Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection

Studio album by

Released

September 8, 1998

Studio

Capitol (Hollywood)

Genre

Country

Length

42:16

Label

MCA Nashville

Producer

Tony Brown, Michael Omartian

Vince Gill chronology

The Key
(1998)

Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection
(1998)

Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye
(2000)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Entertainment Weekly	C+^[2]
Los Angeles Times	^[3]

Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection is the second Christmas album from American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1998 on MCA Nashville. The album was recorded with the Patrick Williams Orchestra.

Track listing

"Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith) - 3:21
"The Christmas Song" (Mel Torme, Bob Wells) - 4:16
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Phillips Brooks, Lewis Redner) - 4:06
"Silver Bells" (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston) - 3:32
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (Edward Pola, George Wyle) - 2:45
"Blue Christmas" (Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson) - 3:48
"O Holy Night" (Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight) - 4:34
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) - 2:48
"A Cradle in Bethlehem" (Alfred Bryan, Larry Stock) - 4:12
"Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" (Chris Eaton, Amy Grant) - 5:57
"O Come All Ye Faithful" (Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade) - 2:57

Personnel

Vince Gill – lead vocals
Michael Lang – acoustic piano
Michael Omartian – keyboards, percussion
George Doering – guitars
Dean Parks – guitars
Chuck Berghofer – bass
Gregg Field – drums
Larry Bunker – percussion
Gene Puerling – arrangements (3)
Patrick Williams – arrangements (7, 11)

The Patrick Williams Orchestra

Patrick Williams – arrangements and conductor
Endre Granat – concertmaster
Joe Soldo – contractor
Bill Baker – music preparation
Curt Berg – music preparation
Jonathan Barrack Griffiths – music preparation
Clyde Hoggan – music preparation
Ralph Mullins – music preparation
Daniel Perito – music preparation
Marion Sherrill – music preparation
David Wells – music preparation
Terry Woodson – music preparation

Brass and woodwind section

Rick Baptist– trumpet
Wayne Bergeron – trumpet
Jon Clarke – flute, oboe
Gary Foster – clarinet, flute
Larry Hall– trumpet
Charles Loper – trombone
Warren Luening – trumpet
Barbara Northcutt – oboe
David Shostac – flute
Phil Teele – bass trombone
Bill Watrous – trombone
Chauncey Welsch – trombone
Angela Wiegand – flute

String section

Bob Becker – viola
Julie Berghofer – harp
Robert Brosseau – violin
Belinda Broughton – violin
Darius Campo – violin
Matthew Cooker – cello
Mario DeLeón – violin
Marcia Dickstein – harp
Assa Drori – violin
Steve Erdody – cello
Donald V. Ferrone – double bass
Kristin Fife – violin
Ronald Folsom – violin
Suzanna Giordano – viola
Mimi Granat – viola
Keith Greene – viola
Larry Greenfield – violin
Gwenn Heller – violin
Amy Hershberger – violin
Oscar Hidalgo – double bass
Sarah Knutson – violin
Laura Kuennen-Poper – viola
Armin Ksajikian – cello
Natalie Leggett – violin
Carolyn Osborn – violin
Bob Sanov – violin
John Scanlon – viola
Harry Shirinian – viola
Christina Soule – cello
David Speltz – cello
David Stenske – violin
Ray Tischer – viola
Cecilia Tsan – cello
Jennifer Walton – violin
Miwako Watanabe – violin

Backing vocalists

Steve Amerson – backing vocals (3)
Morgan Ames – backing vocals (3)
Amick Byram – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
Alvin Chea – backing vocals (3, 11)
Randy Crenshaw – backing vocals (9, 11)
Donna Davidson – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
Ian Freebarin-Smith – backing vocals (3)
Debbie Hall – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
Sandie Hall – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
Walt Harrah – backing vocals (3, 11)
Terry Harriton – backing vocals (3)
Ron Hicklin – backing vocals (3)
Luana Jackman – (7, 9, 11)
Bob Joyce – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
Edie Lehmann Boddicker – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
Rick Logan – (9, 11)
Melissa Mackay – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
Gene Merlino – backing vocals (3)
Bobbi Page – backing vocals (3)
Don Shelton – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
Sally Stevens – vocal contractor, backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
Susie Stevens-Logan – backing vocals (7, 9, 11)
Mervyn Warren – backing vocals (3, 11)
John West – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
Ann White – backing vocals (3)

Production

Tony Brown – producer
Michael Omartian – producer
Al Schmitt – recording, mixing at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California
Terry Christian – overdub recording at Seventeen Grand Recording, Nashville, Tennessee, additional recording
Hank Nirider – additional overdub recording, assistant engineer
Peter Doell – assistant engineer
Steve Genewick – assistant engineer
Bill Smith – assistant engineer
Denny Purcell – mastering at Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee
Jessie Noble – project coordinator
Lisa Jurowski – project coordinator
Jim McGuire – photography

Charts

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1998)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[4]	39
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[5]	6
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)^[6]	3

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1999)	Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[7]	26

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[8]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection at AllMusic
^ "A look at music for the holiday season". EW.com.
^ "Choose Your Artist for the Season". Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1998.
^ "Vince Gill, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
^ "Vince Gill, CLP". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
^ "Vince Gill, XML". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
^ "1999 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-64. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
^ "American album certifications – Vince Gill – Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection". Recording Industry Association of America.

v t e Vince Gill
Studio albums	The Things That Matter The Way Back Home When I Call Your Name Pocket Full of Gold I Still Believe in You When Love Finds You High Lonesome Sound The Key Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye Next Big Thing These Days Guitar Slinger Bakersfield Down to My Last Bad Habit Okie
Compilation albums	Souvenirs Icon
Christmas albums	Let There Be Peace on Earth Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection
Extended plays	Turn Me Loose
Notable singles	"If It Weren't for Him" (with Rosanne Cash) "Oklahoma Borderline" "Cinderella" "Let's Do Something" "Everybody's Sweetheart" "Never Alone" "Oklahoma Swing" (with Reba McEntire) "When I Call Your Name" "Never Knew Lonely" "Pocket Full of Gold" "Liza Jane" "Look at Us" "Take Your Memory with You" "I Still Believe in You" "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" "No Future in the Past" "One More Last Chance" "Tryin' to Get Over You" "Whenever You Come Around" "What the Cowgirls Do" "When Love Finds You" "Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn)" "You Better Think Twice" "Go Rest High on That Mountain" "High Lonesome Sound" "Worlds Apart" "Pretty Little Adriana" "A Little More Love" "You and You Alone" "If You Ever Have Forever in Mind" "Kindly Keep It Country" "Don't Come Cryin' to Me" "My Kind of Woman/My Kind of Man" (with Patty Loveless) "Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye" "Feels Like Love" "Shoot Straight from Your Heart" "Next Big Thing" "Someday"
Guest singles	"The Heart Won't Lie" (with Reba McEntire) "House of Love" (with Amy Grant) "I Will Always Love You" (with Dolly Parton) "It's Not Over" (with Mark Chesnutt and Alison Krauss) "If You Ever Leave Me" (with Barbra Streisand) "No Place That Far" (with Sara Evans) "Building Bridges" (with Brooks & Dunn and Sheryl Crow) "Don't Rush" (with Kelly Clarkson) "I Just Can't Help Believing" (with B. J. Thomas) "Sober Saturday Night" (with Chris Young)
Other songs	"Here We Are" "I Can't Tell You Why"
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