James Taylor's first Christmas Album was released in November 2004.  After long stints with Warner and Sony, he elected to try releasing albums on an ad hoc basis after his last Sony release October Road (which contained his first Christmas related track Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas).

"A Christmas Album" was an exclusive joint venture with Hallmark.  Customers could purchase the CD at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores for $10.95 outright or for $6.95 with the purchase of three greeting cards.  The enterprise was far more successful than anyone could have hoped, the album is now platinum (over One Million Sold) and is almost impossible to find in stores, having sold out at most Hallmark stores well before Christmas 2004.

Produced by Dave Grusin, the track listing includes: Winter Wonderland, Go Tell it on the Mountain, In the Bleak Midwinter, Baby It's Cold Outside (a duet with Natalie Cole), Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, The Christmas Song, Deck the Halls, Some Children See Him, Who Comes This Night and Auld Lang Syne.