Merry Christmas to You

Personnel: David Frey (vocals, kazoo); Jonathan Smith (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, piano, keyboards, percussion, programming, background vocals); Shaun Tomczak (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , David Angell (violin); Kristin Wilkinson (viola); Sari Reist (cello); Sam Levine (flute, saxophone); Keith Everette Smith (trumpet, flugelhorn); Tim Lauer (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, programming); Cal Joslin (upright bass); Justin Nace (drums, percussion); Casey Brown (percussion, programming, background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Shane D. Wilson.
Recording information: Omni Studios; The Brown Owl; The Holiday Ian, Franklin, TN.
Editors: Micah Kuiper; Dan Martinie.
Illustrator: David Leonard .
Photographer: Robby Klein.
Nashville-based CCM group Sidewalk Prophets offer up a fresh-faced modern alternative rock perspective on the traditional Christmas album with Merry Christmas to You, a collection of holiday standards and original Christmas compositions by the band. Starting the collection is the lively, radio-ready, indie rock-flavored "What a Glorious Night", which begins with a sample of Linus from Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts reading the biblical story of the shepherd's meeting Jesus in the manger before blasting into the joyous, melodic tune. Among other originals, the collection includes time-honored holiday favorites like "Holly Jolly Christmas" and a doo wop reading of "White Christmas," featuring guest vocalist Francesca Battistelli. ~ Fred Thomas