CMC Day 10: At Christmas by James Taylor

My love for Christmas music is almost exceeded by my love for James Taylor. Bring the two of them together and magical things happen.

At Christmas is a compendium of 14 holiday tunes sung in fine style, with a little help from guest artists including Chris Botti (Winter Wonderland) and Natalie Cole (Baby, It's Cold Outside). The instrumentation throughout is more orchestral than the usual Sweet Baby James, but it works.  A couple of earlier Taylor Christmas recordings exist, but this is the most comprehensive.

There's not a lot to say about this collection except that it's vintage JT, the arrangements are fairly straightforward, and if you're a Taylor fan, you'll love it. End of story. For what it's worth, my faves are Go Tell it on the Mountain, an Auld Lang Syne that is perfectly captures the old tune's bittersweet vibe, Who Comes this Night?, and a bluesy cover of Jingle Bells. Put it on, play it all the way through, then repeat. 

CMC Day 9: Christmas Island by Jimmy Buffett

I’ll just start by saying that I am not a Parrot Head and there are several cuts on this recording that make me want to bang my own, non-Parrot, head against the wall.  That said, there are others without which my holiday music landscape would be vastly less fun and entertaining.

The cuts I can do without are the totally uninspired reggae renditions of Jingle Bells, a couple of really long original tunes, and the ubiquitous Happy Christmas (War is Over). Snore. Double snore.

The songs I adore and play repeatedly are the title cut (sung with true Hawaiian flair), Mele Kalikimaka (ditto on the flair and with some lovely Hawaiian-Andrews-Sisters-ish backup , a California beach-music-inspired Up on the Housetop (as sung by a stoner surfer dude), and the version of Run Run Rudolph that Chuck Berry would have done if he’d had access to the kind of gear that Buffett’s band obviously rocks. 

Funny. Different.  Listen!

CMC Day 8: Burl Ives’ Holly Jolly Christmas

 We’re kicking off Week Two of the Christmas Music Countdown with the ever-so-wonderful Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives. In addition to inspiring our blog title (and by “our” I mean “my” in the diva, or royal, sense) this 1965 classic has wormed its way into the affections of generations with its simple but effective arrangements and the distinctive sound of Burl Ives.  It’s a nostalgic treat that still has power to delight.

I grew up listening to Holly Jolly Christmas on vinyl and can’t remember a time when Burl Ives’s unique voice wasn’t a part of the holidays. Many of you will be familiar with Burl as the voice of the snowman narrator in the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer animated TV movie, and indeed, his rendition of Rudolph is featured on this album.  But Burl got his start – and did much of his best work – as a folk singer, and that influence is heard strongly on this recording, which also benefits from the conducting talents of the great Owen Bradley.

The 12 selections on the album range from commercial successes like the title cut,  Rudolph, Silver Bells, White Christmas, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (the definitive version, IMO)  and The Little Drummer Boy to lesser-known songs such as Christmas Child, Christmas is a Birthday, Christmas Can’t Be Far Away and Conway Twitty’s Snow for Johnny. The arrangements are in keeping with the content and the era, with great acoustic guitar, a nice backup chorus and an orchestra to round out the sound.

I particularly like the folk-y tunes and am also extremely fond of Burl’s rendition of the Johnny Marks setting of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.  I think the title cut alone would make this one of the top 20 Christmas albums ever made.  

CMC Day 7: Christmas with Travelin' Light

Today’s CMC recommendation may seem a little eccentric to the uninitiated.  I mean, who wakes up in the morning and thinks, “I really want to hear a banjo and a tuba play jazzy Christmas songs today”? 

For fans of Travelin’ Light, however, this is an entirely reasonable thought.  The beyond-quirky duo of tubist Sam Pilafian and Frank Vignola on tenor banjo and guitar -- with a little percussion and an occasional clarinet assist – provide toe-tapping, bumptious and (for the most part) utterly charming jazz renditions of 16 Christmas classics. 

It’s different, it’s fun, they’re really good, and I guarantee you will find at least a few songs to love on this terrific recording. The instrumentation may be sparse, but the imagination is not.

The unorthodox combo works best on the upbeat tunes; I’m not fond of most of the slower selections on this disc.  But on holiday favorites like Sleighride and Jingle Bells, they excel and delight.  Happy listening!

CMC Day 6: A Tapestry of Carols by Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band

If you are a fan of folk rock, especially the incredible Steeleye Span, you know the name and unique voice of Maddy Prior. The talented folk rock diva has been performing and advocating for traditional music since the late 1960s and is still going strong, as this fantastic disc demonstrates. 

I discovered this recording by accident while looking for a Steeleye Span CD, ordered it on a whim, and have loved it ever since. Although the tunes are classic, this is not a flavorless academic collection, but an alternately rollicking and haunting gathering of great music that provides a wonderful break from the pablum you’ll hear while shopping.

With her trademark voice – edgy and slightly nasal but true and always on pitch –  Maddy and her many creative partners have injected new life into old music on this wonderful album (and many others).  The selections range from raucously celebratory (Angels from the Realms of Glory, which sounds a little Klezmer-ish with its clarinet) to chill-inducing (The Angel Gabriel with its background chant accompaniment) and charming (Ding Dong Merrily On High). It also features one of the best versions of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen I’ve ever heard.

Other favorites include Personent Hodie (you will want to dance!) and On Christmas Night, a traditional carol from Sussex, as well as the Arthur Sullivan (of "Gilbert and" fame) version of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.  Various strings, bells, Uillean pipes, bassoon, recorders, crumhorns – or maybe shawms – and hand drumming are featured in the instrumentation, and it will be an instant favorite for lovers of folk music, along with anyone who liked “Golden Dance Hits of 1600” in musicology class. Highly recommended! 

Day 5: A Christmas Card by The Forester Sisters

Friends, there’s a reason for the popularity of sibling singing groups in various music traditions: there is a special magic in the way those same-gene-pool voices blend. The Forester Sisters are one such group, having enjoyed a few hits as country artists back in the 1980s. I believe their non-superstardom was the result of so-so material and arrangements rather than a lack of talent, because they have lovely voices and their blend is exceptional.

Even if you’re not a country fan, I’d urge you to check out the Foresters’ short and truly sweet album “A Christmas Card.”  The recording, which features a few seasonal favorites and one original tune, doesn’t even pretend to break new musical or artistic ground. But there is something deeply satisfying about it; it’s kind of like the boring-looking Christmas cookie that turns out to be the tastiest one on the plate.

I gave this CD to my sister one year for Christmas expecting to be ridiculed, as she’s not a big country music aficionado.  Instead, she adored it, and it has become one of her family’s beloved holiday musical traditions.

“A Christmas Card” is the perfect music for present-wrapping or an evening in front of the fire.  My particular favorites on the playlist: the slow but beautiful rendition of Carol of the Bells (hang in there until about 29 seconds in... oooh, aaaah!) and This Old White Doorway.  You're welcome!

Day 4: Alligator Christmas Collection

Day 4 of the CMC: Today, my friends, I bring you The Alligator Christmas Collection, a compendium of Alligator Records’ greatest artists in the holiday mood.  This delicious serving of blues Christmas tunes first came to my attention on the PA system at the old Tower Records in D.C. I heard Koko Taylor's voice and went straight to the clerk to find out where I could get my own copy.

Fabulous blues talent – Taylor, Kenny Neal, Charles Brown and others – and rockin’ tunes like Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’, Deck the Halls with Boogie Woogie and Christmas on the Bayou, will make you want to slam back some eggnog and get down. A great contrast to the saccharine fare that appears so often this time of year!