Category: Americana

MORE COMING ATTRACTIONS

9/5/2018

I have the distinct impression we totally missed Gareth Davies-Jones 2012 Christmas album, "Nine Lessons" at Stubby's. It's no excuse but, in trying to find as much as we can, we tend to use the most inclusive search terms possible. Notably: "Christmas". And Gareth managed to put out a Christmas album that not only doesn't have "Christmas" in the album title, it doesn't have "Christmas" in any of the song titles, either. Not a one. But "Nine Lessons" is a stunning album and these are all Christmas songs, most of which you know by heart. "Winter Wonderland", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Silent Night", and so on.

Gareth Davies-Jones is a nugget of gold in an ocean of music, an Acoustic/Roots/Folk artist from the UK still disappointingly absent from too many holiday playlists. Soft, warm and wondrous, Gareth captures the magic and beauty of Christmas like the snow blankets the ground mid-winter. Indeed, "Nine Lessons" is the very aural representation of the image on its cover (or vice versa). If the chaos and crowds of the winter holiday have driven a wedge between you and the simple joy of the season, the music of Gareth Davies-Jones will help you find it again.

Gareth is on his way into the studio to lay down his second Christmas album right about now and we have no intention of missing this one. Call it Nine Lessons II (would that be 18 lessons?) until we get the title and more details. For now, here's "In The Bleak Midwinter", a single from 2009.

Born in Cuba, Arturo Sandoval is a trumpet player, a disciple of Dizzy Gillespie. He defected in 1989 and became an American citizen in 1998. Arturo has won ten Grammys, an Emmy, had a movie made about his life (with Andy Garcia playing Sandoval), and has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. So what challenges remain? Why, a Christmas album, of course.

Sandoval has recorded his share of Christmas music in the past. In 1991, his recording of "O Come All Ye Faithful" was included on "The GRP Christmas Collection II". "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" appear on the 2001 collection "Playboy's Latin Jazz Christmas" (Later re-issued as just "Latin Jazz Christmas"). And, in 2013, Arturo released an EP of Christmas music, "I Want To Wish You A Merry Christmas". But still no full Christmas album.

On October 5, Universal Latino will release Arturo Sandoval's "Christmas at Notre Dame", a live holiday performance recorded last year which also features the Notre Dame Children's Choir. Don't know the playlist as yet, but Arturo's rendition of "Jingle Bells" is always an amazing listen.

For whatever reason, there's always been a pattern to Christmas album news. The news comes in waves. First come the Classical releases, then the CCM releases, then the Country releases, Soul Releases, and finally the Rock and Pop releases (Blues and Bluegrass are always hunt and peck and Jazz is all over the map). We're in the middle of the Country wave, right now.

The Redhead Express are a quartet of sisters--Kendra, LaRae, Alisa, and Meghan. They were living with their family in Alaska when, Christmas 2006, the girls each got a musical instrument and a band was born. After they'd practiced and played the Alaska coffee houses, fairs and festivals, they wanted more. So the family sold everything, packed up the little that was left, and moved to Appalachia in the fall of 2007 to drink in as much Americana music as they could. The Redhead Express sing Country or Country Pop or Alt Country (take your pick of labels). Suffice it to say that, if you like the sound of the Dixie Chicks, you'll like Redhead Express.

Redhead Express have been releasing occasional Christmas singles for a few years, now. They're currently hinting that they might have a Christmas EP this year. Chances are it would be mostly their previous singles collected with one or two new tracks. But that's a beautiful thing because I'd bet most folks missed many, if not all, of their previous Christmas songs. And gorgeous Christmas songs they are. Last year's single was a cover of Sara Bareilles' "Love Is Christmas". But this is my favorite. Their version of "Mary Did You Know" is so beautiful, it makes me cry (and, oddly, I seem to like that in a song).

Currently based in Kansas City, Casi Joy is a Country singer/songwriter who you might remember for her impressive yodeling on The Voice in 2017 when she managed to turn all four chairs with an affecting performance of Patsy Cline's "Blue". (Dang, that's a long sentence). Casi has a couple of albums in circulation, including "Covered In Joy" from earlier this year. She's been singing since she was 5 (I think I was still doing macaroni art at that age) and released a Christmas single in 2015 (I think I was still doing macaroni art in 2015). And, as someone who recently lost a pet, I confess that the 2016 single "Howl At The Moon" makes me cry. If you're seeking out a preview of Casi Joy's upcoming Christmas CD (expected in November), here's 2015's "Where Are You Christmas".

One more? Yeah, I can do that. The Purple Hulls hail from Kilgore, Texas and they specialize in Bluegrass Gospel and Acoustic Country. And, yeah, they've got the whole "sibling harmonies" thing down. But they'll see your "sibling harmonies" and raise you. Because Katy Lou Clark and Penny Lea Clark are identical twins. The pair are currently recording a Christmas album, their first, and the plan is to release it this year. But there are no guarantees in life, so there's a chance you may have to wait until next year. Tell you what, though. Judging from the two Christmas songs The Purple Hulls have up on YouTube, their Yuletide confection will be worth the wait. The newer of the two is last year's "That's Christmas To Me", but I dig the banjo (and the lyrics, too) on the earlier "Can't Stop Christmas From Comin'". Although the Clark sisters say the album will be mostly familiar tunes, those two are originals. I hope you'll check them out, but I gotta close with this one. Because The Purple Hulls do a kick-ass instrumental version of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" on their 2015 album "Why We Sing". And, let me tell you, "kick-ass" is not a descriptor I ever thought I'd use for this particular hymn.

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CHANUKAH IN AUGUST

8/19/2018

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I don't know if he still does it, but Ernie (Not Bert) used to follow his Christmas In July posts with Chanukah In August (currently, Ernie's on Day 39 of Christmas In July; yeah, don't try to figure it out, just be happy he does it). Being as I missed most of 2017, I thought I'd borrow Ernie's Chanukah In August and mention a few of the better releases I/we missed out on. Maybe we can make it a thing.

Besides, it gives me the opportunity to introduce you to Missy Katz (not her real name). My relationship with Missy Katz is a bit complicated. She was my mother's girl and she and my mother were so completely bonded, while I was completely bonded with Mrs. Katz (not her real name). With both my Mom and Mrs. Katz gone. Missy and I are stuck with each other and trying to make the best of it. Missy Katz (not her real name) is 11 years old. We found her on a roadside when she was just a few weeks old (no mama or brothers or sisters anywhere in sight). Mom had her declawed, so she's indoor only. She's very active and playful (even at 11), a natural hunter. But she's also like Sour Patch Kids in reverse: first she's sweet, and then she's sour. Bedtime, she will lie on my stomach and purr so loud the house shakes. Then, still purring and for no reason at all, she bites (and her bites are deep, yo). Some nights, I'll be sleeping quite soundly and wake up in the morning with a trail of dried blood down my arm. I don't think she knows it's a bad thing, though I tell her all the time. She's got some other quirks. She likes to hold her tail between her paws and she'll frequently stand on her hind legs for extended periods (looking like a meerkat).

Missy Katz (not her real name) was a pain to get a picture of. I'd have her all set up and, just as I'd snap the picture, she'd turn her butt to me. So this is the best I could do. Anyway, Missy Katz (not her real name) will be our blog cat mascot going forward. Now on to the music. And, just so you know, Hanukkah 2018 begins at sundown on Sunday, December 2 (or so my calendar says).

2017 wasn't exactly a great year for new Hanukkah music. One of my favorites, though, was "Hanukkah Rocks" by Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could. Rymer's band is ostensibly a Kids band and the track was one of two Hanukkah tracks (the other being "Rainbow Candles") off his seasonal album "Revvin' Up The Reindeer". I like it because, musically, it sounds like something the Archies would have done. The world needs the occasional Bubblegum Hanukkah tune. But, truth be told, I'm not sure Brady knows the holiday. Apparently, he's having his latkes with "sugar and spice". I thought it was sour cream and apple sauce (yeah, the video tries to save it, but I'm not buying it). There's a cat in the video, so all is forgiven. If anybody wants to know, I take my latkes plain, thank you very much.

And speaking of Bubblegum Hanukkah.... Yeah, we got the usual batch of a capella Hanukkah videos that weren't available for sale or download (we'll save those vids for our Eight Nights of Hanukkah festivities). But can it just be coincidence that the one you could buy was Six13's "Nice Jewish Boy Band Chanukah"? You mean to tell me we had a whole Bubblegum Hanukkah thing going on last year and I missed it? Oy!

When making a Hanukkah mix, should you ever wish to, you approach it just as you would a Christmas mix. You want balance, flow and some originality. Obviously, you don't want 80 minutes of "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel". You might want to have some fun with it, but you want to be respectful. Authenticity is good, too. Basically, if you're a goy like me making a mix for Jewish friends, you want your Hanukkah mix to say "I know this holiday means as much to you as Christmas does to me." True enough, Hanukkah is not the most important holiday on the Jewish calendar (which allows you some wiggle room for missteps). But remember, if you're goy making a Hanukkah mix, you're essentially a guest in someone else's home.

You also, probably, want to mix up the genres. And that makes this Hanukkah tune probably the best of 2017. "Al Hanissim" is a traditional Jewish prayer that translates to "on the miracles". It's a prayer of thanksgiving (though not a prayer of Thanksgiving). Following the opening prayer, the lyrics tell the story of either Hanukkah or Purim (depending upon the holiday). For a long time, I searched for a version that sounded joyful and, over time, I did find a few. But Moshe Storch released a version in 2017 that's not only joyful and fun, and sung entirely in Hebrew, it's Country! Yee Haw! "Al Hanissim (Country Style)"! Put that in your Hanukkah mix and smoke it.

While you might not want 80 minutes of "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" for a Hanukkah mix, you probably don't want to avoid it altogether. It's essentially the "Jingle Bells" of Hanukkah music. So pick a good one. 2017 gave us just such a selection. The Michael Treni Big Band recorded "Dreidel" as a Latin Jazz number, "Loco Latin Top", included on their Christmas album "You Better Watch Out". If you're trying to mix up your sounds and genres, "Loco Latin Top" fits like a Hanukkah glove.

What would Chanukah in August be without some freebies, right? Gonna give you two because, technically, one isn't from 2017 and the other is barely Hanukkah.

First up is Aaron Holder's "Chanukah Lights". This is a nice Folk Pop number from Holder, who has also recorded a lot of more traditional Israeli music. "Chanukah Lights" (aka "Hanukkah Lights"), as you might have guessed, is the track that isn't from 2017. I believe it dates back to 2015, but it was re-released last year and I originally found it with the 2017 date.

A note about free downloads from Soundcloud. Tag or label them properly immediately after downloading. Some artists understand the value of proper tagging and others don't. And, if you don't make sure they're labeled or tagged appropriately as soon as you download them, you're going to wake up one day with a folder of tunes you have no idea what they are, who sings them, or anything else. No, I have no such a folder. I'm not that organized. I have tunes I can't identify all over the place on my computer. Learn from my mistakes; Lord knows, I never do.

Now this one I recommend highly...but only if you're a bit adventurous. The artist is Damion Shade & The Savage Young and this comes from the album "The Swallower of X-Mas". You might think, from the title, that this is a Christmas album. Well, it is and it isn't. None of the songs mention Christmas or anything wintery at all. There are only a very few times where there's any reference at all that, if you really stretch your mind, might be some oblique reference to something a step or two removed from the season (most memorably "Jesus figurines scattered all over your house" in "Punctuation"). But, the more I listened, the more I concluded (perhaps wrongly) that this was indeed a very specific holiday piece...centered very tightly upon the fallout and subsequent darkness of a very very VERY bad breakup. Not some puppy love breakup, but a serious adult break. Since there's nothing in the songs that says so, I'm largely taking my cue that it's a holiday split based upon the album title.

"The Swallower of X-Mas" is so dark and bleak, overall, I'd only recommend it's use in any holiday mixtape to those with extensive experience at using such material (kids, don't try this at home). If you really know what you're doing, though, man, this album packs a wallop. And damn if I don't want to hear more from Damion Shade.

For our current purposes, we're fortunate that "Hooray For Hanukkah" is, to my ears, the most listenable and accessible track on the album. I just love the Indie sound of this track. Unlike the other songs on the album, there's even a passing reference to the holiday ("Whose house is this with candles lit"), but that's about as Hanukkah as it gets. At the core is someone who may or may not be nearing the final stages of grief..."I need you. I don't need anything. Ambitions piled up in the sink. I really want to leave and I really want to be nothing." Brilliant powerful stuff.

As with Christmas music, so much Hanukkah music can be a checklist. Let's see, we've mentioned the Menorah, the Dreidel, Latkes...I think we're all set. It's a little less annoying for Hanukkah music because the radio isn't playing it to death. But "Hooray For Hanukkah" is no checklist holiday song. It's an honest human moment (albeit a dark one). I love it, personally. Your mileage, as always, may vary.

Well, I can't close on that note. I need a palette cleanser. And I have just the thing. Born in Australia, Alexis Fishman is a bit of a renaissance woman. She's an actress, having starred in numerous cabaret and Off Broadway productions, she's a playwright, a singer and songwriter, and a Jewish educator in New York. In October, Alexis will return to Australia to star in her new show "Amy Reimagined", about the life of the late Amy Winehouse. Her Hanukkah single is from late 2016. It's a swinging Big Band Jazz number, "My Baby Eats All The Hanukkah Gelt".

I suppose I should really do 8 tunes, you know, but I think 7 will do for August. So that's all for now. Hopefully, we'll have more Hanukkah goodness for you in the coming months. Until then, Happy Hanukkah from Stubby and Missy Katz!

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TEN "PERFECT" CHRISTMAS ALBUMS

8/15/2018

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NOTE: There's a new entry on the PREVIEWS page! Just sayin'.

Every once in a while, there's an intriguing topic that makes its way across the Internets. Of late, this "10 Perfect Albums" topic has been showing up in my Facebook feed. The game goes something like this: "Post 10 perfect albums over 10 days. These are the ones where you regularly listen to the entire thing in order all the way through. Post the cover, name of the artist and album if not shown, no need to explain why." At least one of my friends did include a Christmas album among their ten, which got me to thinking it might be fun to try and identify 10 "perfect" Christmas albums. What the heck, could be fun, right? Keep in mind that such lists are completely subjective (kinda the point, actually) and that it's hard to call anything truly "perfect". And it's especially challenging for me because I get bored easy; there are only a handful of albums (Christmas or otherwise) that I regularly listen to all the way through. Your purchase links (where available) are the album covers. Apologies if you've already read about some of these at 200 Days of Christmas or as part of Merry & Bright's "Der Bingle's Essentials" series. And feel free to offer your own choices in the comments.

So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my choices for ten "perfect" Christmas albums (in one day, not 10).

This one has been turning up a lot this year and, well, it's about time. Possibly the most under appreciated Christmas album of all time. On "The Bells of Dublin", The Chieftans deliver a timeless collection of Christmas music both new and old, a festive feast that leaves you as completely satisfied as the best Christmas dinner you ever had. No straying into over cooked standards like "White Christmas" or "Santa Baby"--those just wouldn't be a fit for this Irish Folk group--The Chieftans stick to their signature sound and do it so well that even people who hate the genre can't help but be charmed and won over completely. The album is bursting with stellar performances from a plethora of top shelf guests--including Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Nanci Griffith, Rickie Lee Jones, and, OMG, Burgess Meredith. Indeed, there is so much star power on this record that The Chieftans, themselves, are sometimes all but overlooked. That's why, as much as I enjoy such standards in the making as Browne's "The Rebel Jesus" and Costello's "St. Stephen's Day Murders", my favorite track is the opener...Paddy Moloney's "The Bells of Dublin/Christmas Eve" which sets the table perfectly for everything that follows.

I'm gonna get lazy on this one and just quote what I wrote in 2011:
Mindy Gledhill's "Winter Moon" is one of the best contemporary pop Christmas albums I've heard in years. Mindy paced the album perfectly, the recording is impeccable. And Mindy's voice is just dreamy. Whether she's delivering a peppy pop tune like "Little Saint Nick", a religious standard like "Silent Night", or turning "The Christmas Song" into a uke driven song from the roaring 20s, Mindy Gledhill brings everything to her performance and leaves you wanting more of the same. The original, "Little Soldier", packs as much seasonal wallop as most any holiday song ever has. And she gets extra points from me for recording the first version of"Patapan" I have ever liked--and I not only liked her version, I loved it.
Others have come and gone, but "Winter Moon" remains in heavy Christmas rotation at the Stubby household.

I've mentioned this 2000 album to fellow Christmas music collectors before as one of my all time favorites and I usually get that scrunched up "seriously?" face in response. Still, even if I'm the only person on earth who thinks so, I believe "Brand New Year" by SheDAISY is a perfect Christmas album. Top to bottom, front to back, I listen to it straight through every Christmas and it continues to sound fresh and never fails to bring a smile to my face. SheDAISY had a whole career as the Osborn Sisters, prior to becoming SheDAISY in 1999. I've never heard anything by the Osborn Sisters and, to the best of my recollection, I've never heard anything from SheDAISY other than their Christmas album. So its not like I'm some hopeless fanboy.

I get some of the issues, here. SheDAISY were, ostensibly, a Country group. But they were a Country group that wasn't really Country enough for lots of Country fans. And they were a little too Country to appeal to people who hate Country music completely. They were among the first Country groups to work with loops and samples, techniques that are quite prevalent in Country music today. They are definitely a mix of Country, Pop, and Rock (at least on "Brand New Year" they are), with even a touch of Radio Disney styled Bubblegum flavor included--especially on the title track (and maybe that's why I find them so fetching). And, yo, a bit of Hip-Hop, too; I kid you not. Listening to this album, I never wasted a second trying to figure out what their genre is; their sound is unique. And, of course, they have those beautiful harmonies that only natural sisters ever seem to have.

"Brand New Year" features the kind of balance and pacing other Christmas albums only ever dream of. There's a flow to the album that compels you to keep listening. They explore different sounds without ever sounding like they're trying to be something they're not. And the arrangements are superb. You know how I've said that the best Christmas songs are the ones that combine Joy with Longing? SheDAISY succeeds in putting the "longing" into "Jingle Bells", of all things. For that, alone, this should be on your Christmas playlist. But there's so much more...the rocking "Santa's Got A Brand New Bag", the spritely sparkling "Tinsel Town" (with it's wonderfully unexpected "Intro"), their original and funny perversion of the O'Henry tale "Twist of the Magi" (with Rascal Flatts), the reverence of "What Child Is This", wonderful covers of the seldom covered "Secret of Christmas" and "That's What I Want For Christmas", an amazing mashup of "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" and "Carol of the Bells", the sheer joy in lessons learned in the title track, and the pure a cappella beauty of the album closer.

SheDAISY hasn't released any new recordings since 2011 and, even though I never followed the group, that seems a shame. But, if they're out there somewhere, I just want them to know that I got it. I understood and appreciated exactly what you were trying to do on "Brand New Year". And you did it perfectly.

My earliest introduction to Jazz and the first CD I ever bought or owned (purchased in the middle of summer, I might add). I actually went out of my way to try to find reasons to keep Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack for "A Charlie Brown Christmas" off of this list. Is it perfect, really, Stubby? I mean, you know, sure, the instrumental tracks are perfect, but I hate singing kids almost as much as I hate singing dogs. Well, that's not true; I actually prefer the singing dogs. But, on this album, it works. Perfectly. Nuff said.

When I decided to try my hand at this exercise, I made the deliberate choice not to consider compilations or multi-artist collections. There are just too many that could be considered "perfect" (or, at least, essential) to travel down that road. So no Phil Spector "A Christmas Gift For You" or 1987 "A Very Special Christmas" from me. For me, the best of those I refused to consider is 1968's "Soul Christmas" from Atco Records (so good that it's unofficial title among Christmas music collectors is "The Original Soul Christmas"). And, really, if the three "Santa's Funk & Soul Christmas Party" albums from Tramp Records aren't "perfect", maybe nothing is.

But, from the outset, I knew there'd be one exception to my own arbitrary rule. The UA "Rhythm & Blues Christmas" album from 1976. Unlike other "perfect" albums, "Rhythm & Blues Christmas" has never been re-issued in any format. One reason for that is it's just too short for modern consumers, clocking in at less than a half hour, all told. Even when a company can obtain the rights to all ten of these tracks, they feel the need to pad it out...add more. Sure, Geico's gonna tell you that more is always better. But imagine, for a moment, the perfect cake recipe. Then imagine that you think you can make a better batter by using 10 eggs instead of 2. Never mess with perfection. While "Rhythm & Blues Christmas" has never been re-issued, copies of the original vinyl should be cheap if you look. Better yet, none of the songs are difficult to find, so just reconstruct it for your own head. You can read a bit more about this great record in our long neglected Essentials section.

Manhattan Transfer were at the top of their game when they recorded "The Christmas Album" in 1992. It wasn't a huge hit, falling short of Billboard's Top 100 albums. And it's another record that, when I mention it to fellow Christmas music collectors, I get the scrunchy "seriously?" face (seriously, you've got seriously face). But, from the day I first put it on, from the first notes of "Snowfall", I knew this was going to be the beginning of a beautiful life-long love affair. I dig Jazz, I dig harmonies, and this album probably makes me feel more like Christmas than anything in my much too large collection. Alternately swinging and sentimental, The Manhattan Transfer do not hit a single wrong note (and I mean that metaphorically because, of course, their singing is perfect). Tony Bennett puts in an appearance, but they didn't really need him. I don't know why some others don't love "The Christmas Album" as much as I do; I just know I reach for it every year without even thinking and I play it straight through (usually more than once). 2005's "Acapella Christmas" missed the mark for me, but I don't know how I'd get through Christmas without "The Christmas Album".

Emmylou Harris was Americana before there was such a thing. She effortlessly blends Folk, Country, Pop, Bluegrass, and even Celtic without ever alienating anyone (I know some hardcore Bluegrass fans who won't listen to anything recorded after the sixties...but they make an exception for Emmylou). The thing about Emmylou is that voice, that irresistible voice. It's ethereal and transcendent without the reedy and breathy qualities that haunt some modern artists. Ethereal and transcendent, but with power; her voice rings as true as a bell. By the time the closing track, "Light of the Stable", ends, you're practically weeping from the sheer beauty of this album. It was true the first time you heard it and it's still true hundreds or thousands of plays later. The backing musicians and vocalists, here, are of the All-Star variety and the material is perfect. "Light of the Stable" was first released in 1979 and it was a revelation for it's time. Hell, it was a revelation for ALL time. You couldn't put together a more perfect album if you tried. And we know that because the label has expanded it and released it with different cover art over the years. But, for my money, they should just leave it alone because the original is perfect.

I shared this story over at The Fa (the forums at FaLaLaLaLa.com) in 2006. And I couldn't possibly tell it any better. So I hope you don't mind a copy and paste job. It's a long tale, but it's a good one.

Sometime in the late 80s, I was at a used record store in Red Bank, New Jersey looking for Christmas music. Wasn't finding much (a few imports that I already had) when I looked to my right and saw this gem displayed on the wall. It called to me. It glowed brightly and the camera zoomed. Angels began singing heavenly music. My eyes got about ten feet wide (it was really a cartoon moment). I asked the store owner if it was for sale. Very busy, running here and there, he grumbled "everything's for sale." Didn't have a chance to ask him how much before he jetted off in another direction.

I took the record from its display and turned it over to see "1954/$80" scribbled on the back in pencil. Could this really be $80? The newer used records all had those little red price stickers I know we've all seen, but not this one. Could I afford $80? For a record?

I swallowed hard, decided I HAD to have it, put back a few other things I had been planning to get, and humbly walked up to the cash register (which, itself, looked antique). In my mind, the lady at the register looked as I'd imagined Mrs. Claus would look, with white hair and glasses and a smile that was just right (and, I'll add, my vision of Mrs. Claus is a slender woman).

Trembling, I shyly held out the record and said "I'm not sure how much this is. It only has this $80 written in pencil on the back. See?" She took it from me, turned it this way and that and said, "Well, that's his handwritting" (meaning her husband, the store owner). "Did you want it?"

I tried not to show my desperation to acquire this treasure. I'm sure I failed. "Yes! Er, I mean, $80 is an awful lot of money. But I think I have that much and (weak smile--close to a grimace actually)...yes." I was dripping sweat like Albert Brooks in Broadcast News.

"How bout $8," she said. I about fell over. "But...(almost whispering, looking at the store owner) can you do that, I mean, if it's worth $80...I mean, I'll pay...I mean, I'm willing..." She waved me off. "Oh, him. He thinks everything is priceless. I swear, if it were up to him, we'd never sell a single record. And then what would we do? Do you want it?" She was already ringing it up. "Oh, yes!" She'd already bagged my purchase and was handing it to me. "Merry Christmas," she said, with her Mrs. Claus smile.

As it turned out, they closed up shop within a year (planned) and I'm not sure how much that influenced Mrs. Claus. I don't care. I look forward to listening to this one every year, and there are few recordings I would say that about. I cannot imagine ever parting with it (even for $80...or $800). And it's not just a Christmas record, see, its a Christmas moment.

"Winter Sequence: A Seasonal Suite for Rhythmic Reindeer" was released as a 10" in 1954 and re-released as two 7" records in 1955. Mine's the 10". The pieces (one for each reindeer, sans Rudolph) were written by Leonard Feather and arranged by Ralph Burns. Feather wrote each piece to reflect the character of the specific reindeer ("Cupid" is a love song, "Vixen" is sultry and sexy, darkly mysterious, "Dancer" is...well...a dancer; you get the idea) and Burns arranged each piece to showcase the talents of the featured player. And what players they were. Kai Winding, Billy Bauer, Joe Wilder, Osie Johnson, a young Herbie Mann...... It's truly one of the most unique records in my collection. Aside from that opening bit of "Dasher", it's not really all that Christmassy, but that's part of what makes it unique. And I really do (still) look forward to listening to "Winter Sequence" every Christmas.

Now, it would be almost cruel to show this to you if you couldn't get it anywhere. But, a few years back, "Winter Sequence: A Seasonal Suite for Rhythmic Reindeer" was issued on CD as part of a twofer of Ralph Burns albums (both cover arts are linked to the Amazon listing for the twofer). To tell you the truth, I bought the CD but I missed the pops and clicks, so I listen to my CD-R of my vinyl copy when I listen. It may not be everybody's cup of Christmas tea but, to me, its perfect.

And there you have it.... Eight "Perfect" Christmas albums. Eight of the finest-- What? What's that you say? Ten? TEN? We promised 10? But those 8 are the only ones I listen to straight through every year. That's all I got. I'm not kidding. This isn't a bit. 8 "perfect" Christmas albums is all I could come up with. If I listed two more as perfect, that'd be lying. And then Santa wouldn't bring me anything for Christmas. Would you feel better if I said "Dark Side of the Moon"? No? Yeah, I could throw the Spector album on, I guess. I do listen to that "regularly". But that's no fun (and, honestly, I don't think its perfect)..

How 'bout this? Let me think about what the list above is missing and point you to some really, really awesome very good but not quite perfect Christmas records. K? The ultimate selection in each category (the ones that get the video) will be the ones I find myself reaching for the most for pure listening pleasure.

Hmm. Not any kind of Rock footprint above at all, is there?

Maybe I just have really high standards in Rock and Pop, but I can't think of any single artist Rock and Pop Christmas albums I listen to straight through every year. Not a one. I've got a Springsteen Christmas bootleg I listen to a lot, but that's about it.

For Classic Rock, I'm very fond of the latter day efforts of Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues. They ain't perfect, but they're damn good. For more modern stuff, regular readers know I'm crazy fond of Lorna and Kissing Party, but their Christmas albums were really collections of annual singles and not conceived as an album. Same goes for The Killers, obviously. We've reviewed a bunch of awesome Rock Christmas albums over the years, from Donnie Iris to Jigsaw Seen to Rough Shop to Carbon Leaf--all very highly recommended and darn close to perfect.

But I'd have to say my most favorite single artist Christmas Rock albums are "Under The Influence of Christmas" by The Grip Weeds from 2011 (see the above video) and Universal Honey's 2003 release "Can't Stop Thinking About Christmas" (currently OOP; see the video below). Now there's a couple of under the radar classics that, while a hair shy of perfect, deserve to be on this list and in your collection.

World Music is a big category that covers a lot of ground (literally and figuratively). I love my Christmas music from far away lands. I truly do. But would I count any of them as "perfect"? Probably not. The closest would likely be Lisa Ono's "Boas Festas", but I can only listen to so much Bossa Nova before losing my mind.

A lot of "Best of" Christmas lists include Jacob Miller's "Natty Christmas" and that certainly is the most brilliant single artist Reggae Christmas album ever made. Essential? Absolutely. Perfect? Not to me.

There's a lot of good Cajun Christmas music. I'm not as big a fan of Justin Wilson as a lot of people are. But I'd count Michael Doucet's "Christmas Bayou" as one of my all time faves. And, if you dig the Zydeco thing, it's hard to argue with the excellence of Rockin' Sidney's "Holiday Celebration" (just don't mess with his "Toot Toot").

Unfair as it is to the rest, Hawaiian music is included in the World Music category. And, when it comes to Hawaiian Christmas music, I count three albums as essential--just not quite perfect. Much as I love "Christmas Favorites" by the Brothers Cazimero, I place them third (mostly because I can't escape this feeling that they're really the Oak Ridge Boys on vacation). Second is Na Leo Pilimehana's "Christmas Gift". Again, harmonies. And, of the three, Na Leo most gives me those laid-back breezy Island feels. But tops on my Hawaiian Christmas album list is Willie K's "Willie Kalikimaka". Willie can do the breezy Island thing, too. But he can Rock out, as he does "perfectly" on "Little Drummer Boy/Ring Your Christmas Bells". He can Rock Steady, as he does on "Reggae Christmas". And, get this, his beautiful version of "O Holy Night" (sung in both English and Hawaiian) runs well over 6 minutes. 6 minutes of "O Holy Night"? I'm in heaven. The thing about "Willie Kalikimaka" is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The individual tracks are plenty good, but the album as a whole is about as close to perfect as you can get without actually being perfect. Yeah, if I was numbering my list and a little less picky about what I label "perfect", Willie K would be in at #9.

As far as the old timers go, the popular favorites in the Stubby household are Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sing We Now of Christmas", Jim Nabors' "Christmas Album", and Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song". But that's about nostalgia, not perfection. I mean, honestly, it's not Christmas for me until I've heard Ernie sing (and talk) "Little Gray Donkey". But that's my problem, not yours. As for Bing Crosby, I like lots of his stuff but none of the albums. Now that I think of it, I should probably create my own Bing mix. Anyway. Just thought you'd like to know.

And, finally, you know how I love the Blues. I wish I could point you to a "perfect" single artist Blues Christmas record, I truly do. But, to begin with, not a lot of Blues artists cut an entire Christmas album. B.B. King's was a bit of a disappointment to me. Wish he'd done it earlier in his career. Etta James was very good, but not perfect. Johnny Adams' "Christmas In New Orleans" is mighty fine, but I'd have preferred more of it be like "Lonesome Christmas" (less like "Silver Bells").

Sharon Jones gets short shrift from me, here. First, because "It's A Holiday Soul Party" is more R&B than Blues. And, second, because it's too new. I don't want to apply the word "perfect" in this context to any album less than 5 years old. But I do thank God for all of the music Sharon gave us before she passed.

There's one single artist Blues Christmas album out there I've never been able to get my hands on. I have high hopes, if it's ever available again. And, if I ever get it, I'll let you know whether or not it makes the "perfect" grade. I promise. (But no spoilers).

As I did with World Music, let me give you 3 real good Blues Christmas albums that, if you haven't heard them, are well worth your time and your dime. In third place, Cass Eager & The Mo' Debley's 2009 release "Santa's Got Soul". Cass is an Australian artist and "Santa's Got Soul" was one of those "this is my annual Import purchase" buys I mentioned a while back. Full disclosure, Amazon's only got it on CD-R and there's nothing on YouTube, really; want to check it out, you'll have to do Spotify. If you like your Blues female and funky, Cass is your woman. She absolutely KILLS "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" (the good kind of "kills"), covers Koko Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Clarence Carter and the Staple Singers, and tops it all off with her own fabulous original Blues tune, "365 Days". Why third place? "Santa Baby". True, it's a bluesier "Santa Baby" than you're used to hearing. But still. "Santa Baby".

Coming in at number two on our special Christmas countdown....Canadian Matt Andersen. I feel like I've let Matt down. "Spirit of Christmas" is a powerful and powerfully good album. It strikes just the right balance on almost everything and covers the musical waterfront with styles ranging from Bluegrass to Blues to Rock to Gospel. There are uncommon covers of "Little Toy Trains" (Roger Miller) and "The Lonely Shepherd" (Curtis Whiteley), an "O Holy Night" so wonderful that I'd wager even Jesus has it on his iPhone, and four self-penned originals. And yet...I never got around to doing a proper review, "The Spirit of Christmas" finished second on my 2010 list of favorites to an EP (an EP? Oh, the indignity), and now he's in the runner-up spot on my "closest to perfect" Blues selection. Why second? "Blue Christmas". Yeah, he does it good. I'm still not having it.

So Kenny Neal takes the top spot with "I'll Be Home For Christmas" from 2006 (the cover art, here, is from the 2015 Cleopatra reissue). The album has that down home Louisiana flavor. There are no real surprises (unless you count the vocals of Kenny's daughter, Syreeta Neal; pretty much the whole Neal family pitched in on this one). And there's a nice balance of traditional tunes and modern Blues covers (two versions of "Merry Christmas Baby"). Beaucoup bonus points for having neither "Santa Baby" nor "Blue Christmas". But the thing is Kenny Neal can flat out play. Is "I'll Be Home For Christmas" perfect? No. I'll tell you what it is, though. It's American, dammit! Who are all these Australians and Canadians thinking they can be top Blues dog? The Blues is ours and don't you forget it! I'm just kidding. Mostly.

Don't forget to add your perfect Christmas albums in the comments, if you feel so inclined. Let's close this mother out with Kenny Neal's cover of "Christmas Comes Once A Year".

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