Through the years David Foster has written some beautiful Christmas songs like “Grown Up Christmas List” covered more than a dozen times by artists like Amy Grant, Natalie Cole, Barbra Streisand and Monica or “This Time Next Year” sung by Toni Braxton and Shola Ama. He has also released a wonderful Christmas cd, in 1994, with his take on many classics with the help of Wynonna, Tom Jones, Celine Dion and Johnny Mathis among others. Another of his own Christmas tunes is “On Christmas Morning”, a beautiful, tender ballad he co-wrote with his old pal Kenny Loggins and that Loggins released in 1998, as part of his “December” cd. Michael McDonald sings the cover we showcase here, he really captured its feeling and warms people’s hearts with his wonderful rendition of the song. McDonald is really one of the great ones, as a singer he absolutely defined a style, often imitated and followed, and as a songwriter he has written so many songs that have become classics like “What A Fool Believes” and “Taking It To The Streets”. We do think that a record sung by McDonald and produced by Foster would have been a winner and a musical work of art but unfortunately it never happened, and it’s a pity, cause the few times they have worked together on the same record they always gave us incredible musical moments.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/on_christmas_morning.mp3|titles=On Christmas Morning
|artists=Michael McDonald]

Lead Vocal: Michael McDonald
Acoustic Piano: Mark Harris
Electric Guitar: Andrew Ramsey
Drums: Dan Needham
Bass: Tommy Sims
Violin: Conni Ellisor
Cello: John Catchings
Strings arranged by Marc Harris & Conni Ellisor
Produced by Michael McDonald & Marc Harris

Lyrics

Ol’ December’s here at last
Time for celebration
Christmas present
Christmas past
Tumble down together like the snow
What a show
Now the snowman someone made
Is melting by the roadside
On the wind a serenade
Of children’s voices singing I believe
I believe in us
I believe On Christmas morning
You awaken with a smile
You hold me in your arms
We watch the snowflakes fly
And then you love me and I realize how sweet our love can be
All the memories
Coming back again this year
On Christmas morning

Sentimental melodies
surround me like an old friend
Spent a winter here with me
Silently we watched the seasons change
And they change so fast
Fade away

On Christmas morning
You awaken with a smile
You hold me in your arms
We watch the snowflakes fly
And then you love me
And I realize how sweet our love can be
All the memories will always take me back again, take me back in time

On Christmas morning
You awaken with a smile
You hold me in your arms
We’ll watch the snowflakes fly
And then you’ll love me
And I realize how sweet our love can be
Ooh the memories coming back again in time
To Christmas morning
On Christmas morning