EP
A Rocking Christmas 2
A Rocking Christmas 2 continues Jamie Penner’s guitar-driven seasonal music with five full-vocal arrangements focused on the Nativity, faith, family, and the meaning of Christmas.
Release date: November 12, 2024
In stock
Album introduction
A Rocking Christmas 2 continues Jamie Penner’s guitar-driven approach to seasonal music while moving toward a more reflective theme. Five full-vocal arrangements combine traditional Christmas songs with contemporary selections focused on the Nativity, faith, family, and the meaning behind the season.
Track listing
About this release
About A Rocking Christmas 2
The idea for A Rocking Christmas 2 developed the summer after the first EP had been completed and released. Where A Rocking Christmas was closely tied to the energy and scale of Penner’s earlier Christmas rock concerts, the second EP places greater emphasis on the meaning behind the songs themselves.
Its five selections move from traditional Christmas music to contemporary songs centred on the Nativity, faith, reflection, family, and the deeper purpose of the season. Penner performs all lead and background vocals on the EP, along with the instrumental parts and arrangements.
“Do You Hear What I Hear” uses an arrangement Penner had carried in his memory since the period of the earlier Christmas concerts. “O Come All Ye Faithful” had been considered for the first EP but did not fit its five-song format and production schedule. “Mary Did You Know” had been performed during those earlier shows, while “How Many Kings” had previously been performed by Penner as a solo artist during a Christmas service.
The EP closes with “The Heart of Christmas,” a song that summarizes the purpose of the project: slowing down during a busy season, valuing the people around us, helping others, and remembering the spiritual meaning at the centre of Christmas. All five tracks were recorded specifically for A Rocking Christmas 2.
Track notes
Inside the tracks
01Do You Hear What I Hear
Built from an arrangement Penner had carried in his memory since the period of the earlier Christmas rock concerts. The track opens the EP with a familiar song presented through a full rock arrangement and layered lead and background vocals.
02O Come All Ye Faithful
A song Penner had wanted to include on the first A Rocking Christmas EP but could not fit within its five-track format and production schedule. It was recorded specifically for the follow-up.
03Mary Did You Know
A powerful song that Penner had previously performed during the large Christmas concerts. Its message and dramatic structure made it a natural fit for the more reflective focus of the second EP.
04How Many Kings
Chosen for its less traditional perspective on the Christmas story and the strength of its message. Penner had previously performed the song as a solo artist during a Christmas service.
05The Heart of Christmas
The closing track and clearest statement of the EP’s purpose. Its message calls for people to slow down, value those they love, reach out to others, and remember the spiritual meaning at the centre of Christmas.