We also got the track line-up for "ONE Christmas, Chapter 1". It's an EP, really, with 6 tracks produced by Darrell Brown and Rimes, herself.
- 1. Silent Night Holy Night
- 2. I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas
- 3. Blue Christmas
- 4. Someday at Christmas
- 5. Hard Candy Christmas
- 6. White Christmas
As for cover art, I'm obviously not the only one rooting for the bikini beach scene.
Of course, you don't have to wait for "ONE Christmas" to listen to LeAnn sing about the holidays. She's been a frequent flyer on Country Christmas collections for years, including her signature Christmas song "Put A Little Holiday In Your Heart", and she released a full album of Christmas tunes a decade ago "What A Wonderful World".
I had honestly thought Rucker had already done a Christmas album, but I'm guessing now it's just that he's sung so many different Christmas songs on Country Christmas specials that it just seemed like he'd already done the deed. Rucker did release a holiday single back in 2009, "Candy Cane Christmas", and, around the same time, his version of "Winter Wonderland" made the NOW series. As the lead singer for Hootie & The Blowfish, Rucker also contributed "The Christmas Song" to the Very Special Christmas series. And collectors who live for rarities might also be aware that the Blowfish did a song called "Christmas This Year" for a Georgia local artist set in 1993.
Universal is promising at least half-dozen vinyl Christmas titles from their vintage vaults. But perhaps the most intriguing and exciting vinyl offering is the first two volumes of the indispensable "Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails" series. The due date for Volumes 1 and 2 is September 30.
There's also a set coming, "An Americana Christmas", that collects up tracks from Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Emmy Lou Harris, and more artists of the roots variety. "An Americana Christmas" also features all new recordings from Rodney Crowell, Buddy and Julie Miller, and Luther Dickinson. And this one, at least, is on collectors grade 180g vinyl. Track sequence hasn't been finalized, but at least we know what those tracks are. "An Americana Christmas" arrives October 14.
1. Christmas Makes Me Sad (Rodney Crowell)
2. Little Town of Bethlehem (Buddy & Julie Miller)
3. Hark the Angels Sing (Luther Dickinson)
4. Here It Is Christmas Time (Old '97s)
5. Les Trois Clohes (Ben Keith with Neil and Pegi Young)
6. Away In the Manger (Bright Eyes)
7. The Gifts He Gave (Johnny Cash)
8. Run Run Rudolph (Dwight Yoakam)
9. The First Noel (Emmylou Harris)
10. Christmas Must Be Tonight (The Band)
11. Everything Is Cool (John Prine)
12. It Must Be Santa (Bob Dylan)
Finally, today...if you haven't checked out our List recently, you might have missed the news that Jennifer Nettles is expected to drop a Christmas album this year. Nettles is the prettier half of Sugarland who released a great Christmas record, "Gold and Green", back in 2009. Its one of my favorites of recent vintage. Well Jennifer is certainly a star in her own right and has recorded lots of music in genres other that Country. There's not a single piece of information on the Nettles Christmas album out there at the moment, so you'll just have to take my word for it. But it's a-comin'.
And, oh yeah, Jennifer will also have a duet on the forthcoming Michael W. Smith Christmas set. Not saying the song in the video below is the one that will be on Smith's record. But its a pretty little thing, isn't it?