Christmas Memories was Barbra Streisand's first full-length studio album since 1999's platinum-selling A Love Like Ours and her first new recording since her 1999-2000 New Year's Eve millennium performances captured on Timeless - Live In Concert.
Christmas Memories was also Streisand's first seasonal collection since A Christmas Album, released in 1967.
Christmas Memories was recorded July 19, 2001 - September 7, 2001 and mixed — except for "It Must Have Been The Mistletoe" and "Grown-Up Christmas List" — by David Reitzas at Grandma's House in Malibu. The majority of Christmas Memories was recorded live, in the studio, with a 90-piece orchestra. The album was recorded and mixed at: Grandma's House, Malibu; Sony Pictures Studios, Inc., Culver City; Todd-AO Scoring, Studio City; Chartmaker Studios, Malibu; O'Henry Sound Studio, Burbank; Encore Studios, Burbank; The Hop North, No. Vancouver, BC.
Executive producer Jay Landers also contributed the album's liner notes. Landers wrote:
“For Barbra, the creative challenge of this collection is, once again, balancing the traditional with the contemporary ... finding something unique to express ... discovering melodies and lyrics in newer songs which can easily rest beside the acknowledged standards ... seeking untapped beauty in the oft-visited evergreens. Being mostly drawn to material which evokes a bittersweet, wistful longing, she's chosen to interpret the work of several of the best practitioners of popular song -- Johnny Mandel, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Don Costa, Frank Loesser, Stephen Sondheim and others ... .
"In this day and age when the true spirit of the holidays is sometimes lost amidst a frenzy of commercialization, it's nice to know that certain gifts will last long beyond the greeting cards and colorful wrapping paper. Some things are of our time ... and some are for all time. This disc is one of those -- music to enjoy not only at Christmas, but throughout the year ... a precious expression from the heart -- by one of creations' greatest gifts ... Barbra Streisand.”
Barbra's 57th album happened to be released after the terrible tragedy of September 11th in the United States. Somehow, though, Christmas Memories struck the right chord with fans.
“We debated about the direction of this album,” says David Foster, who produced her version of ‘Grown-Up Christmas List’. “I said she should be doing familiar songs that people want to hear. She said, quite rightly, 'Everybody does that. I want songs that are meaningful to me.' As always, she had a definite vision and stuck with it. Consequently, it's a breathtakingly gorgeous album from beginning to end. She still hits the notes she was hitting 40 years ago.”
Streisand echoed Foster's sentiment. “I’m so glad I didn’t give in and sing ‘Let It Snow,’ ‘Winter Wonderland’ and all those other up-tempo ditties,” she said. “I was almost talked into it, but I’m glad I didn’t. I don’t know what Christmas is going to be like this year, but I think this album will fit with what a lot of people are thinking.”
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TV advertisements for the album ran on various national and local stations and in major magazines — People, Talk, Vanity Fair, and InStyle.
Columbia Records circulated A Voice For All Seasons: Christmas Memories Radio Sampler (CSK 54903) as a promo-only disc with tracks #1, 6, 9, 11, and 12.
HSN (Home Shopping Network) sold the "Barbra Streisand Christmas Gift Set" in limited quantities during the 2001 holiday season. Included in the package were both Streisand Christmas CDs (1967 and 2001) and an exclusive red glass ornament with Barbra's photo. (pictured here).
