Rodney Crowell is one of those legendary musical figures. An Americana artist before there was such a thing, Rodney started his career as a songwriter. Jerry Reed was the first to recognize his talent, but it was Emmylou Harris who gave him the chance to play, asking him to join her band in 1975. Rodney put out his first solo record in 1978. Always a strong songwriter, Rodney's best known composition might be "Shame On The Moon", recorded by Bob Seger in 1982. 40 years after his debut album, Rodney Crowell is releasing his first ever Christmas album, "Christmas Everywhere", on November 2.
 | 1. Clement’s Lament (We’ll See You In The Mall) 2. Christmas Everywhere (feat. Lera Lynn) 3. When The Fat Guy Tries The Chimney On For Size 4. Christmas Makes Me Sad 5. Merry Christmas From An Empty Bed (feat. Brennen Leigh) 6. Very Merry Christmas 7. Christmas in Vidor (feat. Mary Karr) 8. Christmas for the Blues 9. Come Christmas 10. Let's Skip Christmas This Year 11. Christmas In New York 12. All For Little Girls & Boys (feat. Daddy Cool & The Yule) |
Crowell says the Christmases of his childhood weren't all that warm and fuzzy. Nothing tragic or dreadful, mind you. Just not a celebration you could count on, year in, year out. In more recent years, he'd soured on most things Christmas entirely.
“One rather warm December day in 2011", Crowell says, "I heard on satellite radio, Hayes Carll’s soulfully written ‘Grateful for Christmas’ and was so moved by the song – its wry humor and bare-bones honesty –that I ditched whichever errand or appointment I’d set out on in favor of an honest-to-God Christmas shopping spree. Not only did ‘Grateful for Christmas’ jolt me out of a self-indulgent funk it also tweaked my creative curiosity.” There was still no thought of a Christmas album, though.
Around Christmas 2016, Rodney came home to find his daughters playing a tune on the family's old upright piano. It sounded vaguely 19th century and he asked them what they were playing. "Something we just made up," they replied in unison. He grabbed his iPhone, hit record and asked them to play it again. Using their melody, virtually note for note, Rodney spent the next several months writing the words to "Come Christmas". "Come Christmas" may have taken some time and effort but, after that, the ideas and songs kept coming.
Crowell says the tone of the album is "mostly irreverent". The title track, for instance, was inspired by Spike Jones. About the only thing Rodney needed to complete the album was an opener to bring it all together. A reading of Clement Moore's "Twas The Night Before Christmas" being an annual staple of the Crowell family Christmas, he put together the short piece "Clement's Lament (We'll See You In The Mall)". The closing track, "All For Little Girls and Boys" was recorded in the eighties and features his oldest daughters, Hannah and Caitlin.
No "Santa Baby", "Silent Night" or even "Grateful For Christmas", here. "Christmas Everywhere" is all original. Guests on the record include Vince Gill, Lera Lynn, Mary Karr, and John Jorgenson. "Christmas Everywhere" officially releases November 2 and is available for pre-order now from New West Records. The album is available in CD and vinyl formats and there are 3 vinyl variations. The black & gray "coal" vinyl would seem to be the standard issue. A green and red marbled vinyl version is the New West exclusive. A red and white split vinyl version will be available exclusively at independent retailers.
“One rather warm December day in 2011", Crowell says, "I heard on satellite radio, Hayes Carll’s soulfully written ‘Grateful for Christmas’ and was so moved by the song – its wry humor and bare-bones honesty –that I ditched whichever errand or appointment I’d set out on in favor of an honest-to-God Christmas shopping spree. Not only did ‘Grateful for Christmas’ jolt me out of a self-indulgent funk it also tweaked my creative curiosity.” There was still no thought of a Christmas album, though.
Around Christmas 2016, Rodney came home to find his daughters playing a tune on the family's old upright piano. It sounded vaguely 19th century and he asked them what they were playing. "Something we just made up," they replied in unison. He grabbed his iPhone, hit record and asked them to play it again. Using their melody, virtually note for note, Rodney spent the next several months writing the words to "Come Christmas". "Come Christmas" may have taken some time and effort but, after that, the ideas and songs kept coming.
Crowell says the tone of the album is "mostly irreverent". The title track, for instance, was inspired by Spike Jones. About the only thing Rodney needed to complete the album was an opener to bring it all together. A reading of Clement Moore's "Twas The Night Before Christmas" being an annual staple of the Crowell family Christmas, he put together the short piece "Clement's Lament (We'll See You In The Mall)". The closing track, "All For Little Girls and Boys" was recorded in the eighties and features his oldest daughters, Hannah and Caitlin.
No "Santa Baby", "Silent Night" or even "Grateful For Christmas", here. "Christmas Everywhere" is all original. Guests on the record include Vince Gill, Lera Lynn, Mary Karr, and John Jorgenson. "Christmas Everywhere" officially releases November 2 and is available for pre-order now from New West Records. The album is available in CD and vinyl formats and there are 3 vinyl variations. The black & gray "coal" vinyl would seem to be the standard issue. A green and red marbled vinyl version is the New West exclusive. A red and white split vinyl version will be available exclusively at independent retailers.
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