Christmas: The Season of Love (also known as The Season of Love) is the fourth studio and Christmas album by the Christian music male vocal group 4Him, released on October 1, 1993 by Benson Records. The album is produced by Don Koch with orchestral and string arrangements conducted by Ralph Carmichael.
Released a year after the success of The Basics of Life, 4Him's Christmas album features five original songs along with holiday hymns and carols. Due to its original success among the group's works, the album was re-issued on September 30, 1996, with a new album cover and updated photo. The first single "A Strange Way to Save the World," co-written by group member Mark Harris, climbed to the Top 5 on the Christian AC chart. The song was so popular that it has been covered by many Christian and mainstream country artists.
The Season of Love peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. In 1994, 4Him won two Dove Awards for Group of the Year and Inspirational Album of the Year at the 25th GMA Dove Awards.
Track listing
1. The Season of Love (Mark Harris, Don Koch) -4:14
2. White Christmas (Irving Berlin) -3:13
3. The Little Drummer Boy (Harry Simeone, Katherine Kennicott Davis, Henry
Onorati) -3:24
4. A Night to Remember/O Holy Night (Mark Harris, Don Koch/Adolphe Adam,
John Sullivan Dwight) -4:26
5. Medley (arranged by Ralph Carmichael, vocal arrangements by 4Him and
Don Koch) -5:19
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Phillips Brooks, Lewis Redner)
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Edmond Sears, Richard Storrs Willis)
Away in a Manger (traditional)
Silent Night, Holy Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr)
6. Do You Hear What I Hear? (Noël Regney, Gloria Shayne) -3:29
7. In Your Care (Mark Harris, Billy Simon) -5:11
8. Hold On to Christmas (Dave Clark, Don Koch) -3:37
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (traditional; arranged by Ralph Carmichael,
vocal arrangements by 4Him and Don Koch) -2:59
10. A Strange Way to Save the World (Mark Harris, Don Koch, Dave Clark) -4:37
Personnel
4Him:
Mark Harris -vocals
Andy Chrisman -vocals
Kirk Sullivan -vocals
Marty Magehee -vocals
Accolades
Dove Award -Group of the Year
Inspirational Album of the Year (Christmas: The Season of Love)
Radio singles
1993 "A Strange Way to Save the World" -#5 Christian AC
1993 -1994 "The Season of Love" -#20 Christian AC
Previous release: The Basics of Life (1992)