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A Christmas Album

by Barbra Streisand

Released: October 16, 1967

Broadway, traditional pop, disco

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Reissue.

The Album

Many tracks from this album were reissued in 1970 as Side 1 of a compilation titled Season's Greetings from Barbra Streisand...and Friends, created by Maxwell House Coffee and Columbia Special Products. "A Christmas Album (1967) is the first Christmas album and the tenth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand. The cover photograph was taken on June 16, 1967, during rehearsal for her concert, A Happening in Central Park.

Inside the Recording

During the album's recording sessions in 1966, Streisand also recorded an alternate English-language version of "Gounod's Ave Maria," which remained unreleased until 2005, when it was included in a Starbucks Christmas compilation titled Baby, It's Cold Outside.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

This album marks the last use of Columbia's…

This album marks the last use of Columbia's "Stereo 360 sound" banner and was the final album originally issued in both monaural and stereo formats.

Most copies of the LP are in stereophonic…

Most copies of the LP are in stereophonic sound.

Side 2 of the compilation featured various tracks…

Side 2 of the compilation featured various tracks from other Columbia artists, including Doris Day and Jim Nabors.

The album was released on CD in November…

The album was released on CD in November 1989 and was remastered and reissued in October 2004 as part of Columbia Records' "Essential Holiday Classics" series.

It was reissued again in October 2007 to…

It was reissued again in October 2007 to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Barbra Streisand - A Christmas Album

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Legacy

The album is one of Streisand's best-sellers and is considered one of the top-selling Christmas albums of all time.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"A Christmas Album (1967) is the first Christmas album and the tenth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand.

The album is one of Streisand's best-sellers and is considered one of the top-selling Christmas albums of all time. The cover photograph was taken on June 16, 1967, during rehearsal for her concert, A Happening in Central Park. This album marks the last use of Columbia's "Stereo 360 sound" banner and was the final album originally issued in both monaural and stereo formats. Most copies of the LP are in stereophonic sound.

Many tracks from this album were reissued in 1970 as Side 1 of a compilation titled Season's Greetings from Barbra Streisand...and Friends, created by Maxwell House Coffee and Columbia Special Products. Side 2 of the compilation featured various tracks from other Columbia artists, including Doris Day and Jim Nabors. During the album's recording sessions in 1966, Streisand also recorded an alternate English-language version of "Gounod's Ave Maria," which remained unreleased until 2005, when it was included in a Starbucks Christmas compilation titled Baby, It's Cold Outside.

The album was released on CD in November 1989 and was remastered and reissued in October 2004 as part of Columbia Records' "Essential Holiday Classics" series. It was reissued again in October 2007 to celebrate its 40th anniversary.