Album cover. RCA Victor (ASL1-5307) (1984)
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Once Upon a Christmas is a collaborative studio album by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was released on October 29, 1984, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Kenny and David Foster. It is Kenny's second album of Christmas music and Dolly's first. It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 31 on the all-genre Billboard 200. "The Greatest Gift of All" peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 81 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. "Christmas Without You" was released as a single in the UK and peaked at number 88 on the UK Singles Chart. The Dolly solo, "Medley: Winder Wonderland/Sleigh Ride", did not chart during its initial release, but peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 1999. The album has been certified 2x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its release was accompanied by a CBS television special titled Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember.
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Track listing
Original release (1984)
- I Believe in Santa Claus (Dolly Parton) 3:18
- Medley: Winder Wonderland / Sleigh Ride (Dick Smith, Felix Bernard / Mitchell Parish, Leroy Anderson) 3:37
- Christmas Without You (Dolly Parton, Steve Goldstein) 3:52
- The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells) 3:20
- A Christmas to Remember (Dolly Parton) 4:00
- With Bells On (Dolly Parton) 2:38
- Silent Night (Joseph Mohr, Franz Gruber) 3:15
- The Greatest Gift of All (John Jarvis) 3:42
- White Christmas (Irving Berlin) 3:02
- Once Upon a Christmas (Dolly Parton) 4:19
CD reissue (1997)
- I Believe in Santa Claus (Dolly Parton) 3:18
- Medley: Winder Wonderland / Sleigh Ride (Dick Smith, Felix Bernard / Mitchell Parish, Leroy Anderson) 3:37
- With Bells On (Dolly Parton) 2:38
- Christmas Without You (Dolly Parton, Steve Goldstein) 3:52
- White Christmas (Irving Berlin) 3:02
- A Christmas to Remember (Dolly Parton) 4:00
- Hard Candy Christmas (Carol Hall) 3:39
- The Greatest Gift of All (John Jarvis) 3:42
- Once Upon a Christmas (Dolly Parton) 4:19
Background
Kenny and Dolly first worked together in 1976 when Kenny was a guest on Dolly's syndicated variety series, Dolly. The pair joined forces again on Kenny's 1983 single, "Islands in the Stream", which was a number one hit. Kenny contacted Dolly in late 1983 to see if she would be interested in doing a Christmas album with him. Due to the pair's busy schedules, recording didn't take place until August 1984. According to an article in Billboard, the album was completed and mixing had taken place by late September.
In an issue of Cashbox, Kenny said of the album, "I was raised in a Baptist family and I've always thought of Christmas as a special time, a time when families who might be apart the rest of the year can come close together again. Something special also happens when Dolly and I get together: it's a case of the whole being even greater than the sum of its parts." Dolly said, "This is the first Christmas special or album that I've ever done, so when Kenny called me with the idea, I jumped at it. Kenny and I love singing together; I think the blend of our voices creates a real electricity that comes across on record. He also has a real Santa Claus spirit. He makes working fun, and approaches things like I do, enjoying the people around him."
In an issue of Cashbox, Kenny said of the album, "I was raised in a Baptist family and I've always thought of Christmas as a special time, a time when families who might be apart the rest of the year can come close together again. Something special also happens when Dolly and I get together: it's a case of the whole being even greater than the sum of its parts." Dolly said, "This is the first Christmas special or album that I've ever done, so when Kenny called me with the idea, I jumped at it. Kenny and I love singing together; I think the blend of our voices creates a real electricity that comes across on record. He also has a real Santa Claus spirit. He makes working fun, and approaches things like I do, enjoying the people around him."
Recording
The album was recorded in August 1984 at Lion Share Studios in Los Angeles, Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Evergreen Studios in Nashville, Caecca Sound in Dallas, and Lighthouse Recorders in Los Angeles.
Release and promotion
The album was released October 29, 1984 on LP, CD, and cassette.
Singles
Three singles were issued simultaneously on November 26, 1984: "The Greatest Gift of All" (a duet), "Medley: Winder Wonderland/Sleigh Ride" (a Dolly Parton solo), and "The Christmas Song" (a Kenny Rogers solo). "The Greatest Gift of All" debuted at number 82 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated December 15. It peaked at number 53 on the chart dated January 5, 1985, its fourth week on the chart. It charted for seven weeks. The single peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 70 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart. The Dolly solo, "Medley: Winder Wonderland/Sleigh Ride", did not chart during its initial release, but peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 1999. Kenny's solo, "The Christmas Song", failed to chart.
"Christmas Without You" was issued as a single in Europe in November 1984 and peaked at number 88 on the UK Singles Chart. It would be issued as a single in the United States in November 1985, but failed to chart.
A fifth single, "I Believe in Santa Claus", was issued in the United Stated in November 1987 and also failed to chart.
"Christmas Without You" was issued as a single in Europe in November 1984 and peaked at number 88 on the UK Singles Chart. It would be issued as a single in the United States in November 1985, but failed to chart.
A fifth single, "I Believe in Santa Claus", was issued in the United Stated in November 1987 and also failed to chart.
Television special
Kenny and Dolly promoted the album's release with a television special titled Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember, which aired December 2, 1984 on CBS. The Bob Giraldi directed special featured performances of all ten songs from the album. These range from a performance with Kenny and Dolly as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to a performance at a USO party in World War II London to a rousing finale in a down-home country church. The television special was viewed by 30 million people. Following the special, a video excerpt of the "Christmas Without You" performance was serviced to television stations.
Critical reception
In a positive review, Billboard said the album "shows signs of emerging as a seasonal blockbuster." The review called Parton's compositions "lively" and said that the album is "devoid of schmaltz" and "sparkles with warmth."
Billboard review, December 8, 1984.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated December 15, 1984. It peaked at number 12 on the chart dated January 12, 1985, its fifth week on the chart. The album has spent a total of 41 weeks on the chart as of Christmas 2020. The album also peaked at number 31 on both the Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart. The album also saw success in European countries, peaking at number 33 on the Norwegian Albums chart, number 37 on the Dutch Albums chart, and number 40 on the Swedish Albums chart.
Accolades
The album received the Canadian Country Music Association Award for Top Selling Album in 1985.
The album was simultaneously certified Gold and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 3, 1984, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. It was certified 2x Platinum on October 25, 1989, for shipment of 2,000,000 copies. The album received Gold and Platinum certifications from Music Canada on December 1, 1984, for shipments exceeding 100,000 copies. The album was certified 3x Platinum on November 14, 1985 and 4x Platinum on January 21, 1987. It was certified 5x Platinum on April 13, 1988, for shipment of 500,000 copies.
The album was simultaneously certified Gold and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 3, 1984, for shipment of 1,000,000 copies. It was certified 2x Platinum on October 25, 1989, for shipment of 2,000,000 copies. The album received Gold and Platinum certifications from Music Canada on December 1, 1984, for shipments exceeding 100,000 copies. The album was certified 3x Platinum on November 14, 1985 and 4x Platinum on January 21, 1987. It was certified 5x Platinum on April 13, 1988, for shipment of 500,000 copies.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
Original album
Performance
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Production
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Other personnel
- Sandy Gallin – management for Dolly Parton
- Tzetzi Ganev – Dolly Parton's costume
- John Coulter Design – art direction
- Ken Kragen/Kragen & Company – management for Kenny Rogers
- Reid Miles – front cover photography, back cover photography
- Dianne Roberson – Dolly Parton's hair
- Cassie Seaver – Dolly Parton's makeup
- Diana Thomas – creative consultant for Dolly Parton
- Gene Trindl – inner sleeve photography for CBS Photography