This might be a weird long-form piece because, for some reason, we're just getting little bits of information at a time. Gonna start with these folks because I love their sound.
That's a Florida based a cappella vocal group Voctave and that was a single they released in December of last year. They are currently in the studio recording a Christmas album. Now, me, I'm someone who comes to Christmas music as a rebellion against the traditional "Lite" Christmas music that pervaded the airwaves in December when I was growing up. That includes both the instrumentals and the choral groups. I have softened some. I do like a little classic and familiar in the mix. Can't say I've done a full 180. But Voctave just posted a very little sneak peek of their Christmas recording on Facebook and I think I'm in love. I can't explain, really, but you need to check out that sneak peek because it is very traditional but very fresh. They got me. Maybe they'll get you, too. No word on an album title or release date. But DAMN! I need this album.
Speaking of traditional vocal Christmas albums, another slice of re-issued holiday vinyl is coming, though this one is listed as an import. That's sort of a back to the beginning story as "Christmas" by the Singers Unlimited was first released on vinyl back in 1972. It took until 1990 to be issued on CD. Then there was a CD re-issue in the early aughts. But the original vinyl has been commanding some outrageous prices (check the eBay auctions before you consider paying what the Amazon private vendors are asking). Amazon expects to have the new vinyl import on November 11.
Country star Chris Young's Christmas album is "It Must Be Christmas". Do we have cover art? No. But we've got a title, a release date (October 14) and a list of the songs on the record (not necessarily in order). Notable guest stars include Boyz 2 Men, Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley. We work with what we have.
Silent Night (featuring Boyz 2 Men)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Holly Jolly Christmas
There's A New Kid In Town (featuring Alan Jackson)
The First Noel (featuring Brad Paisley)
I'll Be Home For Christmas
The Christmas Song
Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
Under The Weather
It Must Be Christmas
This has the potential to be something really special. It's been said that Cara Dillon may possess the world's most perfect female voice. Hard to argue with that if you've heard the Irish Folk singer. As time has gone by, the Irish influence is more and more present in her music. She is currently recording a Christmas album with John Smith who, in spite of the anonymous sounding name, is, himself, one of the brightest Folk singer/songwriters that the UK has to offer. I wish we had more information. We've got bupkis. We just know that the two are recording a Christmas album. And that's good enough for me. Anyway, I'll take any excuse to listen to Cara. "Bright Morning Star" is featured on her 2014 album "A Thousand Hearts".
David Arkenstone has long been a favorite among fans of instrumental music, partly because he's mastered so many instruments. He's worked his way through New Age, Smooth Jazz, and Celtic Folk (to name a few) and also writes and records music for soundtracks. Vocalist Charlee Brooks arrived on the musical landscape in 2008, but may be best known for her collaborations with Arkenstone, beginning with the 2013 Neo-Classical album "Loveren". The two fit together perfectly, regardless of which genre or genres they're exploring together. "Winter Fantasy" has more than a few musical flavors. Overall, the album (to my ears) leaned towards Celtic Folk, but its New Age Neo-Classical Celtic Folk. The opening track, "The First Noel", is a perfect intro into the melding of all the different colors on the palette of these artists. And I gave the record my "O Holy Night" test and it passed with flying colors, raising the hair on the back of my neck to tell me it's a splendid and beautiful rendition. "Winter Fantasy" is a Green Hill release and, I'll be honest, some of their Smooth Jazz offerings give me too much smooth and too little Jazz. But they've scored with this release, which should grab you immediately and take you on a wondrous journey through the moods and beauty of the season. Check the samples over at Green Hill.
1. The First Noel
2. What Child Is This
3. Deck The Halls/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4. Winter Fantasy
5. The Bells Of Christmas
6. Novel Nouvelet
7. Gaudete
8. The Darkest Midnight In December
9. New Snow
10. O Holy Night
11. A Wassail, A Wassail Throughout This Town
12. Veni Veni Emmanuel
13. Carol Of The Bells
2. What Child Is This
3. Deck The Halls/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4. Winter Fantasy
5. The Bells Of Christmas
6. Novel Nouvelet
7. Gaudete
8. The Darkest Midnight In December
9. New Snow
10. O Holy Night
11. A Wassail, A Wassail Throughout This Town
12. Veni Veni Emmanuel
13. Carol Of The Bells
We've gotten cover art a few tidbits of information on the coming Amy Grant Christmas album. The record will be called "Tennessee Christmas" and will feature a re-recording of that signature song. The record will also include Amy and husband Vince Gill singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside". There will be 13 tracks in all, supposedly. And I add that "supposedly" because there will be a Target exclusive version with extra tracks and, on previous occasions, the announced number of tracks included in the PR releases turned out to be the number of tracks on the Target version and not the standard version. I'm sure we'll know soon enough. We'll get some freshly written material as well as some seasonal favorites. And there will also be a vinyl edition at some point, as well, which will make this retro cover art look pretty cool. Since we're getting a new version (and since I like to have music going on), let's check out the original.
A few details on the coming Christmas album from Jennifer Nettles. The title is "To Celebrate Christmas" and it comes your way on October 28. That's all I know, I swear.
Also on October 28, we'll get the Christmas album from Jordan Smith, the Season 9 winner of NBC's The Voice. His record is "Tis The Season". By my count, that's the third "Tis The Season" we've learned of this year. I wonder what the record is for most Christmas albums with the same title in one year (leaving aside the ubiquitous "Christmas" of course).
Also on October 28, we'll get the Christmas album from Jordan Smith, the Season 9 winner of NBC's The Voice. His record is "Tis The Season". By my count, that's the third "Tis The Season" we've learned of this year. I wonder what the record is for most Christmas albums with the same title in one year (leaving aside the ubiquitous "Christmas" of course).
Did someone say the Oak Ridge Boys haven't put out a new Christmas album in, oh, about 5 minutes? Yep, they're back again. I've lost count, but this has to be their sixth or seventh (or twentieth) newly recorded Christmas album. Still, as Gospel quartets go, they don't come any better than these dudes. "Celebrate Christmas" drops October 21. (Hmm. Is that close enough to the Jennifer Nettles title that I should call it a match? You know, for our "most Christmas records with the same title in one year" thing.)
Two of the titles look like they might have been on the group's 2012 Cracker Barrel exclusive. Those would be "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Joy To The World". They might have recorded them anew. Or perhaps not. I think we can let it slide, though. Just this once.
Two of the titles look like they might have been on the group's 2012 Cracker Barrel exclusive. Those would be "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Joy To The World". They might have recorded them anew. Or perhaps not. I think we can let it slide, though. Just this once.
 | 01. Joy To The World 02. That's Christmas To Me 03. I'll Be Home For Christmas 04. Santa Claus Is Real 05. O Come All Ye Faithful 06. Rest In You Tonight 07. Away In A Manger 08. There's Nothing Between Us But Love Anymore 09. Jingle Bells 10. Blue Christmas 11. Come To The Manger 12. The Hallelujah Chorus |
I hate when labels and artists do this. I really do. For the obsessive Christmas music collector (or blogger), it's confusing at best.
And here's what I'm talking about. Tony Hadley (former lead singer of Spandau Ballet) released a Christmas album last year. And right up top, let me say that "The Christmas Album" was really quite excellent. It often happens that artists releasing Christmas records well after their charting days are not as strong, vocally, or turn in an uninspired effort. Nope. Tony did well and made a Christmas album he could be proud of. So now all off-season, I'm reading about how Tony is in the studio recording a Christmas album. And I'm basically ignoring it, because, well, he just did one. Tony's recorded about 1 album a decade since going solo and now he's going to do back-to-back Christmas albums? It didn't make sense. And, sometimes, you get 2015 stories with 2016 dates on them, so I ignored those stories. Finally, we're deep into the year and Tony is STILL talking about this new Christmas album. So, finally, I relent. OK, I post, Tony Hadley is doing another Christmas album. Stranger things have happened.
So today I find out that the new Tony Hadley Christmas album is the same Tony Hadley Christmas album with a few additional tracks. I think what we have here is a failure to communicate. And it isn't just Tony, it's everybody. If you put out the same record you did last year or the year before, but you add a couple of new tracks, that is NOT a new album. It's an expanded edition of the old album. Jeez, that really bugs me.
Now, in fairness, the album was only available as an import (or digitally) last year, as they couldn't find an American distributor. Omnivore Recordings has stepped into that breach, so there will be a domestic release this year. Guess that's new. As for new tracks, there are three (and one of the old tracks was jettisoned). First, a duet version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" featuring Kim Wilde, replaces the original solo version. Second, "Jingle Bells" (in a duet featuring Max Giusti) is added. And, finally, we get a song that I'm guessing is a new original, "Silent Christmas".
If you didn't get "The Christmas Album" by Tony Hadley last year, it is a good one--now a duet and track better than before. The rest of us, I dunno, I guess we buy the new tracks digitally? But it's not a new album. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Release is scheduled for October 21 and you can pre-order from Omnivore.
And here's what I'm talking about. Tony Hadley (former lead singer of Spandau Ballet) released a Christmas album last year. And right up top, let me say that "The Christmas Album" was really quite excellent. It often happens that artists releasing Christmas records well after their charting days are not as strong, vocally, or turn in an uninspired effort. Nope. Tony did well and made a Christmas album he could be proud of. So now all off-season, I'm reading about how Tony is in the studio recording a Christmas album. And I'm basically ignoring it, because, well, he just did one. Tony's recorded about 1 album a decade since going solo and now he's going to do back-to-back Christmas albums? It didn't make sense. And, sometimes, you get 2015 stories with 2016 dates on them, so I ignored those stories. Finally, we're deep into the year and Tony is STILL talking about this new Christmas album. So, finally, I relent. OK, I post, Tony Hadley is doing another Christmas album. Stranger things have happened.
So today I find out that the new Tony Hadley Christmas album is the same Tony Hadley Christmas album with a few additional tracks. I think what we have here is a failure to communicate. And it isn't just Tony, it's everybody. If you put out the same record you did last year or the year before, but you add a couple of new tracks, that is NOT a new album. It's an expanded edition of the old album. Jeez, that really bugs me.
Now, in fairness, the album was only available as an import (or digitally) last year, as they couldn't find an American distributor. Omnivore Recordings has stepped into that breach, so there will be a domestic release this year. Guess that's new. As for new tracks, there are three (and one of the old tracks was jettisoned). First, a duet version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" featuring Kim Wilde, replaces the original solo version. Second, "Jingle Bells" (in a duet featuring Max Giusti) is added. And, finally, we get a song that I'm guessing is a new original, "Silent Christmas".
If you didn't get "The Christmas Album" by Tony Hadley last year, it is a good one--now a duet and track better than before. The rest of us, I dunno, I guess we buy the new tracks digitally? But it's not a new album. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Release is scheduled for October 21 and you can pre-order from Omnivore.
| 1. Shake Up Christmas 2. I Believe In Father Christmas 3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Duet with Kim Wilde) 4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 5. Jingle Bells (Duet with Max Giusti) 6. I Don’t Want To Spend One More Christmas Without You 7. Fairytale Of New York (Duet with Nina Zilli) 8. Somewhere Only We Know 9. Lonely This Christmas 10. Every Second I’m Away 11. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 12. White Christmas 13. Silent Christmas 14. Driving Home For Christmas 15. Stay Another Day 16. Snowing All Over The World 17. Run Run Rudolph 18. Ave Maria | ...  |
Herb Alpert is in the studio recording a new Christmas album. You know how I know it's a new Christmas album? Because he didn't release one last year (Tony). But cool your jets. The new Alpert Christmas album (which is slated to feature Richard Capenter singing "Merry Christmas Darling") isn't scheduled for release until 2017.
Speaking of "in the studio", Avril Lavigne is (yes...as we speak), and it's expected she will release something new before the end of the year. Nobody knows what and we've been teased to death for years, but..... it could be a Christmas record. Probably isn't. But could be. But probably isn't. Reportedly she had a few sessions with Travis Clark of We The Kings. Just sayin'.
Soulful Kenny Lattimore has a new Christmas album coming. "A Kenny Lattimore Christmas" drops October 21 and will likely have a bit of a Gospel flavor.
Have I neglected to mention Lauren Daigle? I can't remember. Well, she's been on the List, so there's that. Lauren's a young CCM artist with a gorgeous voice. She contributed a couple of tracks to Chris Tomlin's "Adore" last year. Lauren says her Christmas album, "Behold", will have a bit of a classic Jazz feel. Her music up to now has been more Pop oriented (or "radio friendly", as the record labels like to say). "Behold" arrives on October 21. While we wait for sound from the new record, let's listen to Lauren singing "Noel" with Chris Tomlin to close us out today. And, hey, it looks like you can get an autographed copy of "Adore" for cheap ($4.95) right now from Amazon.
 | 01. Jingle Bells 02. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 03. What Child Is This 04. O Come All Ye Faithful 05. Christmas Time is Here 06. Little Drummer Boy 07. White Christmas 08. O Holy Night 09. Light of the World (Behold Version) 10. Silent Night 11. What Child is This (Reprise) |
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