What would the season be without new holiday music? A myriad of new releases, as well as highly-anticipated and expanded reissues are available this year.
Artist: Blackmore's Night
Title: Winter Carols (earMUSIC)
You might like if you enjoy: Blackmore's Night, Renaissance music
Tell me more: Originally released in 2006, the newly-remastered and expanded edition of the Blackmore's Night classic Winter Carols is available as a 2CD and digital album. Previous favorites such as the luxurious "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," spectacular "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"/"O Come All Ye Faithful" medley, Baroque-flavored "I Saw Three Ships" and instrumental classical guitar gem "Winter Base Dance)" are here. "Coventry Carol," an English carol dating back to the 16th century, is reworked here with additional lyrics by amazing lead vocalist Candice Night and new arrangement by guitar master Ritchie Blackmore. There are also several other tracks new to the collection, including the shimmering "Here We Come A-Caroling," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "Silent Night." The 2CD version includes a wonderful 20-page booklet with photographs, lyrics for all the selections and album credits. Information: blackmoresnight.com.
Artist: Eagles of Death Metal
Title: Eagles of Death Metal Presents A Boots Electric Christmas (UMe)
You might like if you enjoy: Eagles of Death Metal, holiday music
Tell me more: Leave it to the Palm Desert-spawned Eagles of Death Metal to release one of the most delightful and old-fashioned Christmas music collections of 2021. The six songs on Eagles of Death Metal Presents A Boots Electric Christmas (available on Nov. 19) recall the cheer of the best holiday music-minded sets of the 1960s. There is a warmth, intimacy and authenticity to the group's affecting versions of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Put A Little Love In Your Heart," "O Holy Night," "Little Drummer Boy" and "Little Town Of Bethlehem." The disc's closer is a shining a cappella rendition of "O Holy Night" featuring the tandem vocals of Jesse Hughes and Joshua Homme. Information: EaglesOfDeathMetal.com.
Artist: Goo Goo Dolls
Title: It's Christmas All Over (Warner Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Goo Goo Dolls, Fastball
Tell me more: Celebrated rockers Goo Goo Dolls have released a deluxe edition of It's Christmas All Over, which follows on the heels of the group's latest compilation album titled Rarities. The 12-song "It's Christmas All Over" reintroduces the first-ever holiday music release from John Rzenik and Robby Takac. The collection includes a brand new sentimental original "One Last Song About Christmas" and previously-unreleased cover of "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," the latter a classic made famous by Dean Martin. My other faves on the album include the group's version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "This Is Christmas." Information: GooGooDolls.com.
Artist: Billy Idol
Title: Happy Holidays (Dark Horse Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Billy Idol, Steve Stevens
Tell me more: Billy Idol's 2006 Christmas studio album Happy Holidays is out now for the first time on vinyl and streaming platforms via Dark Horse Records. This gem features a mix of cool originals ("Happy Holidays," "Christmas Love") and reworked covers ("Frosty the Snowman," "Silver Bells," "Let It Snow," "Blue Christmas"). A new original bonus track also appears on the album; the mid tempo rocker "On Christmas Day" features long-time Idol collaborator Steve Stevens on electric guitar. My favorite on the collection is Idol's rocking cover of Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run." Fans can purchase the LP on black vinyl, audio CD and on limited edition white vinyl. Information: BillyIdol.net.
Artist: Paul Kelly
Title: Paul Kelly's Christmas Train (Gawd Aggie/Cooking Vinyl Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Paul Kelly, Bob Dylan
Tell me more: There is a parade of diverse material on Paul Kelly's first-ever Christmas album (Paul Kelly's Christmas Train). Among the terrific selections on the expansive 22-track double album set is the lovely Americana-styled version of "Silent Night" draped with Hawaiian guitars and ukuleles, a cappella traditional joy "Coventry Carol," rollicking power pop-styled take on the Chris and Wes Harrington cut "Christmas," bewitching "Little Drummer Boy," shining reading of the early 1960s classic "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" and absolutely stunning version of "O Holy Night" ("Papu Te Pō") sung in English and Māori featuring singer Marlon Williams and the Dhungala Children's Choir. In keeping with the spirit of the season, Kelly even includes a Hanukkah song ("Shalom Aleichem") while Islam is honored when Waleed Aly recites the vivid poetry of Surah Maryam on the collection. Information: CookingVinyl.com.
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| Photo credit: Gina Binkley |
Title: Hell of a Holiday (UMe)
You might like if you enjoy: Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert, Angaleena Presley
Tell me more: Celebrated country music trio Pistol Annies has ushered in Christmas with the aptly-titled Hell of a Holiday, a spirited collection of mostly-original tracks that are are as ambitious as they are wonderful. There are some lovely originals to be sure — the '50s-mining "Make You Blue" and poignant "The Only Thing I Wanted" immediately come to mind — there is a plucky attitude across much of the disc. The lively title track features some artful and sublime vocal harmonies. The playful "Snow Globe" is literate and melodic, totally capturing the spirit of the holiday season. "Harlan County Coal" is a bit more irreverent than your average Christmas track, as evidenced by the catchy chorus: "Making decorations out of shotgun shells, making it up as we go / Making something out of nothing so you better straighten up, Or all you're gonna get's a chunk of Harlan County coal." Other standouts on the wonderful album include the jazzy "Come On Christmas Time," gospel jewel "Leanin' on Jesus," soaring "Believing" and acoustic Americana jewel "Joy." In addition to the 10 original tracks on "Hell of a Holiday," Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley make "Sleigh Ride," "Auld Lang Syne" and Merle Haggard's "If We Make It Through December" their own. Information: PistolAnnies.com.
Artist: Jeremiah Lockwood
Title: A Great Miracle: Jeremiah Lockwood’s Guitar Soli Chanukah Record (Reboot)
You might like if you enjoy: Hanukkah music, "The New Possibility: John Fahey's Guitar Soli Christmas Album," instrumental guitar music, Richard LaForge's "Coloring Trees" album
Tell me more: With the first night of Hanukkah having arrived on Sunday, Nov. 28, there is no time like the present to listen to Jeremiah Lockwood's A Great Miracle: Jeremiah Lockwood’s Guitar Soli Chanukah Record. Released on Nov. 22, A Great Miracle: Jeremiah Lockwood’s Guitar Soli Chanukah Record is a beautiful solo guitar celebration of the Festival of Lights. Inspired in part by the groundbreaking 1968 album The New Possibility: John Fahey's Guitar Soli Christmas Album, Lockwood's new 8-track album delivers a stunning selection for each night of the Chanukah holiday. Spanning from the lovely "Ritual" and more forceful "Al Hanisim" to several pieces centered on the magic of the Dreydl (the bluesy take on Samuel Goldfarb's "Little Dreydel" and original arrangement of Moishe Oysher's "Drey Dreydl") and touching closer "Chanukah Oy Chanukah," this is a wonderful album that will brighten any music lover's holiday season. Information: JeremiahLockwood.com.
Artist: Ronnie Milsap
Title: Christmas with Ronnie Milsap (Craft Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Ronnie Milsap
Tell me more: Ronnie Milsap's 1986 album Christmas with Ronnie Milsap has returned via a terrific new reissue. Listening to the legendary country music artist's only holiday title it's crazy that it was ever out of print. The performances are terrific and the symphonic approach works as Milsap delivers touching versions of favorites such as the uptempo "Only One Night of the Year," sweeping "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and soaring "O Holy Night." Information: CraftRecordings.com.
Artist: Carrie Underwood
Title: My Gift: Special Edition (Capitol Nashville)
You might like if you enjoy: Carrie Underwood
Tell me more: Originally released in 2020, Carrie Underwood's My Gift has been released as a Special Edition set that includes all 11 tracks from the original version along with three new tracks ("Favorite Time Of Year," "All Is Well," "Let There Be Peace/Something In The Water") performed on her recent HBO Max television special. Information: CarrieUnderwood.com.
HOLIDAY SOUNDTRACK CLASSIC
Title: Elf: The Deluxe Edition (Varèse Sarabande Records)
Composer: John Debney's scores for "Iron Man 2" and "The Jungle Book"
You might like if you enjoy: Christmas music
Tell me more: When the holiday movie "Elf" was released in 2003, the film starring Will Farrell became an instant classic. Although the soundtrack was initially released in connection around the time of the movie's arrival in theaters, its enduring popularity made releasing an expanded edition a wonderful idea. Elf: The Deluxe Edition features an expanded score (44 tracks in all!), as well as the alternate and edited tracks from the 2003 audio CD. Liner notes by Tim Grieving feature new interview content with director Jon Favreau, composer John Debney and one of the film's stars, Mary Steenburgen. Information: VareseSarabande.com.
Robert Kinsler
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