These are Special Times by Céline Dion - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

In the wake of her Titanic success, Celine Dion produced two new albums for the holiday season of 1998. One was a new French album, and the other was These Are Special Times, her first Christmas album. These Are Special Times is an especially successful holiday album since Dion wisely balances popular carols ("The Christmas Song," "Blue Christmas," "Feliz Navidad") with new songs ("Don't Save It All for Christmas," the R. Kelly duet "I'm Your Angel"), hymns ("Ave Maria," "Adeste Fidelis"), and Christmas songs with a distinct religious theme ("O Holy Night," the Andrea Bocelli duet "The Prayer"). At times, the production is too slick, at other times Dion's vocals are a little mannered, but overall, These Are Special Times is very effective, because the songs are good and she's committed to the material. Any fan of Dion, or of '90s adult contemporary pop in general, should find this very enjoyable.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo

1. O Holy Night

by Céline Dion

Composer: Adolphe Adam; Composer
Background Vocals: Gloria Grace Prosper
Don Shelton
Darlene Koldenhoven
Elin Carlson
Dick Bolks
Donna Davidson
Rick Logan
Susan Stevens-logan
Roger Freeland
Amick Byram
John West
Steve Amerson
Linda Harmon
Carmen Twillie
Morgan Ames
Jonathan Mack; Performer
Keyboard: David Foster; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Arranger: Jeremy Lubbock
David Foster; Composer
Lyricist: Traditional; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Rob Murphy
Alfred Bosco
Chris Brooke
Jimmy Hoyson; Production
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Piano: David Foster; Performer
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake
David Foster; Production
Recording: Humberto Gatica
Felipe Elgueta
David Reitzas; Production

2. Don't Save It All for Christmas Day

by Céline Dion

Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Composer: Ric Wake
Peter Zizzo
C.dion; Composer
Background Vocals: Latasha Jordan
Paulette Mcwilliams
Nancey Jackson
Vaneese Thomas
Cindy Mizelle
Fonzi Thornton
Ayana George
Elizabeth Withers
Loris Holland
Spencer Washington
Diva Gray
Dennis Collins
Troy Bright; Performer
Drum Programming: Peter Zizzo
Jimmy Bralower; Performer
Guitar: Peter Zizzo
Marc Shulman
Larry Salzman; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Lyricist: Peter Zizzo
Ric Wake
C.dion; Composer
Conductor: Rob Mathes; Conductor
Assistant Engineer: Brian Harding
Juan Bohorquez
Jake Ninan
Chris Brooke
Rob Murphy
Alfred Bosco; Production
Engineer: David Shackney
Terence Dover
Thomas R. Yezzi
Bob Cadway
Rick Kerr
Dan Hetzel; Production
Executive Producer: John Doelp
Vito Luprano; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake; Production

3. Blue Christmas

by Céline Dion

Composer: Jay Johnson
Billy Hayes; Composer
Drums: John Robinson; Performer
Electric Guitar: John Chiodini; Performer
Keyboard: David Foster; Performer
Performer: Randy Phillips
Thomas Funderburk
Jeffrey Ramsey
Gary Falcone
Darlan Holley
Louis Price
Carmen Carter
Susan Logan
Carmen Twillie
Alexandra Brown
Bobbi Page
Bridgette Bryant
Céline Dion; Performer
Lyricist: Billy Hayes
Jay Johnson; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Chris Brooke
Rob Murphy
Alfred Bosco
Andy Haller
Jimmy Hoyson; Production
Executive Producer: John Doelp
Vito Luprano; Production
Piano: Diana Krall; Performer
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: David Foster
Ric Wake; Production
Recording: David Reitzas
Felipe Elgueta
Humberto Gatica; Production

4. Another Year Has Gone By

by Céline Dion

Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Bryan Adams; Performer
Composer: Bryan Adams
Eliot Kennedy; Composer
Lyricist: Eliot Kennedy
Bryan Adams; Composer
Bass: Bryan Adams; Performer
Electric Guitar: Bryan Adams; Performer
Keyboard: Phil Western; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Conductor: Bob Buckley; Conductor
Engineer: Phil Western
Randy Staub; Production
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake
Bryan Adams; Production
Programmer: Phil Western
Olle Romo; Production

5. The Magic Of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)

by Céline Dion

Composer: Dee Snider; Composer
Bass Guitar: Patrick Carroll; Performer
Drums: Frank Villardi; Performer
Percussion: Patrick Carroll; Performer
Arranger: Russ Desalvo
Ron Huff
Ric Wake; Composer
Background Vocals: Dana Calitri
Fonzi Thornton
Sharon Bryant
Cindy Mizelle
Eric Troyer
Martin Briley; Performer
Lyricist: Dee Snider; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Rob Murphy
Juan Bohorquez
Jake Ninan
Chris Brooke
Alfred Bosco
Brian Harding; Production
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Patrick Carroll; Performer
Drum Programming: Patrick Carroll; Performer
Guitar: Russ Desalvo; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Engineer: Bob Cadway
Thomas R. Yezzi
Rick Kerr
David Shackney
Dan Hetzel; Production
Piano: Shane Keister; Performer
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake; Production

6. Ave Maria

by Céline Dion

Acoustic Guitar: Kamil Rustam; Performer
Electric Guitar: Michael Thompson; Performer
Keyboard: David Foster; Performer
Performer: Bridgette Bryant
Alexandra Brown
Thomas Funderburk
Jeffrey Ramsey
Gary Falcone
Bobbi Page
Darlan Holley
Louis Price
Susan Logan
Carmen Twillie
Céline Dion
Randy Phillips
Carmen Carter; Performer
Arranger: David Foster
William Ross; Composer
Composer: Charles Gounod; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Alfred Bosco
Andy Haller
Chris Brooke
Jimmy Hoyson
Rob Murphy; Production
Executive Producer: John Doelp
Vito Luprano; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake
David Foster; Production
Recording: David Reitzas
Humberto Gatica
Felipe Elgueta; Production

7. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)

by Céline Dion

Performer: Crystal Cathedral Choir
Céline Dion; Performer
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Pipe Organ: Heather Hinton; Performer
Arranger: Johnnie Carl
David Foster; Composer
Composer: Traditional; Composer
Lyricist: Traditional; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Alfred Bosco
Andy Haller
Chris Brooke
Jimmy Hoyson
Steve Conrad
Rob Murphy; Production
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Recording: Gary Van Pelt
Humberto Gatica
Felipe Elgueta
David Reitzas; Production
Producer: David Foster
Ric Wake; Production

8. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

by Céline Dion

Composer: Mel Tormé; Composer
Bass: Chuck Domanico; Performer
Drums: Jeff Hamilton; Performer
Guitar: John Chiodini; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Lyricist: Robert Wells
Mel Tormé; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Rob Murphy
Chris Brooke; Production
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Piano: Terry Trotter; Performer
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Synthesizer: Tom Rainer; Performer
Producer: Ric Wake
David Foster; Production
Recording: David Reitzas
Felipe Elgueta
Al Schmitt; Production

9. The Prayer

by Céline Dion, Andrea Bocelli

Keyboard: David Foster; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion
Andrea Bocelli
Céline Dion And Andrea Bocelli; Performer
Vocals: Andrea Bocelli
Céline Dion; Performer
Arranger: David Foster; Composer
Composer: David Foster; Composer
Lyricist: Carole Bayer Sager; Composer
Orchestration: William Ross; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Rob Murphy
Alfred Bosco
Chris Brooke
Jimmy Hoyson; Production
Executive Producer: John Doelp
Vito Luprano; Production
Primary Artist: Andrea Bocelli
Celine Dion; Main Performer
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: David Foster
Ric Wake
Tony Renis
Carole Bayer Sager; Production
Recording: Humberto Gatica
Felipe Elgueta; Production

10. Brahms' Lullaby

by Céline Dion

Keyboard: David Foster; Performer
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Arranger: William Ross
David Foster; Composer
Composer: Johannes Brahms; Composer
Lyricist: Johannes Brahms; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Chris Brooke
Jimmy Hoyson
Rob Murphy; Production
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: David Foster
Ric Wake; Production
Recording: David Reitzas
Felipe Elgueta
Humberto Gatica; Production

11. Christmas Eve

by Céline Dion

Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Composer: Curt Frasca
Maria Christensen; Composer
Background Vocals: Nikki Gregoroff
Margret Dorn
Jane Barnett
Maria Christensen; Performer
Drum Programming: Steve Skinner; Performer
Drums: Shawn Pelton; Performer
Guitar: Chieli Minucci
Ira Siegel; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Lyricist: Maria Christensen
Curt Frasca; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Jake Ninan
Chris Brooke
Alfred Bosco
Rob Murphy; Production
Engineer: Steve Skinner
David Shackney
Bob Cadway; Production
Executive Producer: John Doelp
Vito Luprano; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake; Production

12. These Are the Special Times

by Céline Dion

Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Tanya Kelly
Khris Kellow
Sue Anne Carwell; Performer
Composer: Diane Warren; Composer
Guitar: Michael Thompson; Performer
Lyricist: Diane Warren; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Chris Brooke
Andy Haller
Jimmy Hoyson
Rob Murphy
Alfred Bosco; Production
Keyboard: David Foster; Performer
Performer: Bobbi Page
Thomas Funderburk
Jeffrey Ramsey
Gary Falcone
Céline Dion
Randy Phillips
Carmen Carter
Bridgette Bryant
Alexandra Brown
Darlan Holley
Louis Price
Susan Logan
Carmen Twillie; Performer
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: David Foster
Ric Wake; Production
Recording: Felipe Elgueta
John Kurlander
Humberto Gatica; Production

13. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

by Céline Dion

Background Vocals: Fonzi Thornton
Curtis King, Jr.
Cindy Mizelle
Brenda White King
Dennis Collins
Tawatha Agee
Curtis King; Performer
Drum Programming: Steve Skinner; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Lyricist: Yoko Ono
John Lennon; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Rob Murphy
Jason Stasium
Jake Ninan
Chris Brooke; Production
Engineer: Steve Skinner
Bob Cadway
David Shackney; Production
Executive Producer: Vito Luprano
John Doelp; Production
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Guitar: Chieli Minucci; Performer
Percussion: Bashiri Johnson; Performer
Composer: Yoko Ono
John Lennon; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake; Production
Jr.: Curtis King; Other

14. Feliz Navidad

by Céline Dion

Alto Saxophone: Bobby Franceschini
Bill Harris; Performer
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Lyricist: Jose Feliciano; Composer
Assistant Engineer: Jake Ninan
Rob Murphy
Aya Takemura
Juan Bohorquez
Scott Young
Brian Harding; Production
Baritone Saxophone: John Scarpulla; Performer
Bass Guitar: Gary Haase; Performer
Bass Guitar: Gary Haase; Performer
Drums: Steve Wolf; Performer
Executive Producer: John Doelp
Vito Luprano; Production
Guitar: Chris Taylor; Performer
Percussion: Rafael Padilla; Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Richie Cannata; Performer
Composer: Jose Feliciano; Composer
Trombone: Ozzie Meléndez
Randy Andos; Performer
Trumpet: Tony Kadleck
Barry Danielian
Don Moen; Performer
Vocals: The Dion Family; Performer
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake; Production
Recording: David Shackney
George Whitty
Bob Cadway
Humberto Gatica; Production

15. Les Cloches du Hameau

by Céline Dion

Composer: Johannes Brahms; Composer
Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Arranger: John Shane Keister
Ron Huff
Shane Keister
Ric Wake; Composer
Lyricist: Johannes Brahms; Composer
Conductor: Ron Huff; Conductor
Assistant Engineer: Ethan Mates
Brian Harding
Rob Murphy
Alfred Bosco
Chris Brooke
Jake Ninan; Production
Director: Richard E. Frey
Christine L. Braden; Production
Engineer: Rick Kerr
David Shackney; Production
Orchestration: Ron Huff; Composer
Executive Producer: John Doelp
Vito Luprano; Production
Mastering Engineer: Vlado Meller; Production
Mixing Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Production
Producer: Ric Wake; Production

16. I Met an Angel (on Christmas Day)

by Céline Dion

Primary Artist: Celine Dion; Main Performer
Performer: Céline Dion; Performer
Composer: Gary Haase
James Lowell
Keith Fluit; Composer
Lyricist: Gary Haase
James Lowell
Keith Fluit; Composer
Producer: Ric Wake; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

16 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 6 minutes and 10 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1443x1443 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

All tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Holiday, Christmas, Adult Contemporary, Soft Rock, Vocal-Pop

Label

Columbia

Music Distribution Service

Sony

Country

Canada

Language

English (United States)
Italian
Spanish (Spain)
French (France)

Popularity

Release Date

Nov 2, 1998

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

886448694656