Track Listing

1. O, Come All Ye Faithful
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. My Soul Magnifies The Lord
6. Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy)
7. Glory In The Highest
8. O, Holy Night
9. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Featuring Christy Nockels)
10. Light Of The World (Featuring Matt Redman)
11. Winter Snow (Featuring Audrey Assad)
12. Born That We May Have Life

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95 in Music
• Released on: 2009-10-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

Album Description
The list of accomplishments for Chris Tomlin is lengthy. With six records, eight No. 1 Christian radio singles, three GRAMMY nominations, 14 Dove Awards, one platinum and one gold album, and fresh off a multi-sell-out US spring tour and 17-city Passion World Tour, the list of first's is small. But this fall, releases the highly-anticipated first Christmas album from Chris Tomlin, Glory in the Highest - Christmas Songs of Worship. Recorded over two nights in Nashville, Tomlin gathered a community of worship leaders and artists to lend their voices to the special live recording. Featuring familiar classics including "Angels We Have Heard On High," "O Holy Night," "Joy to the World", to which he wrote a new refrain, and four new sure-to-be long-time seasonal favorites, Chris desires people to experience these familiar carols as songs of worship. Produced by Ed Cash, and with noted participation by Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and newcomer singer/songwriter, Audrey Assad, Glory In The Highest will be a Christmas favorite for years to come.

Customer Reviews

A Worshipful Christmas
What do you want out of a Christmas album? Do you want something to conjure up images of snow-covered houses, fires in the fireplace, gifts around the tree, and other "merry" things? Or do you like your Christmas music to point whole-heartedly, single-mindedly to Christ, the meaning and purpose of the season?

If you're looking for the former, you might be a little disappointed with Chris Tomlin's new, live performance Christmas album, Glory In The Highest. There are traditional hymns ("O, Come All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," "Joy To The World," and "O Holy Night"), but for the most part, the album sounds like a straightforward, live worship album that happens to focus on the incarnation and Christmas.

This approach had somewhat mixed results for me.

I appreciate Tomlin's attempt to bring out the worshipful element in traditional carols, and the original songs he performs are what you'd expect from Tomlin. I have to say, though, that there's very little musically that makes this really a Christmas album. I'm not saying every song needs to have sleigh bells or anything, but there are certain elements that simply are associated with Christmas, and I just would have liked to hear a little more of this.

That criticism aside, however, fans of Tomlin will find lots to enjoy here. He's a worship leader, and he's in his element here, leading a live crowd in Nashville through song after song of worship to God. There's a power in hearing a congregation sing the beautiful "O, Come All Ye Faithful" in unison. Many of these older songs have lost the worship element as they've been sung so many times over the years. Tomlin succeeds in re-capturing the awe in the lyrics of the classics he chose here.

I'm not a huge Tomlin fan in general, but this album is a nice addition to the Christmas album pile, and one that admirably attempts (and succeeds, for the most part) at keeping the focus of Christmas on Jesus Christ. There's nothing overly creative musically, here. In fact, some of the songs gain power by their stripped-down, congregationally-sung feel. But you feel Tomlin's heart for worship, and that's a great reminder to have during the upcoming Christmas season.

Achieves what it set out to do
I believe that what makes this album strong for some is what makes it weak for others. I see these following components as strengths:
1. Focus on worship rather than nostalgia
2. Introducing new songs to the Church and revamping old ones
3. Doing something simple, yet profound, that will lead other worship leaders to do the same (eg slowing down and quietening down "O Holy Night", much the same as Tomlin did with "I stand amazed in the presence (How Marvelous)")
4. Making this accessible and possible to replicate in the worship setting
5. The live nature of the album
6. Introducing new worship leaders to the Christian community (this is one of Tomlin's strengths - virtually every record of his he introduces a new worship song / leader, eg Laura Story (Indescribable), Bluetree (God of this City))
7. Understanding that power can be found often in the absence of noise (hence the acapella singing etc)
Other than Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God" (which is phenomenal), this is perhaps the second most powerful and consistent Christmas worship CD I know. Having said that, I've just started listening to Sovereign Grace Ministries' "Savior" and think that might be up there too. Oh, and Graham Kendrick's "Dreaming of a Holy Night"

Chris Tomlin Is In A Rut
Chris Tomlin has made a living not only writing songs that usher you into the presence of God, but he writes lyrics that catch you by surprise as original in a genre that struggles with creativity. I have to be honest though, being a guitar player, that his music is becoming very predictable. I wish that he would go away from G, C D, Em chord pattern. Another pattern I am beginning to see is he is recording his music in a key that is so high its impossible for churches to sing along with. And I believe it is with that point, Chris Tomlin has left the reason he became 'popular'. His songs are becoming harder and harder to sing along with - especially us guys who can't sing along with how high he is recording his songs.

Enter his Christmas album. Does anyone remember Songs From The Loft with Amy Grant and friends? A wonderful album recorded with a small group of great singers in the mix to make this album sound almost live. Well, Glory in the Highest is Songs From the Loft gone horribly wrong.

Other reviewers are correct this is NOT a Christmas 'sounding album'. This is another Chris Tomlin album, guitar base, piano, drums and thats it. You won't find any of the Christmas instruments represented. That is a BIG dissappoinment for me. Also, Christmas classics are not intended to cram them into 3 majors and one minor simply so the guitar can play them. These songs have stood the test of time because they remind us of Christmas. On the album, Joy To The World starts in a key so high that it is already hard to sing with and then Chris does the unthinkable - he changes keys even higher....if you listen closely, you can hear his own voice crack briefly.

There are 3 redeemable songs on the album and I would download these only. Emmanuel, Born That We May Have Life, and My Sould Magnifies The Lord. Download those and you won't miss a thing. The other songs act as 'filler' along side these standouts. Emmanuel being the standout. Singable, playable, and will be sung for Christmas's to come. It is his Jesus Messiah from Hello Love.

I absolutely agree with the other reviewers; if you're looking for a new Christmas album pick up Andrew Peterson's Behold The Lamb, it has it all. Another standout was last years Travis Cotrell's Ring The Bells. Glory in The Highest is one pass on unfortunately.