# Christmas in the Heart

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Christmas_in_the_Heart
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Christmas_in_the_Heart.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_the_Heart
> Source revision: 1332839244
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

2009 studio album by Bob Dylan

Christmas in the Heart Studio album by Bob Dylan Released October 13, 2009 (2009-10-13) Recorded May 2009 Studio Groove Masters, Santa Monica, California[1] Genre Christmas music Length 42:21 Language English, Latin on "O Come, All Ye Faithful" Label Columbia Producer Jack Frost (Bob Dylan's pseudonym) Bob Dylan chronology Together Through Life (2009) Christmas in the Heart (2009) The Bootleg Series Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962–1964 (2010) Singles from Christmas in the Heart "Must Be Santa" Released: November 2009

***Christmas in the Heart*** is the thirty-fourth studio album and first [Christmas album](/source/Christmas_music) by American singer-songwriter [Bob Dylan](/source/Bob_Dylan), released on October 13, 2009, by [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records). The album comprises a collection of [hymns](/source/Hymn), [carols](/source/Christmas_carol), and [popular Christmas songs](/source/Christmas_music). All Dylan's royalties from the sale of this album benefit the charities [Feeding America](/source/Feeding_America) in the US, [Crisis](/source/Crisis_(charity)) in the UK, and the [World Food Programme](/source/World_Food_Programme) in perpetuity.[2]

Dylan said that, although he was born and raised Jewish he never felt left out of Christmas during his childhood in [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota). Regarding the popularity of Christmas music, he said, "... it's so worldwide and everybody can relate to it in their own way".[3]

The album opened at No. 1 on the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* Holiday Album chart, No. 5 on the Folk Album chart, No. 10 on the Rock Album chart and No. 23 on the overall album charts. As with most of Dylan's 21st century output, he produced it himself under the pseudonym [Jack Frost](/source/Jack_Frost).

## Recording

The album was recorded in May 2009 at [Jackson Browne](/source/Jackson_Browne)'s [Groove Masters](/source/Groove_Masters) Studio in [Santa Monica](/source/Santa_Monica).[4] In addition to Dylan's [Never Ending Tour](/source/Never_Ending_Tour) band, the sessions featured contributions from other musicians including [Los Lobos](/source/Los_Lobos)' [David Hidalgo](/source/David_Hidalgo), [Chess Records](/source/Chess_Records) veteran Phil Upchurch, and a choir that included Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald (better known as folk music duo [The Ditty Bops](/source/The_Ditty_Bops)).

When asked in an interview if Dylan played classic recordings of Christmas songs for the musicians as reference points, Hidalgo responded:

I mean, these songs, you know, they’ve been around forever and everybody knows them. And you have to be reverent, and you have to do them justice in a way. So, before we did '[Silver Bells](/source/Silver_Bells),' that first day, I think we listened to [Bing Crosby](/source/Bing_Crosby) and [Dean Martin](/source/Dean_Martin) doing it. We’d listen to, say, '[The Christmas Song](/source/The_Christmas_Song).' We’d listen to [Nat King Cole](/source/Nat_King_Cole)’s version, and we’d listen to [Mel Tormé](/source/Mel_Torm%C3%A9)’s version, and it would be like: Well, we can’t do *that* – but we’ll do something that works, we’ll make it our own. You know: to try and one-up Nat Cole isn’t going to happen. So we’d come up with a different arrangement…Other songs, we’d listen to Bing Crosby and [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra) doing the same song, Burl Ives doing the same song, we’d listen to [The Louvin Brothers](/source/The_Louvin_Brothers) doing that same song, and just kind of pick a direction, you know, take elements from each one, and just kind of try and find something, until Bob felt the band had a feel for it. If we started playing and it wasn't happening, we’d go back and rethink things. There were a few times we’d do a song and Bob would take it home and listen to it overnight, and next day he’d come back: 'Let’s try that again. We’ll do a different take on it'. It was wide open the way he works.[5]

In an interview published by [Street News Service](/source/Street_News_Service), journalist Bill Flanagan asked Dylan why he had performed the songs in a straightforward style, and Dylan responded:

There wasn't any other way to play it. These songs are part of my life, just like folk songs. You have to play them straight too.

When Flanagan reported that some critics thought the album was an [ironic](/source/Irony) treatment of Christmas songs, Dylan responded:

Critics like that are on the outside looking in. They are definitely not fans or the audience that I play to. They would have no gut level understanding of me and my work, what I can and can't do—the scope of it all. Even at this point in time they still don't know what to make of me.[6]

## Release and promotion

A bewigged Bob Dylan in the music video for "Must Be Santa"

Screen capture from the music video for "The Little Drummer Boy"

[Nash Edgerton](/source/Nash_Edgerton) directed an official music video for the song "[Must Be Santa](/source/Must_Be_Santa_(song))" that was released on November 16, 2009 and described as "bonkers" by *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*.[7] The video depicts Dylan and some holiday revelers lip synching the song at a raucous Christmas house party. [Count Smokula](/source/Count_Smokula) makes an unexpected appearance as an accordion player, miming the accordion part that [David Hidalgo](/source/David_Hidalgo) played on the actual recording.[8] One of the guests instigates a fight and leaves the party by jumping through a living-room window. In the closing scene, Dylan and [Santa Claus](/source/Santa_Claus) are on the front porch together watching the rabble-rouser's departure.[9] As of Christmastime 2024, the video had been viewed over 8 million times on YouTube, significantly more times than the next most popular versions of the song (i.e., those recorded by [Mitch Miller](/source/Mitch_Miller), [Raffi](/source/Raffi), and Brave Combo).[10] "Must Be Santa" was also released as a music video ecard[11] and a 7" single, the B-side of which is a recording of Dylan reading [*'Twas the Night Before Christmas*](/source/A_Visit_from_St._Nicholas) that was first broadcast on *[Theme Time Radio Hour](/source/Theme_Time_Radio_Hour)*.[12]

Dylan released a second music video to promote *Christmas in the Heart*, for "[The Little Drummer Boy](/source/The_Little_Drummer_Boy)", on December 9, 2009. Directed by artist/filmmaker [Jeff Scher](/source/Jeff_Scher), the video features images from classic films (actress [Jane Greer](/source/Jane_Greer) appears at the 2:10 mark) and home movies that have been rotoscoped with water colors and crayons to tell a modern version of the story of the [Nativity of Jesus](/source/Nativity_of_Jesus) in the song's lyrics.[13] The video premiered on [Amazon](/source/Amazon_(company)) as part of the company's "12 Days of Christmas" promotion with the site linking directly to [Feeding America](/source/Feeding_America), one of the charities benefiting from *Christmas in the Heart*'s royalties. Dylan released a statement on Amazon along with the video, saying, "Happy Holidays Friends. Since this season is all about giving, I’d like to take a moment and mention the good people at Feeding America. They provide meals for over 25 million hungry Americans each year. If you have a moment, you can join me in contributing to this worthy charity".[14]

## Packaging

The package design of *Christmas in the Heart* is credited to Coco Shinomiya who had designed Dylan's previous album *[Together Through Life](/source/Together_Through_Life)*. The album's cover, an illustration of a sleigh ride in a snowy landscape, is from an antique print. The back cover, an illustration of the [Biblical Magi](/source/Biblical_Magi), is by artist Edwin Fotheringham. The inner sleeves feature a black-and-white photo by [Leonard Freed](/source/Leonard_Freed) of four musicians wearing [Santa Claus](/source/Santa_Claus) suits as well as a drawing by [Olivia De Berardinis](/source/Olivia_De_Berardinis) of pinup [Bettie Page](/source/Bettie_Page) dressed as [Mrs. Claus](/source/Mrs._Claus).[15]

## Reception and legacy

Professional ratings Aggregate scores Source Rating AnyDecentMusic? 5.6/10[16] Metacritic 62/100[17] Review scores Source Rating Allmusic [18] The A.V. Club B−[19] Robert Christgau [20] The Guardian [21] Paste 7.5/10[22] Pitchfork Media 6.8/10[23] PopMatters [24] Rolling Stone [25] Slant Magazine [26] Tiny Mix Tapes [27]

At [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic), the album currently holds a score of 62 out of 100 based on 17 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.[28]

While the unexpected move by Dylan to record a Christmas album was received with skepticism at first, the outcome of the project was lauded by critics for bringing a fresh breath of air into these classics.[29]

*[Slant Magazine](/source/Slant_Magazine)'*s critic Jesse Cataldo awarded the album 4 stars out of 5 and said:

This enjoyable sense of exploration, which prizes levity in a genre that usually amounts to an artistic wasteland, is invaluable. It also proves how much life is left in the songs, and how much other artists have succeeded at butchering them.[30]

*Se7en* magazine's critic agreed, writing:

The arrangement of his band mixes up the style of the songs, resulting in a repertoire of Christmas songs that genuinely sound like modern material, while avoiding ever being cliché.[31]

The critic for *[Tiny Mix Tapes](/source/Tiny_Mix_Tapes)* rated the album 4 stars out of 5, writing:

On *Christmas in the Heart*... it's not the heat, but the bitter cold, the kind you feel in northern Minnesnowta[sic]. These are traditional numbers, aged but not antiquated. In keeping with releases like *[Good as I Been to You](/source/Good_as_I_Been_to_You)* and *[World Gone Wrong](/source/World_Gone_Wrong)*, the album features Dylan exorcising the musical spirits of the land. Some will rank it among other gimcrack releases, like *[Dylan & the Dead](/source/Dylan_%26_the_Dead)*. Still others will categorize it as an oddity, like *[Self Portrait](/source/Self_Portrait_(Bob_Dylan_album))*. It's all and none of these. These songs are Dylan's latest exploits, but they're deathly sincere (and jolly), as serious and kitschy as *[Theme Time Radio Hour](/source/Theme_Time_Radio_Hour)*. It's the music that introduces old Disney films, an album as dense and allusive as his other recent outings.[27]

In 2020, *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)* placed "[Must Be Santa](/source/Must_Be_Santa_(song))" 24th on a list of Dylan's best songs of the 21st century.[32] *[The Big Issue](/source/The_Big_Issue)* listed the same song as #65 on a list of the "80 best Bob Dylan songs – that aren't the greatest hits". It was the only track included from *Christmas in the Heart* and an article accompanying the list proclaimed it to be "the best-ever Christmas album!"[33] Dylan's version of the song has also proven influential on other artists: both [She & Him](/source/She_%26_Him), in 2016,[34] and [Kurt Vile](/source/Kurt_Vile), in 2022,[35] have recorded the song in versions directly inspired by Dylan's.

*[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)* ran an article to coincide with Dylan's 80th birthday on May 24, 2021 in which 80 musicians were asked to name their favorite Dylan song. [Girl Band](/source/Girl_Band_(Irish_band))'s Dara Kiely selected "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" from *Christmas in the Heart,* noting, "It is earnest yet fun, serious yet joyful. His voice makes sense and he still means every word".[36]

Singer/songwriter [Elliott Murphy](/source/Elliott_Murphy) cited Dylan's performance of "[Here Comes Santa Claus](/source/Here_Comes_Santa_Claus)" on this album as one of his top 10 songs of the 21st century in an article for *Poetic Justice Magazine*.[37]

## Charity project

It's a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone—12 million of those children—often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season.

— Bob Dylan[38]

[Feeding America](/source/Feeding_America) received Dylan's royalties from sales in the USA, while two further charities, the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations)' [World Food Programme](/source/World_Food_Programme) and [Crisis](/source/Crisis_(charity)) in the UK, received royalties from overseas sales.

Dylan said:

"That the problem of hunger is ultimately solvable means we must each do what we can to help feed those who are suffering and support efforts to find long-term solutions. I'm honoured to partner with the World Food Programme and Crisis in their fight against hunger and homelessness".[39]

## Track listing

Christmas in the Heart track listing No. Title Writer(s) Length 1. "Here Comes Santa Claus" Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman 2:35 2. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Noël Regney, Gloria Shayne Baker 3:02 3. "Winter Wonderland" Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith 1:52 4. "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" Felix Mendelssohn (music), Charles Wesley (lyrics), arranged by Bob Dylan 2:30 5. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" Buck Ram, Kim Gannon and Walter Kent 2:54 6. "Little Drummer Boy" Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone 2:52 7. "The Christmas Blues" Sammy Cahn, David Jack Holt 2:54 8. "O' Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)" Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan 2:48 9. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane 4:06 10. "Must Be Santa" William Fredericks, Hal Moore 2:48 11. "Silver Bells" Jay Livingston, Ray Evans 2:35 12. "The First Noel" Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan 2:30 13. "Christmas Island" Lyle Moraine 2:27 14. "The Christmas Song" Mel Tormé, Bob Wells 3:56 15. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" Traditional, arranged by Bob Dylan 2:17

## Personnel

- [Bob Dylan](/source/Bob_Dylan) – vocals, guitar, [electric piano](/source/Electric_piano), harmonica, producer

- [Tony Garnier](/source/Tony_Garnier_(musician)) – bass guitar

- George Receli – drums, percussion

- Donnie Herron – [steel guitar](/source/Steel_guitar), [mandolin](/source/Mandolin), trumpet, violin

- [David Hidalgo](/source/David_Hidalgo) – [accordion](/source/Accordion), guitar, mandolin, violin

- [Phil Upchurch](/source/Phil_Upchurch) – guitar

- [Patrick Warren](/source/Patrick_Warren) – piano, organ, [celeste](/source/Celesta)

**Additional musicians**

- Amanda Barrett, Bill Cantos, Randy Crenshaw, Abby DeWald, Nicole Eva Emery, Walt Harrah, Robert Joyce – [choir](/source/Choir)

**Technical**

- David Bianco – recording, [mixing](/source/Audio_mixing_(recorded_music))

- Bill Lane – assistant [engineering](/source/Audio_engineering)

- David Spreng – additional engineering

- Glen Suravech – assistant engineering

- Rich Tosti – studio support

- Ed Wong – studio support

**Artwork**

- Olivia De Berandis – inside cover illustration

- Edwin Fotheringham – back cover illustration

- Leonard Freed/Magnum Photos – inside photo

- Coco Shinomiya – design

- VisualLanguage.com – front cover

## Charts

Chart (2009) Peak Austria Albums Chart[40] 44 Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart[40] 22 Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart 89 Canada Albums Chart 33 Denmark Albums Chart[40] 14 Dutch Albums Chart[40] 34 French Albums Chart[40] 119 Germany Albums Chart[40] 37 Norway Albums Chart[40] 5 Irish Albums Chart[40] 34 Italy Albums Chart[40] 27 Spain Albums Chart[40] 54 Sweden Albums Chart[40] 6 Switzerland Albums Chart[40] 80 UK Albums Chart[40] 40 US Billboard 200 Albums Chart[40] 23 US Billboard Holiday Albums Chart[40] 1 US Billboard Folk Albums Chart[41] 1 US Billboard Rock Albums Chart 9

## See also

- [List of *Billboard* Top Holiday Albums number ones of the 2000s](/source/List_of_Billboard_Top_Holiday_Albums_number_ones_of_the_2000s)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["BBC review"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3jb6/). Retrieved December 2, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["CAFAmerica to distribute royalities \[sic\] from Bob Dylan's Christmas album to Crisis"](http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2009/12/14/cafamerica-distribute-royalities-bob-dylan039s-christmas-album-crisis). UK Fundraising. December 14, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Bob Dylan brings Christmas cheer to those without homes](https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5AP1X120091126), Reuters, November 26, 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along: A Peek Inside Bob Dylan's Christmas Album"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201214150422/https://damienlove.com/writing/bob-bob-bobbin-along-a-peek-inside-bob-dylans-christmas-album/). *Damien Love*. December 14, 2020. Archived from [the original](https://damienlove.com/writing/bob-bob-bobbin-along-a-peek-inside-bob-dylans-christmas-album/) on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along: A Peek Inside Bob Dylan's Christmas Album"](https://glasgowmusiccitytours.com/blog/bob-bob-bobbin-along-a-peek-inside-bob-dylans-christmas-album/). *Glasgow Music City Tours*. Retrieved February 3, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Flanagan, Bill (November 23, 2009). ["Bob Dylan Discusses Holiday Music, Christmas and Feeding The Hungry With Bill Flanagan"](http://www.streetnewsservice.org/index.php?page=archive_detail&articleID=4746). Street News Service. Retrieved November 26, 2009. [*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Vozick-Levinson, Jon Dolan,Patrick Doyle,Andy Greene,Brian Hiatt,Angie Martoccio,Rob Sheffield,Hank Shteamer,Simon; Dolan, Jon; Doyle, Patrick; Greene, Andy; Hiatt, Brian; Martoccio, Angie; Sheffield, Rob; Shteamer, Hank; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (June 18, 2020). ["The 25 Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 21st Century"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/bob-dylan-best-songs-21st-century-1015084/). *Rolling Stone*. Retrieved February 22, 2021.{{[cite magazine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_magazine)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Bob Dylan – It Must Be Santa (2009)"](https://imvdb.com/video/bob-dylan/it-must-be-santa). *IMVDb*. November 30, 2001. Retrieved December 14, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Premiere: Bob Dylan's Must Be Santa Video From Christmas LP | Music News"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100121003212/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/16/premiere-bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-from-christmas-lp/). Rolling Stone. November 16, 2009. Archived from [the original](https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/16/premiere-bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-from-christmas-lp/) on January 21, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Bob Dylan – Must Be Santa (Official Video) – YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus). *www.youtube.com*. November 24, 2009. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/a8qE6WQmNus) from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["eCard Music Video – Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120209085537/http://www.hdgreetings.com/bob_dylan/christmas_in_the_heart). Hdgreetings.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.hdgreetings.com/bob_dylan/christmas_in_the_heart) on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["2009"](https://searchingforagem.com/2000s/2009.htm). *searchingforagem.com*. Retrieved March 6, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Dylan, Bob (December 3, 2009). ["The Little Drummer Boy"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcXW0Se4HMs). *YouTube*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/JcXW0Se4HMs) from the original on December 21, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Kreps, Daniel (December 9, 2009). ["Bob Dylan Unwraps "Little Drummer Boy" Video"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-unwraps-little-drummer-boy-video-250013/). *Rolling Stone*. Retrieved March 2, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Margotin, Philippe; Jean-Michel Guesdon (2015). *Bob Dylan : all the songs : the story behind every track* (First ed.). New York. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-57912-985-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-57912-985-9). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [869908038](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/869908038).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart"](http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/202/Bob-Dylan-Christmas-In-The-Heart-.aspx). *AnyDecentMusic?*. anydecentmusic.com. Retrieved June 13, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MC_17-0)** ["Christmas in the Heart Reviews"](http://www.metacritic.com/music/christmas-in-the-heart/bob-dylan). Metacritic.com. Retrieved May 31, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. [Christmas in the Heart](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1656486) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Matos, Michaelangelo (February 10, 2012). ["A.V. Club review"](https://www.avclub.com/bob-dylan-christmas-in-the-heart-1798207263). [The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club). Retrieved February 14, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Christgau, Robert. ["Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 169"](http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=169). *robertchristgau.com*. Retrieved September 11, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Richard Williams (December 10, 2009). ["The Guardian review"](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/dec/11/bob-dylan-christmas-in-the-heart). London: Guardian. Retrieved February 14, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart"](http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/10/bob-dylan-christmas-in-the-heart.html). October 15, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13615-christmas-in-the-heart/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart, PopMatters"](https://www.popmatters.com/review/114628-bob-dylan-christmas-in-the-heart/). October 18, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Rolling Stone review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091015192920/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/30361498/review/30455318/christmas_in_the_heart). Rollingstone.com. Archived from [the original](https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/30361498/review/30455318/christmas_in_the_heart) on October 15, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Slant Magazine review"](http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1887). Slantmagazine.com. Retrieved February 14, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tinymixtapes.com_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tinymixtapes.com_27-1) ["Music Review: Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart"](http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/bob-dylan-christmas-heart).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Bob Dylan – *Christmas In The Heart*"](http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/dylanbob/christmasintheheart?q=christmas%20in%20the%20heart). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. Retrieved December 6, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Isn't it ironic? Dylan surprises again with holiday CD – 2009-Dec-02 – CultureMap Houston"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100221213619/http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/11-24-09-a-very-dylan-christmas/). Culturemap.com. Archived from [the original](http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/11-24-09-a-very-dylan-christmas/) on February 21, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["Music"](http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1887). Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 25, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Se7en_31-0)** ["Politics, Film, Music and Culture – A soundtrack for the holidays – Bob Dylan does Christmas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120228192412/http://se7enmagazine.com/music/52-north-america/717-bob-dylan-christmas-in-the-heart.html). Se7en Magazine. Archived from [the original](http://se7enmagazine.com/music/52-north-america/717-bob-dylan-christmas-in-the-heart.html) on February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Vozick-Levinson, Jon Dolan,Patrick Doyle,Andy Greene,Brian Hiatt,Angie Martoccio,Rob Sheffield,Hank Shteamer,Simon; Dolan, Jon; Doyle, Patrick; Greene, Andy; Hiatt, Brian; Martoccio, Angie; Sheffield, Rob; Shteamer, Hank; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (June 18, 2020). ["The 25 Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 21st Century"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/bob-dylan-best-songs-21st-century-1015084/). *Rolling Stone*. Retrieved February 3, 2021.{{[cite magazine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_magazine)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["The 80 best Bob Dylan songs – that aren't the greatest hits"](https://www.bigissue.com/culture/music/dylan-best-songs/). *The Big Issue*. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** [*She & Him – Must Be Santa (Yule Log Edition)*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv1rVj8XLYQ), December 8, 2016, retrieved November 18, 2022

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Kurt Vile Covers Bob Dylan's "Must Be Santa""](https://pitchfork.com/news/kurt-vile-covers-bob-dylan-must-be-santa-listen/). *Pitchfork*. November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** ["80 Artists Pick Their Favorite Bob Dylan Song"](https://www.stereogum.com/2147461/favorite-bob-dylan-songs/lists/ultimate-playlist/). *Stereogum*. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** Editor, Poetic Justice (December 5, 2023). ["Elliott Murphy's Top 10 Bob Dylan Tracks – 21st Century"](https://poeticjusticemagazine.com/2023/12/05/elliott-murphys-top-10-bob-dylan-tracks-21st-century/). *Poetic Justice*. Retrieved December 7, 2023. {{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: |last= has generic name ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** ["Dylan to release Christmas album"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8223851.stm). *BBC News*. August 27, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-39)** ["Dylan royalties for Crisis charity"](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2009/09/24/dylan-royalties-for-crisis-charity-115875-21697616/). Daily Mirror. September 24, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-acharts_40-14) ["Christmas in the Heart"](http://acharts.us/album/51168). *aCharts*. Retrieved January 14, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** Trust, Gary. [Chart Beat Thursday: John Mayer, Folk Albums, David Guetta](https://www.billboard.com/pro/chart-beat-thursday-john-mayer-folk-albums-david-guetta/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. November 26, 2009. Retrieved December 6, 2009.

## External links

- [Lyrics and chords](http://dylanchords.com/48_cith) at Dylanchords

- [Bill Flanagan interview with Bob Dylan about *Christmas in the Heart*](https://web.archive.org/web/20111017025416/http://www.bigissuescotland.com/features/view/187)

v t e Bob Dylan Discography Awards Bibliography Songs written by Dylan Bob Dylan songs based on earlier tunes Bob Dylan cover songs 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature Studio albums Bob Dylan The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan The Times They Are a-Changin' Another Side of Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home Highway 61 Revisited Blonde on Blonde John Wesley Harding Nashville Skyline Self Portrait New Morning Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Dylan Planet Waves Blood on the Tracks The Basement Tapes Desire Street-Legal Slow Train Coming Saved Shot of Love Infidels Empire Burlesque Knocked Out Loaded Down in the Groove Oh Mercy Under the Red Sky Good as I Been to You World Gone Wrong Time Out of Mind "Love and Theft" Modern Times Together Through Life Christmas in the Heart Tempest Shadows in the Night Fallen Angels Triplicate Rough and Rowdy Ways Shadow Kingdom Live albums Contemporary Before the Flood Hard Rain Bob Dylan at Budokan Real Live Dylan & the Dead The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration MTV Unplugged Archival Live 1961–2000: Thirty-Nine Years of Great Concert Performances Live at The Gaslight 1962 Live at Carnegie Hall 1963 In Concert – Brandeis University 1963 The 1966 Live Recordings Bob Dylan – The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings The Complete Budokan 1978 The 1974 Live Recordings Compilations Hits Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II Masterpieces Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3 The Best of Bob Dylan (1997) The Best of Bob Dylan, Vol. 2 The Essential Bob Dylan The Best of Bob Dylan (2005) Dylan The Very Best of Bob Dylan Themed Dylan The Basement Tapes Blues Box sets Biograph Bob Dylan: The Collection The Original Mono Recordings The 50th Anniversary Collection Bob Dylan: The Complete Album Collection Vol. One The 50th Anniversary Collection 1963 The 50th Anniversary Collection 1964 1970 The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 Vol. 4: The Royal Albert Hall Concert Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989–2006 Vol. 9: The Witmark Demos: 1962–1964 Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969–1971) Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965–1966 Vol. 13: Trouble No More 1979–1981 Vol. 14: More Blood, More Tracks Vol. 15: Travelin' Thru, 1967–1969 Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980–1985 Vol. 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996–1997) Vol. 18: Through the Open Window 1956–1963 Bootlegs From Newport to the Ancient Empty Street in L.A. Great White Wonder List of Basement Tapes songs 1967 1975 Concert tours England Tour (1965) North America Tour (1965) World Tour (1966) Tour with the Band (1974) Rolling Thunder Revue (1975–1976) World Tour (1978) Gospel Tour (1979–80) European Tour (1984) True Confessions Tour (1986) Tour with the Grateful Dead (1987) Temples in Flames Tour (1987) Never Ending Tour 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour (2021–2025) Films Dont Look Back (1967) Concert for Bangladesh (1972) Eat the Document (1972) The Last Waltz (1976) Renaldo and Clara (1978) Hard to Handle (1986) Hearts of Fire (1987) The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1992) Masked and Anonymous (2003) No Direction Home (2005) I'm Not There (2007) 65 Revisited (2007) The Other Side of the Mirror (2007) Rolling Thunder Revue (2019) Shadow Kingdom (2021) A Complete Unknown (2024) Writings Tarantula Writings and Drawings Chronicles: Volume One The Philosophy of Modern Song Books about Dylan The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia Bob Dylan, Performing Artist Invisible Republic Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan Bob Dylan: Mixing Up the Medicine Dylan Goes Electric! Family Sara Dylan (first wife) Carolyn Dennis (second wife) Jesse Dylan (son) Jakob Dylan (son) Related The Bob Dylan Archive Recording sessions The Band Traveling Wilburys Electric Dylan controversy Artists who have covered Dylan songs Bob Dylan Childhood Home Joan Baez Suze Rotolo Helena Springs The Telegraph magazine Festival 1969 Isle of Wight Festival The Concert for Bangladesh Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid Hearts of Fire Highway 61 Interactive Theme Time Radio Hour Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan Chimes of Freedom (album) The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes Bob Dylan Center Category

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Christmas in the Heart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_the_Heart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_the_Heart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
