Piano - Robbie Buchanan Vocals - Neil Diamond
13 Angels We Have Heard On High Keyboards - Robbie Buchanan Percussion - MB Gordy Percussion - Robbie Buchanan Vocals - Neil Diamond
14 The First Noel Harmonium - Robbie Buchanan Lute - Carl Smith Flute - Jon Clarke Percussion - MB Gordy Vocals - Neil Diamond
15 Hallelujah Chorus Bass - Jimmy Johnson Drums - Carlos Vega Guitar - Michael Thompson Keyboards - Robbie Buchanan Timpani - MB Gordy Vocals - Neil Diamond
Producer – Peter Asher Arranged By – David Campbell (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) Arranged By – Walter Whitman (Track 1) Arranged By – Alan Lindgren (Tracks 5, 6, 9) Arranged By – Tom Hensley (Tracks 5, 6) Chorus Master – John McCarthy (Tracks 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) Conductor (Ambrosian Singers) – David Campbell (Tracks 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) Conductor (Angel Voices) – Robert Prizeman (Tracks 9, 11, 13, 14) Conductor (Brass) – David Campbell (Track 1) Conductor (Choir) – Walter Whitman (Track 1) Conductor (Horns) – David Campbell (Tracks 4, 7) Conductor (Horns) – Alan Lindgren, Tom Hensley (Track 5) Conductor (Orchestra) – David Campbell (Tracks 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) Engineer (Additional) – Bernie Becker, Julie Last Engineer (Assistant) – John Radzin, Kirsten Cowie, Marnie Riley, Sean O’Dwyer Mastered By – Doug Sax - Mixed By – Frank Wolf Recorded By – Frank Wolf Art Direction – David Kirschner Design – Dylan Tran, Gabrielle Raumberger Photography – Mauro Cararro, David Skernick Mastered At The Mastering Lab Recorded At Conway Studios Recorded At Arch Angel Studios Recorded At Angel Studios Phonographic Copyright Sony Music Entertainment Inc Copyright Neil Diamond
