First, a quick note, in case you saw The Monkees piece on the Previews page before it was updated. There is going to be a Target Exclusive version of "Christmas Party" (street date 10/19) which will include two bonus tracks--"Riu Chiu" and "Christmas Is My Time of Year". The former of those, of course, is from The Monkees TV show and is the only full Christmas song recorded by The Monkees during their chart-topping days. Hardcore fans of the group had long said that no Christmas album by The Monkees could be considered complete without it. The latter is the single that the group (minus Mike Nesmith) released in 1976 (a remixed version released in 1986). Not sure which version of "Christmas Is My Time of Year" will be released (or if, perhaps, they've remixed it again). But I fully anticipate that the a capella "Riu Chiu" will be the original. Anyway...link included in the updated post. Now...
If you haven't already heard it, here's our first taste of William Shatner's "Shatner Claus". Here's "Jingle Bells" (featuring Henry Rollins).
If you haven't already heard it, here's our first taste of William Shatner's "Shatner Claus". Here's "Jingle Bells" (featuring Henry Rollins).
This, of course, is the regular "Jingle Bells", not the Punk Rock single version. Didn't know what to expect from this album and....still don't, really. But that was fun. And kinda the approach I was hoping for. I didn't at all care for the recent Country album. That was more like a Jeff Cook album with a drunk heckler miked up in the audience. Sorry, just honestly saying what I thought about it. Hey, what does he care; he could already buy and sell me a million times over and he's gonna sell a ton. But, if the rest of "Shatner Claus" is like this, yeah, I could like that.
I feel for the Old 97's...coming in after both The Monkees and William Shatner in this post. But, hey, the Shat had available audio. What was I supposed to do?
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1. Love The Holidays
2. I Believe in Santa Claus 3. Gotta Love Being A Kid (Merry Christmas) 4. Snow Angels 5. Christmas Is Coming 6. Wintertime In The City 7. Rudolph Was Blue 8. Here It Is Christmastime 9. Hobo Christmas Song 10. Auld Lang Syne Bonus tracks: 11. Angels We Have Heard On High 12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 13. Up On The Housetop 14. Blue Christmas |
Formed in 1993, the Texas Alt Country Old 97's have never done a Christmas album before, though they've released a track, here and there, now and again. And, according to frontman Rhett Miller, the rest of the band was reluctant to do so now. But Miller felt the band needed a "palate cleanser" before they embarked on their next non-holiday album, and he eventually sold the band on the idea by writing "I Believe In Santa Claus" on the fly in the dressing room.
"Love The Holidays" includes 9 original songs and "Auld Lang Syne". The title track was co-written with Kevin Russell (The Gourds, Shinyribs), “Gotta Love Being A Kid (Merry Christmas)” and “Snow Angels" were both co-written with Ben Greenman, and the guy with the nose that glows gets another tale in “Rudolph Was Blue," co-written by Old 97’s and Dan Bern. Though the album is considered complete at 10 tracks, the band also recorded some holiday favorites--4 of them--which appear on the CD and digital formats. Though the "bonus tracks" do not appear on the vinyl LPs, purchase of the LPs through ATO Records (and possibly everywhere, though I don't have confirmation of that, yet) includes a download of the full album and the bonus tracks.
There are a few different options, here. There's the CD of course. But the vinyl comes in two varieties. The standard vinyl is Red & Green Holiday Splatter. There is also a Candy Cane pinwheel color version, limited to 1500 units and, for the moment anyway, exclusively available through ATO Records. And then there's the Blue Christmas bundle, which includes your choice of CD or LP plus a 7" blue vinyl 45rpm single featuring "Blue Christmas" on the A-side and "Up On The Housetop" on the flip. The Blue Christmas bundle is limited to just 400 units. "Love The Holidays" officially drops November 16.
"Love The Holidays" includes 9 original songs and "Auld Lang Syne". The title track was co-written with Kevin Russell (The Gourds, Shinyribs), “Gotta Love Being A Kid (Merry Christmas)” and “Snow Angels" were both co-written with Ben Greenman, and the guy with the nose that glows gets another tale in “Rudolph Was Blue," co-written by Old 97’s and Dan Bern. Though the album is considered complete at 10 tracks, the band also recorded some holiday favorites--4 of them--which appear on the CD and digital formats. Though the "bonus tracks" do not appear on the vinyl LPs, purchase of the LPs through ATO Records (and possibly everywhere, though I don't have confirmation of that, yet) includes a download of the full album and the bonus tracks.
There are a few different options, here. There's the CD of course. But the vinyl comes in two varieties. The standard vinyl is Red & Green Holiday Splatter. There is also a Candy Cane pinwheel color version, limited to 1500 units and, for the moment anyway, exclusively available through ATO Records. And then there's the Blue Christmas bundle, which includes your choice of CD or LP plus a 7" blue vinyl 45rpm single featuring "Blue Christmas" on the A-side and "Up On The Housetop" on the flip. The Blue Christmas bundle is limited to just 400 units. "Love The Holidays" officially drops November 16.
This isn't my personal wheelhouse but, from what I can gather, Central Live is sort of the Worship & Praise version of Mannheim Steamroller (though with vocals). Everything they do is very big, very dramatic, very orchestral, lots of special effects, lights, smoke, the whole shootin' match. You go see a Central Live show, you're likely going to get your money's worth.
Central Live represents from Central Church in Las Vegas and their stated mission is crating a "Wow" experience to introduce people to Jesus Christ. They do have a bunch of albums under their belts, but "Thrill of Hope" is their first Christmas album. They have certainly done Christmas live shows before and "Thrill of Hope" is a very popular number at those shows. And, even though it's a bit over the top (OK, it's a lot over the top), I do like that one. I was a little less impressed with their other "O Holy Night" take off, "This Moment". Most of the album, though is pretty straight forward and very well done. Given a choice between Central Live and Clapton, I'm taking Clapton (or The Monkees, for that matter), but then again I lost my taste for Mannheim Steamroller after their first record (which was brilliant) and certainly after their second. And who says you have to choose? There's absolutely a place for "Thrill of Hope" in your holiday library, especially if you like your holiday music big (like the old orchestral Christmas albums) yet contemporary.
And the good news is that "Thrill of Hope" by Central Live is out now (release date September 21). No waiting on a pre-order necessary. Well, that's my idea of "the good news"; I'm sure Central Live would have a different definition. But be aware that quantities are limited.
Central Live represents from Central Church in Las Vegas and their stated mission is crating a "Wow" experience to introduce people to Jesus Christ. They do have a bunch of albums under their belts, but "Thrill of Hope" is their first Christmas album. They have certainly done Christmas live shows before and "Thrill of Hope" is a very popular number at those shows. And, even though it's a bit over the top (OK, it's a lot over the top), I do like that one. I was a little less impressed with their other "O Holy Night" take off, "This Moment". Most of the album, though is pretty straight forward and very well done. Given a choice between Central Live and Clapton, I'm taking Clapton (or The Monkees, for that matter), but then again I lost my taste for Mannheim Steamroller after their first record (which was brilliant) and certainly after their second. And who says you have to choose? There's absolutely a place for "Thrill of Hope" in your holiday library, especially if you like your holiday music big (like the old orchestral Christmas albums) yet contemporary.
And the good news is that "Thrill of Hope" by Central Live is out now (release date September 21). No waiting on a pre-order necessary. Well, that's my idea of "the good news"; I'm sure Central Live would have a different definition. But be aware that quantities are limited.
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1. Joy to the World
2. Go Tell It on the Mountain 3. Hark the Herald Angels Sing 4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 5. O Come All Ye Faithful 6. This Moment (O Holy Night) 7. Thrill of Hope 8. Do You Hear What I Hear 9. Angels We Have Heard on High 10. The First Noel 11. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 12. Hope for All (O Come Let Us Adore Him) 13. I Lift My Eyes (Noel) 14. Silent Night |
1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Carrie Underwood
2. There’s A New Kid In Town – Chris Young (feat. Alan Jackson)
3. Do Not Be Afraid – John Berry
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Kelsea Ballerini
5. Little Drummer Boy – Hank Williams Jr.
6. What Child Is This – Phil Vassar
7. Mary, Did You Know? – Dylan Scott
8. Do You Hear What I Hear? – Liddy Clark
9. Let’s Make A Baby King – Wynonna
10. A Soldier’s King – Kenny Rogers
11. Christmas Eve In Bethlehem – Hannah Kerr
12. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Rodney Atkins
13. What God Wants For Christmas – Darius Rucker
14. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
15. Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year – The Bellamy Brothers
16. The Christmas Story From The Book Of Luke (Luke 2:1-11) – Charlie Daniels
2. There’s A New Kid In Town – Chris Young (feat. Alan Jackson)
3. Do Not Be Afraid – John Berry
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Kelsea Ballerini
5. Little Drummer Boy – Hank Williams Jr.
6. What Child Is This – Phil Vassar
7. Mary, Did You Know? – Dylan Scott
8. Do You Hear What I Hear? – Liddy Clark
9. Let’s Make A Baby King – Wynonna
10. A Soldier’s King – Kenny Rogers
11. Christmas Eve In Bethlehem – Hannah Kerr
12. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Rodney Atkins
13. What God Wants For Christmas – Darius Rucker
14. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
15. Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year – The Bellamy Brothers
16. The Christmas Story From The Book Of Luke (Luke 2:1-11) – Charlie Daniels
I always enjoy finding out what the season's "exclusives" are gonna be. Cuz, you know, they're exclusive. And this year's exclusive from Cracker Barrel is "Country Faith Christmas, Vol. 2". The album collects up 16 songs of the season, most focused on the religious aspects of the holiday. Not exactly sure what Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" is doing on there, but alright. That is the album's oldest track. The Rodney Atkins video above represents one of the newest. But THE newest is actually Liddy Clark's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" It's new this year and it's exclusive to this exclusive release. Barely 20 years old, Liddy's a rising star in the modern Country landscape. And yet she's a veteran, having written songs and opened for artists like Scotty McCreery and Joe Nichols since her mid-teens. She built a considerable fanbase over the last 3 years or so via Radio Disney and iHeart Radio. And you know I love Radio Disney. Liddy's new EP, "Testing The Waters," was released this past July.
"Country Faith Christmas, Vol. 2" releases September 28. Not sure if it will be offered through their online store, but you look like you could use a good meal anyway (go on, eat, eat, have a cookie). So pick one up at your local Cracker Barrel the next time you're there.
"Country Faith Christmas, Vol. 2" releases September 28. Not sure if it will be offered through their online store, but you look like you could use a good meal anyway (go on, eat, eat, have a cookie). So pick one up at your local Cracker Barrel the next time you're there.
You know, back when I heard Bill Shatner was making a Christmas album, I knew better but I kinda hoped this would be on it. Hmm. Maybe Bill could do a Target exclusive version and this could be the bonus track. It's still Shat at his Christmas best.
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