Acoustic Hearts of Winter

Infobox Album
Name = Acoustic Hearts of Winter
Type = studio
Longtype = (Christmas)
Artist = Aly & AJ


Released = September 26, 2006 (see releae history)
Recorded = 2006
Genre = Christmas music
Acoustic
Pop rock
Length = 29:38
Label = Hollywood Records
Producer = Antonina Armato
Gerry Cagle (exec.)
Tim James
Carrie Michalka (exec.)
Reviews = * "Allmusic" Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0cfwxqrdldte link]
* "Jesus Freak Hideout" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/AcousticHeartsofWinter.asp link]
* "Artistdirect" Rating|3|5 [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,3739814,00.html link]
Compiled by =
Chronology = Aly & AJ
Last album = "Into the Rush"
(2005)
This album = "Acoustic Hearts of Winter"
(2006)
Next album = "Insomniatic"
(2007)
Misc = Singles
Name = Acoustic Hearts of Winter
Type = studio
single 1 = Greatest Time of Year
single 1 date = September, 2006

"Acoustic Hearts of Winter" is a Christmas album from American teen pop duo Aly & AJ. The album was released on September 26, 2006 in the United States. The first and only single from the album was "Greatest Time of Year", which was used as promotion for "The Santa Clause 3" with the music video containing clips of the film. The music video premiered on Disney Channel on October 16, 2006 after the premiere of the Disney Channel Original movie "Twitches".

As of December 31 2006, the album has sold over 110,000 copies in the U.S. [ [http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41499&start=25 UKMix sales] ]

Album history

Clips of the album were first released on the Barnes & Noble website. The Target Corporation version of this album also has an extra song to it - "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". The Target version of the album was then reissued on September 25, 2007 containing two more bonus songs: "Winter Wonderland" and "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree".

The UK release of "Acoustic Hearts of Winter" was on September 29, 2008. [http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=877921 2nd Release of "Acoustic Hearts of Winter" in the UK] ] Previously, it was released on November 27, 2006 digitally. The release does not feature any bonus tracks.

Release history

Track listing

# "Greatest Time of Year" – 3:39
# "Joy to the World" – 2:52
# "We Three Kings" – 2:54
# "The First Noel" – 1:44
# "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" – 2:33
# "Silent Night" – 3:05
# "I'll Be Home for Christmas" – 2:44
# "Let It Snow" – 2:08
# "Deck the Halls" – 1:54
# "Little Drummer Boy" – 2:37
# "Not This Year" – 3:24;Bonus tracks
# "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" – 1:22 (Target Bonus track)
# "Winter Wonderland" – 2:43 (2007 Target Bonus track)
# "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" – 2:05 (2007 Target Bonus track)

Aly & AJ recorded the song "Jingle Bell Rock" in 2004. The song was featured in the "Radio Disney Jingle Jams" album. "Jingle Bell Rock" did not make the final track listing for "Acoustic Hearts of Winter".

Reception

The album was received very well, to be a holiday album, and peaked at 78 on the Billboard 200. Allmusic gave the album three stars, without giving positive or negative review on the album. [ [http://kidsmusic.about.com/od/cdreview1/gr/intotherush.htm "Acoustic Hearts of Winter" > Overview] ]

ingles

*"Greatest Time of Year" was the first single from the album released in September 2006.

Further track information

"Greatest Time of Year" (original song)
* Writers: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Guitar: Tim Pierce
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Drums: Dorian Crozier
* Keyboards: Jamie Muhoberac

"Joy to the World"
* Writers: Traditional
* Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley

"We Three Kings"
* Writers: Traditional
* Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Cello: Cameron Stone

"The First Noel"
* Writers: Traditional
* Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Cello: Cameron Stone

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
* Writers: Traditional
* Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Cello: Cameron Stone"Silent Night"
* Writers: Traditional
* Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Cello: Cameron Stone

"I'll Be Home for Christmas"
* Writers: K. Gannon, W. Kent, B. Ram
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley

"Let It Snow"
* Writers: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Vibes: Bob Zamitti

"Deck the Halls"
* Writers: Traditional
* Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Percussion: Luis Conte
* Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
* Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
* Bass: Sean Hurley

"Little Drummer Boy"
* Writers: Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone
* Drums: Dorian Crozier
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Guitars: Tim Pierce

"Not This Year" (original song)
* Writers: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
* Drums: Dorian Crozier
* Guitars: Tim Pierce
* Bass: Sean Hurley
* Keyboards: Jamie Muhoberac

Charts

"Acoustic Hearts of Winter" debuted at #78 on the hot 200 selling 19,000 copies in its first week. The album spent nearly 15 weeks on the hot 200. It also peaked at # 14 on the top holiday albums with 15 weeks on the chart it reached #28 before falling off.

References

External links

* [http://hollywoodrecords.go.com/ecd/alyandaj-acousticheartsofwinter.html Official Hollywood Records: Acoustic Heart of Winter]