The Christmas Shoes (2001)

The Christmas Shoes is the 11th studio and first Christmas album by the Christian music group NewSong. It was released on October 23, 2001 by Reunion Records/

Provident Music Group. Due to the success of "The Christmas Shoes" from Sheltering Tree, the song's popularity was enough to warrant it a Christmas album for the group. Some changes were happening to NewSong as musician and songwriter Leonard Ahlstrom left the band after more than six years after the release of Sheltering Tree as he retired. And NewSong's previous label Benson Records was folded by Zomba in 2001. Still with Provident Music, the group was transferred over to their label Reunion Records starting with this release.

In addition to the title song, The Christmas Shoes contains a mix of traditional and new holiday recordings including a new recording of their 1989 hit "Light Your World." The album topped the Billboard Heatseekers Albums giving NewSong their first number one album. It also peaked at number 9 on the Top Christian Albums and at number 113 on the Billboard 200. In 2002, The Christmas Shoes earned accolades as it was nominated for a Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year and in 2003, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. It was NewSong's first, and only, nomination for the latter.

Track listing

1. Christmas Time is Here/Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Vince Guaraldi,

Lee Mendelson/Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) -3:59

2. Sing Noel (Eddie Carswell, Michael O'Brien) -4:02

3. The Christmas Shoes (Eddie Carswell, Leonard Ahlstrom, Isaiah "DC" Daniel)

   -4:51

4. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Johnny Marks) -2:48

5. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Theodor Seuss Geisel, Albert Hague) -2:19

6. Light Your World (Eddie Carswell, Oliver Wells, Marc Aramian, Niles Borop)

-5:03

7. Away in a Manger/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (traditional; arranged by

Michael O'Brien and Matt Butler) -4:14

8. What Child Is This? (William Chatterton Dix) -3:36

9. As the World Slept (Eddie Carswell, Michael O'Brien, Matt Butler) -4:44

10. The First Noel (traditional; arranged by Bill Baumgart) -4:58

11. Christmas Carol (Eddie Carswell, Don Koch, Dave Clark) -4:30

12. O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight, Placide Cappaeu) -4:38

Personnel

NewSong:

Billy Goodwin -lead vocals

Eddie Carswell -vocals, guitar

Michael O'Brien -lead vocals, keyboards

Steve Reischl -vocals, guitar

Matt Butler -vocals, keyboards

additional musician:

Leonard Ahlstrom -guitar on track 3

Production credits

Bill Baumgart -producer (tracks 1, 2, 8 and 10)

Don Koch -producer (tracks 4, 6, 9 and 11)

George King -producer (tracks 5 and 12)

Michael O'Brien -producer (track 7)

Leonard Ahlstrom -producer (track 3)

Previous release: Sheltering Tree (2000)

Next release: More Love (2003)

Listen to the album The Christmas Shoes includes the music video of "The Christmas Shoes" :