New Christmas CDs get the holidays ringing
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
State celebs spice Christmas CDs
Comedians Rodney Carrington and Kathy Griffin, groups REO Speedwagon and Sugarland and singers Andrea Bocelli and Sting are among the array of recording artists ringing in the holidays this year with seasonal CDs.
Rodney Carrington, who lives in Tulsa, gets surprisingly serious with “Make It Christmas,” which blends classics such as “Winter Wonderland” with new material like the touching military tribute “Camouflage and Christmas Lights.” But the musically inclined comic spikes the album with a bit of his cheeky humor with “The Presents Under the Tree (Better Be for Me).”
Newcastle singer-songwriter Kylie Morgan, 14, is releasing her album “Christmas with Kylie Morgan” Monday on local label Land Run Records. All proceeds from the rollicking seven-song collection will benefit the American Cancer Society. She plans to release her first non-holiday record next year.
Chockie native Reba McEntire makes a stellar duet partner for Andrea Bocelli on his rendition of “Blue Christmas,” one of the traditional favorites on the Italian tenor’s “My Christmas.” His first holiday album features collaborations with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Mary J. Blige and the Muppets, too.
Sugarland, the country duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, also offers their first holiday album, “Gold and Green,” which includes their own Christmas creations like Little Wood Guitar” and “Maybe Baby (New Year’s Day),” alongside old favorites “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Silent Night.”
With “If on a Winter’s Night …,” Sting pays tribute to his favorite season with an enigmatically lovely collection of carols, lullabies and original compositions.
“Mannheim Steamroller Christmas — 25th Anniversary Collection” provides a two-CD retrospective in honor of Steamroller founder Chip Davis and his holiday mainstay’s silver anniversary.
Power ballad pros REO Speedwagon put a spirited rock twist on “Deck the Halls,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “The First Noel” and more on “Not So Silent Night.”
Bob Clark’s cinematic classic “A Christmas Story” debuted in theaters in 1983, but Carl Zittrer and Paul Zaza’s memorable, previously unreleased score finally makes its way onto CD this year as “A Christmas Story: Music from the Motion Picture.”
Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond delivers originals such as the title track, traditionals like “Joy to the World” and even Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song” on “A Cherry, Cherry Christmas.”
Kathy Griffin roasts Maya Angelou, Justin Timberlake, T.I. and other celebs over her holiday fire with her new comedy album “Suckin’ It for the Holidays,” the rare Christmas CD to earn an explicit content warning.
Blue-eyed soul crooner Michael McDonald celebrates “This Christmas” with an amalgamation of old and new seasonal songs, while The Irish Tenors blend their voices for their “Christmas” album.
Country-pop novelty singer Ray Stevens serves up his first seasonal CD in more than a decade with “Ray Stevens Christmas” and re-releases his twisted 1997 album “Ray Stevens Christmas Through a Different Window.”
The remastered version of the 1963 album “A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector” provides the chance to celebrate with Darlene Love, The Ronettes and The Crystals. The re-release is intended to mark Love’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination; just try to ignore the tawdry taint of Spector’s murder conviction earlier this year.
British songbird Connie Talbot, 9, makes “Holiday Magic,” with her Christmas album, with a portion of the sales supporting the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots 2009 campaign, for which she is ambassador.
Nashville songwriting group The Song Trust, which includes country duo Joey+Rory, enlists youngsters to warble a mix of new and venerable holiday tunes on “Merry Kidsmas.” Part of the proceeds benefit the United Service Organization.
Richie McDonald, former lead singer of country group Lonestar, launches his solo career with the holiday offering “If Every Day Could Be Christmas.”
Contemporary acoustic guitarist Billy McLaughlin and his ensemble SimpleGifts rejoice in “A Small Town Christmas,” with mellow renditions of “Carol of the Bells,” “I Saw Three Ships” and other carols.
John Cowan, who was lead vocalist of New Grass Revival, puts his roots-music touch on “What Child Is This,” God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” for his record “Comfort & Joy.”
Jazz pianist Chris Dawson shows off his fleet fingers on “Stridin’ Through Christmas,” which interprets classics like “Jingle Bells,” “Let It Snow” and “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.”
And even lawyers should have the chance at a merry Christmas. New York litigator/singer/songwriter Lawrence Savell, performing as The LawTunes, files his latest holiday music-comedy novelty CD, “Season’s Briefings.”
-BAM
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Comments
Hi Brandy,
Thanks for mentioning Chris Dawson’s Christmas CD on your blog. Your readers might like to know that it’s available at http://www.dawsonjazz.com
Thanks!
Paul Astin
Producer
Hey Bam,
Ima let you finish your blog, but “A Very Special Dan Adams Christmas v3” is the BEST CHRISTMAS COMEDY ALBUM EVER!
My favorite new Christmas album is Christmas from the Heart by Jive pop artist and 2008 American idol runner-up David Archuleta. This is an album of mostly sacred songs and carols, with a couple of more modern Christmas songs and one original song. I love the inventive arrangements, like Angels We Have Heard on High overlaid on musical parts of Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. David adds his own soulful touches while respecting the original material. And his voice ranges from soothing to powerful and sounds amazing with the strings. Award winning producer, arranger and composer Kurt Bestor produced many of the tracks. My favorite thing about David’s album is that I know that this is where his heart really is.