Home for the Holidays is the first Christmas-themed album and fifth studio album from Darius Rucker, released on October 27, 2014, through Capitol Records Nashville.[1][2] The album, produced by Frank Rogers, is a collection of twelve Christmas songs, including two originals and a collaboration with Sheryl Crow.[3]
Background and recording
On September 5, 2014, Sheryl Crow posted a picture of herself with Rucker on her Facebook page and wrote: "I love Darius Rucker - Merry Christmas Baby! (I sang on his upcoming Christmas record!)"[4]
On September 15, 2014, it was announced that Rucker had completed his first Christmas album and that it would be released on October 27, 2014.[1]
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Rucker expressed his enthusiasm over his first Christmas album:
"I am so excited to finally make a Christmas album. This has been a lifelong dream, and I hope my fans enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making it."[1]
Release
Album
Home for the Holidays was released on October 27, 2014, through Capitol Records Nashville.[1]
Reception
Critical
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
Home for the Holidays received mostly positive feedback from music critics. In a three out of five star review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic states the album "winds up as a perfectly fine Christmas record, suited for those Rucker fans who have stuck with him from Hootie to R&B to country."[5]
Commercial
Home for the Holidays debuted at No. 31 on the US Billboard 200 chart and No. 7 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart, selling 9,000 copies in its first week.[6] It rose to No. 3 on the Top Country Albums chart in its fifth week of release,[7] and No. 25 on the Billboard 200 on its sixth week.[8] As of December 2016 the album has sold 220,800 copies in the US.[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" | Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne | 2:56 | |
| 2. | "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | 3:39 | |
| 3. | "What God Wants for Christmas" | Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell | 3:37 | |
| 4. | "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" | Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, Albert Hague | Thurl Ravenscroft | 3:27 |
| 5. | "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (featuring Sheryl Crow) | Frank Loesser | 3:45 | |
| 6. | "I'll Be Home for Christmas" | Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, Buck Ram | 3:53 | |
| 7. | "O Come, All Ye Faithful" | Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade | Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade | 4:05 |
| 8. | "Winter Wonderland" | Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith | 2:48 | |
| 9. | "Candy Cane Christmas" | Rucker, Rogers, Steve Leslie | Darius Rucker | 3:22 |
| 10. | "Please Come Home for Christmas" | Charles Brown, Gene Redd | Charles Brown | 4:11 |
| 11. | "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" | Charles Wesley | 3:52 | |
| 12. | "White Christmas" | Irving Berlin | 3:39 |
Chart performance
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States[2] | October 27, 2014 | Capitol Nashville |
References
- ^ a b c d Hudak, Joseph (September 15, 2014). "Darius Rucker To Release Christmas Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ a b "Home For The Holidays: Music". ASIN B00NMUCMAG. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ Parker, Eric T. (September 15, 2014). "Rucker Preps Debut Holiday Album". MusicRow. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ Sheryl Crow (September 5, 2014). "Sheryl Crow's Photos". Sheryl Crow on Facebook. Facebook. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Home for the Holidays - Darius Rucker - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ^ Wade Jessen (November 7, 2014). "Sam Hunt Scores Country Charts Feat Last Achieved 22 Years Ago". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "Top Country Albums - Chart date December 13, 2014". Billboard.
- ^ "Top Country Albums - Chart date December 20, 2014". Billboard.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 14, 2016). "*Special Report*: Country Catalog Chart for December 14, 2016". Roughstock. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- ^ "Darius Rucker Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "Darius Rucker Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Darius Rucker Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Top Holiday Albums for Darius Rucker. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
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