Christmas in My Home Town is a studio album by American country artist Charley Pride. It was released in November 1970 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Jack Clement. It was Pride's first collection of holiday music and his ninth studio recording, overall. It originally contained ten tracks in its initial release, but was re-released with additional tracks in 2013. It received positive reviews from critics following its release.

Background and content By 1970, Charley Pride had several major hits after becoming country music's first commercially successful African-American artist. He had recently had five number one hits, which heightened his musical popularity: "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)," "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again," "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" and "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me." Pride's commercial success prompted his record label to have him record album of Christmas music. The project was first recorded on August 27, 1969, at the RCA Victor Studio, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were originally produced by Jack Clement.

Christmas in My Home Town contained a mix of holiday classics and original tunes. The album originally contained ten tracks, but a re-release added three more. Two of the project's tracks were composed by Pride himself: "Santa and the Kids" and "Happy Christmas Day." Other original tracks featured were the title track, composed by Lassaye Van Buren Holmes and "The First Christmas Morn." Holiday covers included "Silent Night," "Little Drummer Boy" and "O Holy Night."

Critical reception

Christmas in My Home Town has received positive reviews since its initial release in 1970. In a November 1970 issue of Billboard, writers praised Pride's performance on the record. "Country Charley Pride has a sure winner in this top program of new and older Christmas favorites." He called his covers of songs such as "O Holy Night" to be "first rate treatments." They also praised Pride's original material that was also included on the album. The online music publication, Ultimate Twang, reviewed the original LP as well and also gave it a positive reception. Writers commented that it was "an excellent album, by one of the best country singers of all-time." The re-released version of the album was reviewed by AllMusic's David A. Milberg, who wrote, "The title tune was a great Christmas hit. This is mellow C&W for the holidays."

Release Christmas in My Home Town was originally released in November 1970 on RCA Victor Studios. It was Pride's ninth studio recording in his career. The project was originally distributed as a vinyl LP, containing five songs on either side of the record. The album was then re-released on a compact disc in 2013, and featured three additional holiday tracks that first been recorded for various Christmas compilations. The newer version featured re-mastering and production as well. The re-release was issued on Music City Records, Pride's record label at the time. The re-released version was also issued to digital and streaming services, which included Apple Music. The title track was the album's only single. It was released in November 1970. The single received significant holiday airplay and became one of the year's top holiday tunes.

Track listings Vinyl version

Digital and compact disc versions

Personnel All credits are adapted from the 2013 liner notes of Christmas in My Home Town.

Musical personnel

Willie Ackerman – drums Beegie Adair – piano Doris Allen – violin Joseph Babcock – background vocals Bobby Becker – violin George Binkley – violin Harold Bradley – guitar David Briggs – piano, keyboards Mark Casstevens – guitar Jimmy Colvard – bass Pete Drake – steel guitar Ray Edenton – guitar Dolores Edgin – background vocals Jack Eubanks – guitar Solie Fott – viola Sonny Garrish – steel guitar Johnny Gimble – fiddle Billy Grammer – rhythm guitar Lloyd Green – steel guitar Milton Hackney – violin Rob Hajacos – fiddle Buddy Harman – drums Hoyt Hawkins – background vocals Mitch Humphries – keyboards David Hungate – bass Junior Huskey – bass William Irwin – organ Jimmy Isabelle – drums The Jordanaires – background vocals

Millie Kirkham – background vocals Neal Matthews – background vocals Terry McMillan – background vocals Farrell Morris – bells, percussion, vibraphone Robert Mowrey – viola The Nashville Edition – background vocals Fred Newell – guitar June Page – background vocals Jo Parker – violin Larry Paxton – bass Gary Prim – keyboards Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano Brent Rowan – guitar Billy Sanford – bass, electric guitar Dale Sellers – electric guitar Lisa Silver – background vocals Buddy Spicher – fiddle Bobby Thompson – guitar David Vaderkool – cello Pete Wade – guitar Carol Walker – violin Raymond Walker – background vocals Gary Williams – cello Bergen White – bells Chip Young – guitar Curtis Young – background vocals Joe Zinkan – bass

Technical personnel Jack Clement – producer Doug Crider – assistant engineer Greg Gosselin – art direction, design, liner notes, project supervisor Bill Harris – engineer Jack D. Johnson – arranger Les Ladd – recording technician Blake Mevis – producer Jimmy Moore – cover photo Al Pachucki – engineer Tom Pick – engineer Roy Shockley – recording technician Bergen White – arranger M.G. Wilder – mastering Norro Wilson – producer

Certifications

Release history Region Date Format Label Ref. Canada November 1970 Vinyl RCA Victor Records United States United Kingdom 1973 United States 1976 2010s Sony Music Entertainment 2013 Compact disc Music City Records

References