The Christmas music season has its own calendar. Some might not be ready to hear their first song of the season, but the major Christmas album announcements are pretty much behind us already. There will still be a few album announcements in all likelihood, but, with the debut today of the holiday single from Train and the video for Mariah's "Oh Santa", Christmas singles season is officially underway. Christmas singles come in two formats these days--vinyl and digital; the CD single is essentially as dead as the cassette single. Ain't happenin'.
Since I've neglected to put up a singles page on the site (so far), let's cover a few of the noteworthy singles (so far) of the 2010 holiday season. Beginning with Mariah Carey's "Oh Santa". The digital single for "Oh Santa" dropped almost a month ago and it currently stands at #1 on the Billboard Holiday Charts. The first time I heard it, I kind of hated it. It reminded me, in a bad way, of Toni Basil's "Mickey" ("thanks a lot, Stubby, I won't be able to get that one out of my head for a week, now"). But it has consistently grown on me and that bodes well for the long-term survival of Mariah's latest. It's definitely snappy and, as Tom Hanks says in That Thing You Do, "I like snappy!"
Then there's Train's "Shake Up Christmas". To hear Train vocalist Pat Monihan tell it, writing a Christmas song specifically for use in the new seasonal Coca Cola ad campaign wasn't about commerce. Perish the thought. It was all about spreading love and joy. He's spreading something alright. Not for nothin', Pat, I'd have an easier time believing you if you were turning the proceeds over to charity. But since you're taking the money, I'm going to have to assume that it is about the money. It doesn't help your case, either, that the download for "Shake Up Christmas" is listed at $1.29 rather than the (still) standard 99 cents. The song, itself, sounds suspiciously like a Coca Cola jingle but otherwise nice enough...now. How many commercial viewings do you think that'll last? So a big Bah Humbug to Train.
Since I've neglected to put up a singles page on the site (so far), let's cover a few of the noteworthy singles (so far) of the 2010 holiday season. Beginning with Mariah Carey's "Oh Santa". The digital single for "Oh Santa" dropped almost a month ago and it currently stands at #1 on the Billboard Holiday Charts. The first time I heard it, I kind of hated it. It reminded me, in a bad way, of Toni Basil's "Mickey" ("thanks a lot, Stubby, I won't be able to get that one out of my head for a week, now"). But it has consistently grown on me and that bodes well for the long-term survival of Mariah's latest. It's definitely snappy and, as Tom Hanks says in That Thing You Do, "I like snappy!"
Then there's Train's "Shake Up Christmas". To hear Train vocalist Pat Monihan tell it, writing a Christmas song specifically for use in the new seasonal Coca Cola ad campaign wasn't about commerce. Perish the thought. It was all about spreading love and joy. He's spreading something alright. Not for nothin', Pat, I'd have an easier time believing you if you were turning the proceeds over to charity. But since you're taking the money, I'm going to have to assume that it is about the money. It doesn't help your case, either, that the download for "Shake Up Christmas" is listed at $1.29 rather than the (still) standard 99 cents. The song, itself, sounds suspiciously like a Coca Cola jingle but otherwise nice enough...now. How many commercial viewings do you think that'll last? So a big Bah Humbug to Train.
American treasure George Hamilton IV, God bless him, first hit the charts in 1956 with "A Rose And A Baby Ruth". Hamilton was a regular on the Country charts from 1960 to 1978, scoring his biggest hit in 1963 with "Abilene". The North Carolina native put out a Christmas single back in August. "I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas" is good enough to remind anyone who hears it what a star Hamilton was. The song has the easy listening Country sound of those halcyon days of the early 60s--most notably associated with Eddy Arnold. And Hamilton's voice on this one is still as strong and clear as it was all those years ago. The single actually comes from a 2004 album, "Songs of Faith And Inspiration" which also includes the song "Christmas In Heaven".
A past hit maker of more recent vintage released her Christmas single a little over a week ago. Donna Lewis charmed the world with her Pop sensation "I Love You Always Forever" back in 1996. She's recorded and performed steadily ever since, even if a bit more removed from the spotlight. Her new Christmas single is a collaboration with Jazz guitar player Artie Tatum--a bossa nova version of "God Rest Ye". It's not up to the level of Donna's own "Christmas Lights" from the 1995 CD, "You Sleigh Me", in my opinion, but its alright.
A past hit maker of more recent vintage released her Christmas single a little over a week ago. Donna Lewis charmed the world with her Pop sensation "I Love You Always Forever" back in 1996. She's recorded and performed steadily ever since, even if a bit more removed from the spotlight. Her new Christmas single is a collaboration with Jazz guitar player Artie Tatum--a bossa nova version of "God Rest Ye". It's not up to the level of Donna's own "Christmas Lights" from the 1995 CD, "You Sleigh Me", in my opinion, but its alright.
Bluegrass fans should enjoy the digital single from Cedar Hill, "Merry Christmas You All". Cedar Hill is no fly-by-night outfit. They've been patrolling the stages of the Ozarks for about 40 years now. Formed and led by mandolin player Frank Ray, a member of the National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Music Hall Of Fame, the band's recent album "Poverty Row" was a big hit in bluegrass circles. They have high hopes as well for their next album, "I've Got A Thing About Doors".
There's been a general dearth of Country Christmas albums this year (among "name" artists, only Lady Antebellum and Mandy Barnett have made the scene so far), but there are and will be plenty of digital singles to represent the genre. Case in point, young Rachel Holder. The Tennessee darlin' is still in her teens, but she's grabbing for the brass ring. Of course that happens all the time in Country music, but Rachel's got the voice and the looks to go far, in my opinion. She reminds me of a young Tanya Tucker, vocally, and that's fairly high praise from me. And her Christmas song, "Christmas Eve"? It swings, it rocks, it Honky Tonks, it's a great Country Christmas record. Stop by Rachel's MySpace page and give that song a spin. If you like Country, I think you'll like "Christmas Eve".
John Solly may like to make his sound seem revolutionary, by saying it's a cross between Steely Dan and The Beach Boys, but its really just 70s Adult Contemporary. Truth be told, though, there's nothing at all wrong with that and THIS happens to be very GOOD Adult Contemporary. Solly's Christmas song, "Hickory Run", was a new add at Amazon on November 1 and in my Amazon purchase cart by November 2. This track is smooth and easy, with a groove reminiscent of The Rascals' "Groovin", and would be right at home in a rotation with those old Robbie Dupree, America, and England Dan and John Ford Coley records. I'd play it at my station.
Elsewhere on the site, we filled you in on Nadia Ackerman's digital single--another good one. And, among those already announced, we're looking forward to Hayes Carll's studio version of "Grateful For Christmas" (due November 9) and the pop-wonderful sounding "Carry Me Home (It's Christmas)" from the Yellow Snowflakes, with it's sunshiny Huey Lewis & The News sound (though we'll have to wait until after Thanksgiving for that one). Hard rockers, Cavo, have also promised a Christmas single for this year. And this year's "British Invasion" (Christmas singles in the UK tend to fly out in December) hasn't even begun.
Clearly, we'll have to revisit this topic. But, next up, we'll take a gander at some of the vinyl singles that artists have announced this year.
Elsewhere on the site, we filled you in on Nadia Ackerman's digital single--another good one. And, among those already announced, we're looking forward to Hayes Carll's studio version of "Grateful For Christmas" (due November 9) and the pop-wonderful sounding "Carry Me Home (It's Christmas)" from the Yellow Snowflakes, with it's sunshiny Huey Lewis & The News sound (though we'll have to wait until after Thanksgiving for that one). Hard rockers, Cavo, have also promised a Christmas single for this year. And this year's "British Invasion" (Christmas singles in the UK tend to fly out in December) hasn't even begun.
Clearly, we'll have to revisit this topic. But, next up, we'll take a gander at some of the vinyl singles that artists have announced this year.
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