The Greatest CCM Christmas Albums — CR4: The Imperials, Christmas with the Imperials (1980)

Intro

Landing at CR4 in The Greatest CCM Christmas Albums, The Imperials’ Christmas with the Imperials (1980) captures a pioneering group bringing their seasoned live instincts into a studio holiday setting. It remains a reference point for how vocal ensembles can approach Christmas repertoire with both reverence and flair.

The Album in Context

By 1980, The Imperials had already navigated multiple stylistic shifts, moving from traditional Southern Gospel into increasingly contemporary territory. This Christmas project finds them right in the middle of that evolution—rooted in quartet tradition but dressed in production touches that placed them squarely in the modern CCM conversation.

Under Bergen White’s direction, the arrangements are thoughtful and uncluttered. Rhythm sections support without overpowering, strings and brass enter at just the right moments, and the vocal blend remains the star of the show. Tempos and keys are chosen to keep the focus on tone, phrasing, and emotional impact.

In the broader scene, the album helped establish that Christmas projects could be more than novelty releases—they could be artistically serious entries in a group’s catalog. It gave other vocal ensembles a roadmap for pairing timeless carols with then‑current production sensibilities.

Standout Songs

• “O Holy Night” — A soaring, dramatic reading that lets the group’s high notes and dynamic control do the preaching.
• “How Great Our Joy” — A buoyant declaration of praise, propelled by rhythmic drive and tightly interlocking harmony lines.
• “Silent Night” — A hushed, beautifully blended performance that feels like a benediction over the entire record.

Why It Matters

Artistically, Christmas with the Imperials showcases what happens when experienced vocalists are given arrangements and production worthy of their gifts. The record sounds simultaneously classic and era‑specific, a snapshot of CCM’s early‑’80s palette executed at a high level.

Historically, the album helped bridge generational gaps in Christian music audiences, offering something familiar enough for older listeners and fresh enough for younger ones. Its influence can be traced through subsequent decades of Christmas albums by vocal groups large and small.

For listeners, these tracks became the soundtrack to family gatherings, church socials, and quiet moments by the fire. The album carries a sense of warmth and stability—music that makes the holidays feel anchored even when life does not.

What’s Next

Tomorrow in The Greatest CCM Christmas Albums countdown, we continue with CR3 — Michael W. Smith, Christmas (1989). Be sure to listen to the companion episode of The CCM Professor with Greg Rice as we explore how orchestral grandeur reshaped CCM’s approach to the season.

Soli Deo Gloria!

This post is part of the series The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, celebrating the artists and recordings that defined a generation of faith-filled creativity.

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