Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection is the eleventh studio album and second full-length Christmas album from Jewel, released on September 24, 2013, through Reflections Records.
Background Jewel released her first Christmas album in 1999. Joy: A Holiday Collection was a commercial success, receiving Platinum certifications. The announcement of a second Christmas album came on August 6, 2013. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal about recording another Christmas album, Jewel was quoted as saying "I wanted this record to have a resemblance to the first album. It’s a continuation of mood and spirit of that record, with the mood and feel of the album artwork with an image and tone that evokes that spirit." According to her official website, the album "features country, folk-pop roots with a classical twist."
Production Let It Snow was recorded in 2013 and produced by Jewel, along with Steve Skinner, Joe Mardin and Robbie Kondor. Included with ten traditional holiday songs are two originals recorded for the album, titled "It's Christmastime" and "Blue Crystal Glow."
Release The album was released on September 24, 2013, and made available in several editions. The Target edition contains an exclusive track, "Deck The Halls." Bed Bath & Beyond and iTunes offer the deluxe edition, which includes four additional tracks.
Critical reception
Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection has received mostly positive feedback from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic writes, "(the album) may not transcend the conventions of a Christmas album, but it also avoids the pitfalls and, on the whole, it's better than her first foray into seasonal song."
Commercial performance As of August 2015, the album has sold 41,000 copies in the United States.
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from AllMusic
Musicians Jewel – acoustic guitar, vocals Robbie Kondor – bass, bass (vocal), clapping, harmonica, keyboards, knee slaps, mandolin, penny whistle, piano, vibraphone Joe Mardin – bass, brushes, cymbals, drums, keyboards, sleigh bells, tambourine, background vocals Amie Amis – French horn Eliot Bailen – cello Sherrod Barnes – acoustic guitar Mallory Bennhoff – background vocals Emily Bindiger – choir/chorus, background vocals Paul Brandenburg – trumpet Laurent Caillat – choir/chorus Larry Campbell – fiddle, guitar, pedal steel guitar John Clark – French horn Nancy Danino – choir/chorus, translation Nick Donohue – background vocals Dave Eggar – cello, soloist Gabrielle Fink – violin Vince Gill – guitar, soloist Rachel Golub – violin Julie Goodale – viola Nikki Gregoroff – background vocals Rebecca Harris – violin Stan Harrison – clarinet, saxophone
Richard Heckman – English horn, oboe Erin Hill – harp Alexandra Jenkins – violin Marco Joachim – acoustic guitar Birch Johnson – trombone Zev Katz – bass Dillon Kondor – guitar Kenny Kosek – fiddle Katie Kresek – violin Ron Lawrence – viola Zoë Lewis – background vocals Michael Londra – choir/chorus, translation, background vocals Pat Mangan – violin Trevor Neumann – flugelhorn Victoria Paterson – violin Sophie Piggott – background vocals Marcus Rojas – tuba Peter Sachon – cello Daniel Sadownick – djembe, shaker, triangle Laura Sherman – harp Ira Siegel – guitar Abi Sirota – background vocals Sam Skinner – guitar Steve Skinner – keyboards, organ, piano, sleigh bells Frank Vilardi – clapping, drums, knee slaps
Technical Jewel – arranger, executive producer, production Robbie Kondor – arranger, conductor, engineer, production Joe Mardin – arranger, engineer, mixing, production, programming, vocal arrangement Steve Skinner – arranger, engineer, main personnel, production, programming Michael O'Reilly – engineer, mixing Seth Glassman – engineer Ken Halford – engineer Roy Hendrickson – engineer Kabir Hermon – engineer Mike Nolan – engineer Matt Rausch – engineer Alan Silverman – mastering Katie Kresek – concertmaster Tom Chaggaris – art direction Virginia Davis – management Dave Eggar – contractor Russell James – photography Nicole Perez – publicity
Charts Chart (2014) PeakpositionUS Top Holiday Albums (Billboard) 20
References