Christmas Island (Jimmy Buffett album)

Christmas Island is the first Christmas album by American singer Jimmy Buffett, and his 21st album overall. It was released on October 8, 1996. In Buffett's signature musical style, the album features covers of popular Christmas songs and two original tracks written by Buffett for the album. A hidden track of the album, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" is a recitation of the traditional Christmas poem. Christmas Island would be Buffett's last album for MCA Records, a label he had been with since 1979. After this album's release, Buffett exited MCA's roster and joined Island Records in 1998.

Critical reception
Reviews tend to be mixed for the album. In a positive review, a reviewer states that "[Christmas Island] will have you on your feet all through the holidays." Rob O'Connor states that "this may not be the traditional Christmas fare of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but for those who enjoy ocean breezes and 'wasting away' to this most successful beach bum, Christmas Island is exactly what the cruise director ordered." Thom Owens presents a more negative view of the album, describing Buffett as being "relaxed and entertaining" even though, "few of his new Christmas songs are remarkable and his rearrangements of classic carols are rather forced." However, several tracks remain very popular around the Christmas season. "Ho Ho Ho & A Bottle of Rum" was the track chosen to be played live for promoting the album when first released, and seems to remain the most popular off the album. Although no singles were released, "Jingle Bells", "Mele Kalikimaka", "Ho Ho Ho & a Bottle of Rum", "Merry Christmas, Alabama (Never Far from Home)" and the title track get considerable amount of radio airplay during the season.

Personnel
Adapted from AllMusic.

Vocals and musicians


 * Jimmy Buffett – lead vocals, guitar; backing vocals (uncertain)
 * Melanie Prestidge – backing vocals
 * Claudia Cummings – backing vocals
 * Tina Gullickson – backing vocals
 * Nadirah Shakoor – backing vocals
 * Robert Greenidge – steelpan, percussion
 * Roger Guth – drums
 * Ralph McDonald – percussion
 * Jim Mayer – bass, upright bass
 * Peter Mayer – backing vocals, guitar, ukulele
 * Tom Mitchell – saxophone
 * Greg "Fingers" Taylor – harmonica
 * Michael Utley – keyboards

Production and design


 * Alvin Booth – photography
 * Jimmy Buffett – arranger
 * Milton Dean – photography
 * Rob Eaton – engineer, Audio mixing|mixing
 * Joe Hayden – second engineer
 * Abi Hodes – photography
 * Ted Jensen – mastering
 * Russ Kunkel – producer
 * Joe Lizzi – second engineer
 * John Lovell – horn arrangements
 * Tom Mitchell – horn arrangements
 * Jean Pagliuso – photography
 * Michael Ramos – production coordination
 * Sunshine Smith – coordination
 * Michael Utley – arrangements, producer, string arrangements
 * Brad Wilson – photography