Because It's Christmas
Barry Manilow · 1990
42 min · 10 tracks · pop music
A festive blend of classic holiday tunes rendered with Manilow's signature pop flair and lush arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Christmas Song Start here — Manilow's rendition of this classic captures warm nostalgia through his emotive vocal delivery and rich orchestration, making it a central piece of the album.
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Silent Night / I Guess There Ain’t No Santa Claus — The medley contrasts traditional reverence with playful skepticism, showcasing Manilow's versatility and adding a unique narrative twist to familiar themes.
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Baby, It’s Cold Outside — This duet features charming interplay between Manilow and an unnamed female vocalist, adding a touch of warmth and flirtation typical of holiday gatherings.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid arrangements of holiday classics but lacks standout originality in composition.
What we noticed
- The pacing shifts between upbeat tracks like 'Jingle Bells' and slower ballads such as 'Silent Night', maintaining listener engagement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady holiday background music
- warm family gathering atmosphere
- nostalgic carols with orchestral flair
- sing-along classics for celebrations
- cozy winter evenings by fire
Maybe skip if you
- seeking experimental or avant-garde
- prefer upbeat party anthems
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Commercial success solidified Manilow's status as a go-to artist for Christmas music.
- Themes
- nostalgic holiday warmth· playful winter romance
- Career context
- Because It's Christmas arrived during a phase in Barry Manilow's career where he was transitioning from mainstream pop success to exploring thematic albums. By 1990, he had already established himself as a household name with hits from the '70s and '80s, making this collection of seasonal songs a way to connect with long-time fans while appealing to new audiences during the holiday season.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billy Joel· Paul Anka· Neil Diamond
Tracklist
- 1 The Christmas Song Start here 3:54
- 2 Jingle Bells 2:39
- 3 Silent Night / I Guess There Ain’t No Santa Claus 5:19
- 4 The First Noel / When the Meadow Was Bloomin’ 5:01
- 5 Excerpt From Händel’s Messiah (“For unto us a child is born…”) / Because It’s Christmas (For All the Children) 5:28
- 6 Baby, It’s Cold Outside 5:19
- 7 White Christmas 1:32
- 8 Carol of the Bells / The Bells of Christmas 4:48
- 9 Joy to the World / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 3:46
- 10 We Wish You a Merry Christmas / It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve 4:47
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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