The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection is American country music singer Reba McEntire's twenty-third studio album, and second Christmas album, the follow-up to her 1987 album Merry Christmas to You. Released on September 21, 1999, the album features mostly new, original holiday tunes with only a couple of traditional favorites. The children featured on "The Angels Sang" are actually the class of her son Shelby who was in the third grade at the time. The album peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard country chart and is currently certified Gold by the RIAA. It has sold 940,000 copies as of December 2013 in the US, and over 1 million copies worldwide.
The album was followed by a CBS made-for-television movie also called Secret of Giving. The film starred McEntire and Thomas Ian Griffith, and aired on Thanksgiving night in 1999. It featured songs from the album as its soundtrack.
Track listing
Personnel
Vocals Reba McEntire – lead vocals Joe Chemay – backing vocals Liana Manis – backing vocals Jimmy Nichols – backing vocals Summer Academy Third Grade Music Class – backing vocals (6)
Musicians
Jimmy Nichols – keyboards Jeff King – electric guitar B. James Lowry – acoustic guitar Brent Mason – electric guitar Jerry McPherson – electric guitar Biff Watson – acoustic guitar Terry Crisp – steel guitar Paul Franklin – steel guitar Richard "Spady" Brannan – bass Glenn Worf – bass, upright bass Eddie Bayers – drums Paul Leim – drums Eric Darken – percussion Larry Franklin – fiddle Will Smith – autoharp Reba McEntire – arrangements (5)
Production
David Malloy – producer Reba McEntire – producer Kevin Beamish – mixing, recording (1–6, 8, 10) Steve Marcantonio – recording (7) Derek Bason – additional recording, digital editing, recording (9) Daniel Kresco – mix assistant, additional recording assistant (1–8, 10), recording assistant (1–6, 8, 10) J.R. Rodriguez – additional recording assistant (1–8, 10), recording assistant (1–6, 8, 10) Alex Chan – additional recording assistant (1–8, 10), recording assistant (7) Patrick Murphy – recording assistant (9) Scott McCutcheon – additional recording assistant (9) Denny Purcell – mastering at Georgetown Masters (Nashville, Tennessee) Candle Burgess – production coordinator for David Malloy Carole Ann Mobley – production coordinator (9) Cindy Owen – art direction Karen Cronin – design Ron Davis – photography Sandi Spika – hairstylist, wardrobe Lynn Rogers – make-up Narvel Blackstock for Starstruck Entertainment – representative
Chart performance Album Chart (1999)PeakpositionU.S. Billboard Top Country Albums10U.S. Billboard 20085U.S. Billboard Top Holiday Albums8
Charted songs YearSingleUS Country1999"I'll Be Home for Christmas"68"Away in a Manger"732000"Secret of Giving"58"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"50
Sales and certifications
References