Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three
Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three is the twenty-second studio album, the second full album of Christmas songs, and thirty-third overall by the American rock band Chicago. The album was released on October 4, 2011. The collection includes a variety of holiday classics and a new tune, "Rockin' and Rollin' on Christmas Day", co-written by founding trumpet player Lee Loughnane.
The album was produced by veteran producer Phil Ramone, who co-produced the band's albums Hot Streets and Chicago 13. The album features guest artists Dolly Parton on Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time", America on "I Saw Three Ships", BeBe Winans on "Merry Christmas Darling", and guitarist Steve Cropper on "Rockin’ and Rollin’ on Christmas Day".
Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three was preceded by Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album in 1998, which, itself, was reissued in 1999 with one new track; and in 2003 under a new title, What's It Gonna Be, Santa?, with six new tracks.
Track listing
Personnel
Chicago- Robert Lamm – keyboards, vocals, arrangements, horn arrangement
- Lee Loughnane – trumpets, vocals, arrangements, horn arrangement
- James Pankow – trombone, horn arrangement, arrangements
- Walter Parazaider – saxophones, flute
- Jason Scheff – bass, vocals, arrangements
- Tris Imboden – drums, arrangements
- Keith Howland – guitars, vocals, arrangements
- Lou Pardini – keyboards, vocals, arrangements
- Drew Hester – percussion
- America – vocals, ukuleles, guitars and vocal arrangement
- Hank Linderman – cuatro
- Dolly Parton – vocals
- Bebe Winans – vocals
- Steve Cropper – guitar
- Children's Choir: Grace Howland, Hope Howland, Lydia Young, Jillian DeGrie, Lilli Pankow, Carter Pankow, Connor Scheff, Jason Scheff Jr. – vocals
- Produced by Phil Ramone
- Management – Peter Schivarelli
- Recorded by Matt Coles and Adam Deane at The Sound Kitchen.
- Pre-Mix Crew – Drew Hester and Keith Smith
- Mixed by B.J. Ramone at Morrisound Studios and Shire Studios.
- Art Direction – Bobby Woods