Neil Diamond's first Christmas album, released in 1992, was a million-seller, but even so, it seemed a little bit soon to be releasing another one only two years later. Not that it much matters which Christmas season you release a Christmas album in. Working again with producer Peter Asher,
Diamond addresses 15 seasonal songs that hadn't made it onto the first album, sometimes coming up with unusual arrangements, such as a barbershop quartet version of a medley of "Deck the Halls" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and a reggae version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" complete with exhortations to children everywhere. But, especially toward the end of the album,
Diamond tales a more traditional approach, singing some of the more religious Christmas songs with an orchestra and chorus. ~ William Ruhlmann