My Gift to You (Alexander O'Neal album)

My Gift to You
Studio album by Alexander O'Neal
Released	1988
Genre	Electronic R&B funk soul
Length	42:28
Label	Tabu
Producer	Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis Foster & McElroy Tom Cartwright Steve Hodge Lee Blaskey
Alexander O'Neal chronology
All Mixed Up (1987) My Gift to You (1988) All True Man (1991)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

My Gift to You is the first and only Christmas album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It was originally released in 1988 by Tabu.

On release, the album was received favorably by the majority of music critics. However it wasn't very successful peaking at #149 on the Billboard 200 and reached #54 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.^[2] The album only launched one charting single in the UK. "The Christmas Song"/"Thank You for a Good Year" which peaked at #30 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3]

Critical reception

In a retrospective review, Jason Ankeny of AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars and wrote that "My Gift to You is plainly a product of its era, complete with thick synthesizers and programmed rhythms, and is best enjoyed by listeners still hoping Santa brings them acid-washed jeans and Members Only jackets regardless of the year in question."^[1]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by James Harris and Terry Lewis, except where noted.^[4]

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"My Gift To You"	4:21
2.	"Sleigh Ride"	5:58
3.	"Our First Christmas"	5:33
4.	"Remember Why (It's Christmas)"	4:09

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"The Little Drummer Boy"	Harry Simeone Katherine K. Davis Henry Onorati	5:00
6.	"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)"	Robert Wells Mel Tormé	3:16
7.	"This Christmas"	Donny Pitts Nadine McKinnor	3:32
8.	"Winter Wonderland"	Felix Bernard Dick Smith	3:16
9.	"Thank You For A Good Year"		6:07
10.	"Remember Why (It's Christmas) (Reprise)"		1:21
Total length:			42:28

Personnel

• Alexander O'Neal – arranger, vocal arrangement, vocals
• Denzil Foster – drum programming, keyboards
• David Agent – guitar
• Ira D. Conley – bass, bass (vocal)
• Lee Blaskey – arranger, conductor, orchestra production
• Michael L. Bowens – sax (tenor), tenor (vocal)
• Robert Edwards – sax (tenor), tenor (vocal)
• Terrence Frierson – sax (tenor), tenor (vocal)
• Dorothy Cates – soprano (vocal)
• Shirley Marie Graham – alto, alto (vocals)
• Carrie M. Harrington – alto, alto (vocals)
• Gary Hines – choir Arrangement, director
• Wendy Ingram – soprano, soprano (vocal)
• Jimmy Jam – arranger, associate producer, choir arrangement, drums, executive producer, horn, keyboard programming, keyboards, percussion, piano, producer, rhythm, string arrangements
• Jellybean Johnson – guitar, percussion
• Valerie Johnson – soprano, soprano (vocal)
• Lisa Keith – arranger, vocal arrangement, vocals (background)
• Jennifer L. – alto (vocals)
• Patricia Lacy – alto (vocals)
• Terry Lewis – arranger, associate producer, bass, choir arrangement, executive producer, guitar, horn, percussion, rhythm, string arrangements, vocals (background)
• Renee McCall – soprano, soprano (vocal)
• Thomas McElroy – drum programming, drums, keyboards, producer
• Otis Montgomery – sax (tenor), tenor (vocal)
• Jayn Bell Porter – soprano, soprano (vocal)
• Randy Ran – vocals (background)
• Charles Robinson – bass, bass (vocal)
• Alecia Russell – alto
• Aleeta D. Russell – alto (vocals)
• Sounds of Blackness – choir/chorus
• Jennifer Whitlock – alto, alto (vocals)
• David B. Young – bass, bass (vocal)

Charts

Peak positions

Original release Chart Peak Position Total weeks Swedish Albums Chart[5] 26 3 UK Albums Chart[6] 53 3 US Billboard Chart[7] 149 ? US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[7] 54 ? References Ankeny, Jason. "Jason Ankeny – My Gift to You". AllMusic. Retrieved January 16, 2015. Hearsay Chart & awards at AllMusic Roberts, David (2002). Guinness World Records British Hit Singles (15th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-187-X., p.360 Alexander O'Neal - My Gift To You (LP liner notes). Tabu/Epic Records. OZ 45016 "SWE Charts > Alexander O'Neal". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2012-05-26. "UK Charts > Alexander O'Neal". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-05-26. "US Albums Charts > Alexander O'Neal". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-05-26. External links My Gift to You at Discogs (list of releases)