- Source: Joy to the World (Lincoln Brewster album)
Joy to the World: A Christmas Collection by Lincoln Brewster is the eighth studio album, and first ever Christmas release recorded by contemporary worship musician Lincoln Brewster. The album was produced by Brewster along with Colby Wedgeworth, and it was released by Integrity Music. The album has seen commercial charting successes and positive critical attention.
Background and release
The album was released on October 9, 2012 by Integrity Music, and it was produced by Lincoln Brewster and Colby Wedgeworth. This was the first Christmas album by Brewster.
Critical reception
Joy to the World: A Christmas Collection garnered universally positive critical reception from music critics. At Worship Leader, they rated the album three-and-a-half stars, and said all the classic hallmarks of a Lincoln Brewster album are on the album with the Christmas elements in tow. Elliot Rose of Cross Rhythms rated the album a seven out of ten, and wrote that the album ended well. At Jesus Freak Hideout, Bert Gangl rated the album three-and-a-half stars, and alluded to how the album has some setbacks yet it comes "loaded with more wheat than chaff." Jonathan Andre of Indie Vision Music rated the album four stars, and proclaimed the album to be "certainly joyful".
At New Release Tuesday, Mary Nikkel rated the album four stars, and wrote that "Although the album draws wholly on already established songs, it does so with a lack of pretension and an enthusiastic tone which sinks into each selection." Kelly Sheads of New Release Tuesday rated the album four stars, and noted that the album makes a worthy contribution to Christmas projects. At Christian Music Zine, Joshua Andre rated the album four-and-a-half stars, and proclaimed it to be a "sublime and near-flawless effort!"
Track listing
Charts
Personnel
Lincoln Brewster – lead and backing vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, bass, drums, arrangements
Colby Wedgeworth – guitars, keyboards, programming, bass, drums, arrangements, backing vocals
Steve Padilla – keyboards
Roman Vysochin – keyboards
Kip Johns – bass
Mike Johns – drums
Peter Burton – gang vocals
Kelly Caldwell – gang vocals
Tyler DeYoung – gang vocals
Rachel Jackson – gang vocals
Corbin Phillips – gang vocals
Margie Ruiz – gang vocals
Sarah Sherratt – gang vocals
Production
Lincoln Brewster – producer, engineer
Colby Wedgeworth – producer, engineer, mixing, mastering
Michael Coleman – executive producer
C. Ryan Dunham – executive producer
Chico Gonzalez - A&R
Tyler DeYoung – assistant engineer
Mike Johns – assistant engineer
Wilson Wedgeworth – assistant engineer
Brandon Yip – assistant engineer
Dave Taylor – production coordination
Thom Hoyman – creative director
Jeremy Cowart – photography
Ben DeRienzo – art direction, design