Old Fashioned Christmas

1984 studio album by the CarpentersAn Old-Fashioned ChristmasStudio album by the CarpentersReleasedOctober 26, 1984 (1984-10-26)Recorded1974, 1978, 1984GenreChristmasLength48:48LabelA&MProducerRichard Carpenter, Karen Carpenter, Jack DaughertyThe Carpenters chronology

Voice of the Heart(1983)

An Old-Fashioned Christmas(1984)

Yesterday Once More(1984)

An Old-Fashioned Christmas is the second Christmas album and twelfth studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on October 26, 1984. It is also the second posthumous release after the 1983 death of singer and drummer Karen Carpenter.

Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic

[edit] The album project had its genesis in six unused tracks featuring Karen's vocals from the Carpenters' previous Christmas album, 1978's Christmas Portrait. Richard Carpenter took these tracks and recorded new material of instrumental and choral music to make it into a full-length album. The album includes the slower version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", a different version of which was previously released on Christmas Portrait.

Reissues[edit] A 1984 expanded CD reissue of Christmas Portrait included eight tracks from An Old-Fashioned Christmas. In 1996 a two-CD set, Christmas Collection, was issued containing both albums in their original running order. The album has been repeatedly re-issued; it was issued in Japan in 2022.

[edit] Billboard noted "the duo's second Christmas album, following their gold Christmas Portrait, consists of previously unreleased tracks, save for a shimmering version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." Although less consistent than the earlier set, this collection features several indispensable tracks with the late Karen Carpenter singing lead, most notably a heartbreaking "Little Altar Boy." AllMusic rated it four and a half stars out of five, noting that "their second Christmas album, with more of the soft sounds of the season, is made for mistletoe and someone you love."

[edit] All lead vocals by Karen Carpenter, except where noted; all tracks produced by Richard Carpenter except "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by Jack Daugherty, Richard Carpenter, and Karen Carpenter.

Side oneNo.TitleWriter(s)Length1."It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (lead vocals: R. Carpenter)Edmund SearsRichard Storrs Willis0:432."Overture: Happy Holiday / The First Noel / March of the Toys / Little Jesus/ I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / O Little Town of Bethlehem / In Dulce Jubilo / Gesu Bambino (The Infant Jesus) / Angels We Have Heard on High"Berlin / TraditionalR. Carpenter[a] / Victor Herbert / TraditionalR. Carpenter[a] / Tommie Connor / Phillips BrooksLewis Redner / TraditionalR. Carpenter[a] / Pietro Yon / TraditionalR. Carpenter[a]8:133."An Old-Fashioned Christmas" (lead vocals: R. Carpenter)R. CarpenterJohn Bettis2:144."O Holy Night" (instrumental)Adolphe AdamR. Carpenter[a]3:315."(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"Al StillmanRobert Allen2:136."Medley: Here Comes Santa Claus / Frosty the Snowman / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Good King Wenceslas" (instrumental)Gene AutryOakley Haldeman / Steve NelsonJack Rollins / Johnny Marks / John Mason NealeR. Carpenter[a]3:437."Little Altar Boy"Howlett Peter Smith3:43 Side twoNo.TitleWriter(s)Length8."Do You Hear What I Hear?" (lead vocals: K. and R. Carpenter)Gloria ShayneNoël Regney2:539."My Favorite Things" (instrumental)Richard RodgersOscar Hammerstein II3:5310."He Came Here for Me"Ron Nelson2:1211."Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (lead vocals: K. and R. Carpenter)John Frederick CootsHaven Gillespie4:0412."What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"Frank Loesser2:5113."Selections from The Nutcracker: Overture Miniature / Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy / Trepak / Valse des fleurs" (instrumental)Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyR. Carpenter[a]6:1414."I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"Henry Wadsworth LongfellowJohnny Marks2:21 Notes

^a signifies adapted by

[edit] This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (A&M SP-1648): US 7-inch single (1974) "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" "Merry Christmas Darling" "Little Altar Boy" (A&M SP-2700): US 7-inch single (1984) "Little Altar Boy" "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

[edit] Bass: Joe Osborn Keyboards: Richard Carpenter, Pete Jolly Drums: Barry Morgan, Ron Tutt Saxophone: John Francis Phillips Double Bass: Pete Morgan Harp: Skaila Kanga, Gayle Levant Backing Vocals: The English Chorale, conductors Dick Bolks and Robert Howes

[edit]

Chart (1984)

Peakposition

US Billboard Pop Albums

190

US Cash Box Top 200 Albums

178

Chart (1987)

Peakposition

US Top Holiday Albums

25

Chart (1993)

Peakposition

US Top Pop Catalog Albums

46

Even decades after Karen Carpenter’s voice first slipped into our living rooms, "An Old‑Fashioned Christmas" retains a comforting familiarity that many modern holiday playlists lack. The album stitches together glossy 1970s production with timeless carols, creating a sonic backdrop that feels both nostalgic and freshly polished. For families who grew up on the Carpenters’ soft harmonies, the record instantly conjures a warm, intimate atmosphere – the kind you associate with crackers, mince pies and the glow of a fireplace. Its gentle arrangements also work well for quieter moments, like wrapping gifts or winding down after a bustling festive dinner, making it an evergreen staple in British homes.

When hunting for "An Old‑Fashioned Christmas," consider the format that matches your listening habits. The original 1984 vinyl offers the authentic analogue warmth that audiophiles cherish, but the remastered CD (released in the early 2000s) corrects the occasional tape hiss and brings out clearer high frequencies, ideal for modern sound systems. Streaming services typically host the standard tracklist of twelve songs, but special edition releases sometimes include the unreleased “Merry Christmas Daddy” or live renditions from the Carpenters’ TV specials – true collector’s gems. If you’re buying a physical copy, check the label imprint; genuine A&M pressings tend to hold their value better than later reissues.

Many assume "An Old‑Fashioned Christmas" is purely a compilation of leftover tracks, but the album actually blends newly‑recorded vocals from Karen with fresh orchestral overdubs added by Richard Carpenter in 1984. This means the final product isn’t a simple assembled set of outtakes; it reflects a deliberate effort to polish and complete Karen’s performances, preserving her signature phrasing while enhancing the arrangements for a contemporary 1980s audience. Another myth is that the album lacks depth compared with their first Christmas record; in reality, it showcases a broader song selection, from traditional carols to pop‑inflected numbers, offering a richer palette for listeners seeking variety during the festive season.