If on a Winter's Night... | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 26 October 2009 | |||
Genre | Pop, folk, classical | |||
Length | 50:18 With Bonus Tracks: 59:16 | |||
Label | Deutsche Grammophon Cherrytree | |||
Producer | Robert Sadin, Sting | |||
Sting chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 43/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Billboard | (favorable)[3] |
The Boston Globe | (positive)[4] |
The Guardian | [6] |
The Independent | [7] |
NU.nl | [5] |
Q | [1] |
The Times | [8][9] |
Uncut | [1] |
If on a Winter's Night... is the ninth studio album from British musician Sting.[10] The album is a collection of Christmas and winter-themed songs mostly written by others, including folk songs, madrigals and religious hymns from past centuries. Dozens of musicians appear on the album in various configurations, including jazz, folk and classical players.
It was released in most countries on 26 October 2009,[11][12] on 27 October 2009 in the United States[13] and 2 November 2009 in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] The album was released in several formats: vinyl LP, a single-disc CD, a limited edition CD and making-of DVD entitled The Genesis of 'If on a Winter's Night...' in Six Chapters in hardback book packaging, an Amazon exclusive version, as well as various import editions (of note is the Japanese edition). The limited edition and Amazon exclusive both include bonus songs; the Japanese edition include them as well but adds "The Coventry Carol." The album includes a reworking of "The Hounds of Winter" from his album Mercury Falling.
The title of the album is based on the novel If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino.[14]