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Holiday records were a staple of the Motown, Atlantic, and Stax release schedules during the golden age of soul music, but in the 1980s few R&B acts picked up the baton. Although it hasn't dated particularly well, My Gift to You nevertheless remains an admirable and energetic attempt to revive the Christmas album concept for a new generation, pairing Alexander O'Neal with the hitmaking production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to create a lushly romantic set considerably more thoughtful and heartfelt than your average yuletide cash-in. Half of the album's ten songs are Jam/Lewis originals, and even if none of them emerged as contemporary standards, they do a good job of capturing both the secular ("Our First Christmas") and spiritual ("Remember Why It's Christmas") dimensions of the season. O'Neal also delivers shopworn material like "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Winter Wonderland" with conviction, saving his most potent performance for the Donny Hathaway classic "This Christmas." There's no getting around the trademark Jam/Lewis production, though. My Gift to You is plainly a product of its era, complete with thick synthesizers and programmed rhythms, and is best enjoyed by listeners still hoping Santa brings them acid-washed jeans and Members Only jackets regardless of the year in question. ~ Jason Ankeny
An instant Holiday favorite upon its release in 1988, it's now one of the most sought after Christmas albums, since it's been out of print for years. The album includes 5 songs penned by Jam & Lewis, plus 4 standards and Danny Hathaway's classic 'This Christmas'. 24-bit digitally remastered. Tabu Records. 2002.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Recorded at Starlight Studio, Richmond, Virginia; Flyte Tyme Productions and MPR Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Includes liner notes by A. Scott Galloway.
Personnel: Alexander O'Neal (vocals); Jellybean Johnson (guitar, percussion); Dave Agent (guitar); Thomas McElroy, Denzil Foster (keyboards, programming); Lisa Keith, Randy Ran (background vocals).
Producers: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Steve Hodge.
Alexander O'Neal - My Gift To You Songs
My Gift To You Music Review
Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)    List All 18 Reviews Phenomenal
I heard Thank you for a Good Year on one of the NY radio stations recently and searched all over to find this CD.
This is a very hard CD to find. Thank god for CD Universe. This CD is an all time classic. I love every song on it but of course Thank you for a Good Year is truly a classic. This song will take you back to church.
Submitted by sshelton (Jersey City, NJ, USA) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Lost to Katrina, found at your web site! A must Have!
This is one of those cd's that you must have to make my/your Christmas collection complete!
Submitted by adrianmoline (New Orleans, LA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. meraviglioso!!!
i had this christmas album copy from a vinyl in a store of Brescia, before this, i had the fist cassette stereo7 work by alexander... "hearsay".. a voice: very smooth and a hi tonal soulman!!! it is one of my favorite singer as the same as Rick Astley: great lirics and Awesome sound!!! this album is beautyful!!! it goes stright in your heart like a dart!!! keep cool!!!
Submitted by Venanziomix (Grosseto, ITALY)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Fantastic
This is my second copy of My Gift To You by Alexander O'Neal. I purchased it as soon as it was released because I loved Alexander O'Neal's sound. After my first copy wasn't returned, I had asked some friends who D.J. if they knew where I could obtain a copy and they told me good luck it was out of production or reproduction. This is an excellent R&B Christmas CD. I love all the songs but My Gift to You, Our First Christmas, I Want To Thank You all original Christmas music that will become Christmas classics.
Submitted by pbigelow (Woodlawn, MD, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  A Must Have
Beautiful music for the holiday season!!!!!!!
Submitted by wtw68 (Dallas, TX)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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