Okay, right off the top, best Christmas album cover art of the year. I'm calling it.
I never found the time to do a "Top Releases" post for 2013. But that was the year Nick Lowe released "Quality Street"--his contribution to the music of the season. And I can't imagine it not being on top or darn close to it.
Last year, Nick (some snow on the roof but a warming fire in his heart) toured through the holiday season joined, for much of it, by Los Straitjackets. And who doesn't love Los Straitjackets? It was the "Quality Holiday Revue" and, obviously, someone kept the tape running, because now we're getting an album. The album isn't all Christmas music, but neither was the live show. it (the album) is, however, a live album and some folks hate live albums (awkward segues and weird energy shift on a mix, some say). I'd have loved to have seen "Cruel To Be Kind" live. Not on the album, alas, but "Raging Eyes" is on there and that's another favorite of mine. On the "Quality Holiday Revue" album, Nick sings "A Dollar Short of Happy" and "I Was Born In Bethlehem" solo, while Los Straitjackets get their turn on "Linus & Lucy".
At the moment, Amazon is only listing the digital version, but you just know Yep Roc will have a physical release at some point. And I'm guessing that "33 rpm" on the cover is at least hinting at some vinyl.
I never found the time to do a "Top Releases" post for 2013. But that was the year Nick Lowe released "Quality Street"--his contribution to the music of the season. And I can't imagine it not being on top or darn close to it.
Last year, Nick (some snow on the roof but a warming fire in his heart) toured through the holiday season joined, for much of it, by Los Straitjackets. And who doesn't love Los Straitjackets? It was the "Quality Holiday Revue" and, obviously, someone kept the tape running, because now we're getting an album. The album isn't all Christmas music, but neither was the live show. it (the album) is, however, a live album and some folks hate live albums (awkward segues and weird energy shift on a mix, some say). I'd have loved to have seen "Cruel To Be Kind" live. Not on the album, alas, but "Raging Eyes" is on there and that's another favorite of mine. On the "Quality Holiday Revue" album, Nick sings "A Dollar Short of Happy" and "I Was Born In Bethlehem" solo, while Los Straitjackets get their turn on "Linus & Lucy".
At the moment, Amazon is only listing the digital version, but you just know Yep Roc will have a physical release at some point. And I'm guessing that "33 rpm" on the cover is at least hinting at some vinyl.
1. A Dollar Short of Happy
2. Raging Eyes
3. Christmas At The Airport
4. Not Too Long Ago
5. Linus & Lucy
6. Breaking Glass
7. Sensitive Man
8. Somebody Cares For Me
9. The Northpole Express
10. Half A Boy And Half A Man
11. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
12. Children, Go Where I Send Thee
13. I Was Born In Bethlehem
Ah, what the hell, it's a Tuesday in August.
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