Category: Country

Stubbys House of Christmas

RITA COOLIDGE - A RITA COOLIDGE CHRISTMAS (10/30/12)

10/16/2012

1. Rockin Around The Christmas Tree
2. Santa Baby
3. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
4. Winter Wonderland
5. Baby It s Cold Outside
6. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
7. Little Drummer Boy
8. Jingle Bell Rock
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Circle Of Light
11. Amazing Grace
12. Love In This Room

ARTIST WEB SITE
AMAZON

It's been too long since we heard from Rita Coolidge. She hasn't released an album since 2005's "And So Is Love". Before that, you'd have to go back to 1998's "Thinkin' About You". Back in the 70s and 80s, she was pretty much the soft rock/country pop queen...an oasis in the desert of disco. Her biggest hits were "We're All Alone" and a cover of the Jackie Wilson classic "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher". Every kid I went to college with had a copy of "Anytime...Anywhere". If you're too young to know Rita Coolidge, I would describe her in shorthand this way (and I hope I don't offend anybody with this, though I probably will offend everyone): she was Shery Crow when Sheryl Crow was still in grade school.

Rita was such a big star in the 70s that I know there must have been some song of her's we would play on the radio at Christmastime but, for the life of me, I can't think what it must've been. In 1980, Rita sang a few songs ("Lost Angels" and "Lake Freeze") in "The Christmas Raccoons" TV special, but I don't recall ever playing either of those on the radio.

Rita's 67, now, and still hot as hell. She's continued to perform and, apparently, does an annual Christmas show which she describes as very eclectic. The coming album features 12 tracks in all. I count 2 originals among them. And Rita promises the Christmas record will include a blend of all the musical styles of her career--pop, country, soul, jazz, blues and Native American. "A Rita Coolidge Christmas" will be released on October 30.

WHEN HEAVEN CAME DOWN - MICHAEL MILTON (10/23/12)

8/30/2012

1. The Gift Of Incarnation
2. When Christ Was Born
3. Carolina Christmas (with Buddy Greene)
4. Come Celebrate Christmas Morning
5. Christmastime Again
6. In The Fullness Of Time
7. Angels And Oxen
8. Wandering Star
9. Jesus Came (with Cindy Gibbs)
10. To Bethlehem
11. Oh How Tender Was The Man
12. Prelude a la Nativite
13. Heaven Came Down
14. La Nativite Ouverture
15. I Glory In The Cross

ARTIST SITE
REVERB NATION
AMAZON MP3

This is a classic case of "never judge a book by its cover" (or an album). This cover art just screams at me "run fast and far". I don't care what the current Doctor Who says, bow-ties are NOT cool--never have been, never will be. But I read that Cindy Gibbs shared vocals on "Jesus Came" and decided it was worth a look see.

Michael Milton is a bit of a renaissance man in the Christian world--singer, songwriter, author, motivational speaker, theologian, pastor, and the Chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary--and "When Heaven Came Down" is his first ever Christmas/Advent album. At the moment, this is showing as a digital-only release but, should hard copies be available later, you'd likely find them first at Music for Missions.

Milton has a voice and style that lies in the general neighborhood of Dan Fogelberg and James Taylor (a pretty nice neighborhood)--a soft pop folk with country and bluegrass tinges. His singing and songwriting have the kind of earnest simplicity of a Jim Weatherly. And all 15 tracks are originals. In short, I was kind of impressed.

While there is, needless to say, plenty of music focused on the deep religious aspects of the holiday, there are a few tracks that are more accessible to those of us who want our Christmas with just a modest amount of sermon. "Christmastime Again" is a beautiful track that any Adult Contemporary, Pop, or Modern Country station would be proud to feature and one, I'd wager, that will get plenty of covers down the road. Yeah, that song's a keeper for sure.

As mentioned earlier, Cindy Gibbs joins Milton on "Jesus Came", sounding for all the world like a young Alison Krauss. There are also female vocals on several of the other tracks, so I'm just going to assume that Cindy was more involved than the pre-release publicity suggests.

There's a lot to like here. If I had one complaint, it would be that the album opens with a rousing Irish number, "The Gift Of Incarnation", but never touches that level of energy again. Personal peeve, I suppose, but I think your opening number should be a keynote--essentially setting the mood for the rest of the disc. "The Gift Of Incarnation" would have served as a nice change of pace mid-record but instead hits me like a double shot of espresso before bedtime. That nit aside, "When Heaven Came Down" from Michael Milton is a really sweet record that should and will appeal to a wide range of tastes. Just don't let the bow-tie scare you off.

WILLIE NELSON - THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS ALBUM

8/27/2012

1. A Dreamer's Holiday
2. White Christmas
3. Here Comes Santa Claus
4. Jingle Bells
5. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Winter Wonderland
7. Frosty The Snowman
8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
9. Pretty Paper
10. Blue Christmas
11. Christmas Blues
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Away In A Manger - Featuring Bobbie Nelson
14. Joy To The World - Featuring Bobbie Nelson
15. What A Wonderful World
16. Silent Night Holy Night

AMAZON

ELVIS PRESLEY - THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS ALBUM

8/27/2012

1. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Featuring Carrie Underwood
2. Blue Christmas - Featuring Martina McBride
3. Winter Wonderland
4. The First Noel
5. The Wonderful World Of Christmas
6. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees
7. O Come All Ye Faithful
8. Merry Christmas Baby
9. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day
10. If Every Day Was Like Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. Silent Night
13. Here Comes Santa Claus
14. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
15. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
16. Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
17. Blue Christmas

AMAZON

JOHN DENVER - THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS ALBUM

8/27/2012

1. A Baby Just Like You
2. The Christmas Song
3. White Christmas
4. Christmas For Cowboys
5. Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)
6. Blue Christmas
7. Noel: Christmas Eve 1913
8. Maedley: Alfie The Christmas Tree/Carol For A Christmas Tree/It's In Everyone Of Us
9. Coventry Carol
10. What Child Is This?
11. Christmas Like A Lullaby
12. The Marvelous Toy
13. Oh Holy Night
14. Aspenglow
15. Jingle Bells
16. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

AMAZON

SUSIE ARIOLI - CHRISTMAS DREAMING (10/9/12)

8/10/2012

1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Blue Christmas
4. Call Collect On Christmas
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
7. When You Wish Upon A Star
8. La Peregrinacion
9. Old Toy Trains
10. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
11. Christmas Dreaming
12. Ave Maria

ARTIST SITE
AMAZON

Susie Arioli demonstrates once again her exceptional flair for selecting songs. The singer offers a choice of some great classics and some superb lesser known titles that she unveils with obvious pleasure. These infinitely alluring performances give off an irresistible warmth, heightened by the jazz and bluesy colours so characteristic of the Arioli sound. With its flowing rhythms, its hushed atmospheres and its carefully crafted arrangements, Christmas Dreaming evokes the holiday spirit with a formidable authenticity. The holiday period promises to be magical this year! Like a heart-warming smile, Christmas Dreaming is an invitation to dream while wide awake.

A Canadian Jazz singer working out of Quebec, Susie Arioli's career didn't really get on track until she met guitarist Jordan Officer. Together, they found a sound that was fairly unique to any genre, stripped down, warm and intimate, yet still in the tradition of Django Reinhardt.

Here, Susie selects a generous handful of Christmas standards, then sweetens her holiday recipe with some old Country classics as well, continuing a flirtation with that genre she began on 2005's "Learn To Smile Again", largely a tribute to the songs of Roger Miller. Finally, Susie tosses in a bit of South American spice by including the Argentinian holiday folk song "La Peregrinacion". Saving the best for last, Susie's holiday confection is topped with the album's title track and a reverent rendition of "Ave Maria".

All in all, Susie Arioli's "Christmas Dreaming" should make for a wonderful change of pace from the standard holiday fare. The album was released in Canada back in 2010 and, before this year, you had to pay Import prices to get it. So it's great to see this excellent CD issued domestically.

OAK RIDGE BOYS - CHRISTMAS TIME'S A-COMING (9/25/12)

8/8/2012

1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
2. Peterbilt Sleigh
3. Here Comes Santa Claus
4. Christmas Time's A-Coming
5. White Christmas
6. All I Want For Christmas Is You
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
8. Getting Ready For A Baby
9. Joy To The World
10. Mary, Did You Know?
11. Mary Had A Little Lamb
12. Glorious Impossible

ARTIST WEB SITE
AMAZON

The Oak Ridge Boys have been around forever, it seems. Long enough to have recorded five Christmas albums prior to "Christmas Time's A Coming". Seriously, it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that their first Standing Room Only concert performance was held in a stable in Bethlehem.

Officially, the group got their start in 1945 as a Gospel quartet. It was when the current line-up came together in the early seventies that The Oak Ridge Boys determined that they could still keep faith with God while reaching an even wider audience if they began to include straight Country music in their repertoire. They succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams, winning numerous CMA Awards and, of course, a Grammy Award for "Elvira". Now everyone knows The Oak Ridge Boys and, I dare say, there are hardly any who don't like them. Their sweet harmonies can melt the winter snow away.

When something works as well as The Oak Ridge Boys' formula does, you don't mess with it much. So "Christmas Time's A-Coming" will feel as comfortable as your favorite pair of slippers sliding on. And there's plenty of room at this inn; everyone's welcome. The album will feature the popular songs of the season (even some the Boys have visited before), songs long on the beauty and simplicity of the true Christmas story ("Glorious Impossible" might get you cheering and crying all at once), a few long overdue covers and an original or two.

The current Oak Ridge Boys line-up has been together the better part of 40 years. All of the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas albums have come on their watch. They know what they're doing. And you love them for it. And for anyone looking for a more strictly Gospel experience this fall, the Boys have got you covered there, as well. A budget priced 3-disc collection of Oak Ridge Boys' "Gospel Gems" will release in early October.

TOMMY OVERSTREET - HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

7/19/2012

1. I'll Be Home For Christmas
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Old Christmas Card
4. White Christmas
5. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
6. Silent Night
7. Silver Bells
8. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
9. Blue Christmas
10. O Holy Night

ARTIST WEB SITE
AMAZON MP3
iTUNES

Tommy Overstreet was a big Country music star in the 70s and fairly representative of the Country style of the time. Think Charlie Rich without the piano. Tommy's cousin, Uncle Gene Austin, was a popular vaudeville performer and songwriter whose recording of "My Blue Heaven" had sold some 8 million copies in 1927, and Tommy got his start playing clubs with Gene. After a few years, Gene encouraged Tommy to strike out on his own and develop his own style. Moving to Nashville in 1967, Tommy helped pioneer that 70s Country sound we were talking about. Simplicity might be his hallmark; you don't hear a lot of twang or embellishment in Tommy's voice, there's not any of that superfluous vibrato. Just simple songs sung in a clear, rich baritone. If you do it right, that's all you need. And Tommy knows well how to shade and color a phrase or a note to convey the proper emotion without going over the top.

Not much of a crossover artist ("Heaven Is My Woman's Love" was his personal best on the Pop charts, climbing to #102 in 1972), Tommy scored dozens of Country hits, mostly through the 70s. Among his biggest hits were "Gwen", "I Don't Know You Anymore", "Send Me No Roses", and "Ann (Don't Go Runnin')". Tommy was pretty big on the TV, too, with appearances on The Tonight Show, The Midnight Special, In Concert, and, of course, Hee Haw.

I have to admit that its entirely possible "Home For Christmas" was previously issued and I just completely missed it, but it gives every indication of being a new (if digital only) release. I know he had discussed doing a Christmas record back in 2007, but that was the last I had heard of it. Regardless, Tommy's voice sounds as clear and strong as ever.

And the playlist is exactly what you'd expect from a Tommy Overstreet Christmas album--the essential carols and classics and a small handful of Country favorites ("Old Christmas Card", "Blue Christmas" and "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S"). If there is anything of a surprise, here, it's probably "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" which, in recent years, has been turning up more and more. Nothing new or experimental. As it happens, I like new and experimental, but I also recognize that there are times during the season where you just want to slip into a warm and comfortable pair of slippers. "Home For Christmas" is an easy listen, start to finish, warm and comfortable as all get out, and I can guarantee you that, had this album been released in the 70s, it would have been an annual favorite around our house.