Category: Folk

JAMES TAYLOR - JAMES TAYLOR AT CHRISTMAS (10/30/12)

10/10/2012

1. Winter Wonderland
2. Go Tell It On The Mountain
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Jingle Bells
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside
6. River
7. Here Comes The Sun (Featuring Yo-Yo Ma)
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Some Children See Him
10. Mon Beau Sapin
11. The Christmas Song
12. Who Comes This Night
13. In The Bleak Midwinter
14. Auld Lang Syne

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The Hallmark version

There's no stopping evolution...not even the evolution of "James Taylor At Christmas". You may recall that Sweet Baby James' Christmas album started life as an 11 track Hallmark exclusive. Purchasers got an extra gift that year when Taylor offered up a download only bonus track, Joni Mitchell's "River". Two years later, Columbia gave the disc it's wide release, now with 12 tracks; "River" was officially added to the disc, as was "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", while "Deck The Halls" was dropped. For this 2012 re-release, Taylor has added "Here Comes The Sun", which originally appeared on Yo-Yo Ma's 2008 holiday effort, "Songs Of Joy and Peace", and the newly recorded "Mon Beau Sapin", a French adaptation of "O Christmas Tree". It's doubtful that the 14 track edition is the final evolution of "James Taylor At Christmas"--not while "Deck The Halls" is still exclusive to the original Hallmark version.

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JOYSTRINGS - CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

10/5/2012

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THE JOYSTRINGS/O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM (from "Well Seasoned")

1. Hurry Shepherds
2. A Starry Night
3. This Little Boy
4. Hush, Hush, Hush
5. The Little King Jesus
6. Just Be Grateful
7. Silent Night, Holy Night
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
10. Such A Tiny Child
11. The Holly And The Ivy
12. Czech Rocking Carol
13. Mary's Boy Child
14. The Only One
15. Carol Of The Bagpipers
16. What Dreams
17. Away In A Manger
18. Winter's Coming On
19. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
20. Once In Royal David's City ARTIST SITE
21. Rise Up Shepherd And Follow FACEBOOK
22. Dance Of The Shepherds SP&S DIGITAL STORE (UK)
23. Christmas Can Be Everyday For You AMAZON UK

Does anyone here not know the story of The Joystrings...the hippest Salvation Army Band the planet has ever known and likely the first ever Christian rock band? Back in the 60s when folk and R&B and rock were all coming together in new and exciting ways, the Salvation Army had an idea. Perhaps they could reach more people with their message of salvation if the people could better relate to the music. It was just an idea, at first, dropped to the British press by one General Frederick Coutts. But the press went to town with it and the General could either look a fool or actually create such a group. As it happened, there was a young woman among their ranks, Captain Joy Webb, known to possess a wonderful voice and adept at most any style. Next, they sought out cadets who had come to the Army with their instruments (electric guitars and such) in hand. A photo shoot was hastily arranged. But that then led to television requests and so an actual band of cadets had to be quickly put together around Captain Webb. In their brief time together, they rehearsed a few songs that had been written by Captain Webb.

An EMI executive was watching their television debut and he liked what he saw and heard. He signed the group to a recording contract and, by mid-February 1964, a single bearing the name Joystrings hit the streets. The Salvation Army was both intrigued by their rapid rise to pop culture prominence, but also somewhat embarrassed. Internally, the name "Joystrings" was not permitted; the group was referred to as "The International Training College Rhythm Group". The Joystrings were a huge smash, though. Teenagers packed theaters to see them. When they played The Blue Angel in Germany, even Marlene Dietrich could not believe the beyond capacity crowd and their excitement. It was actually remarkable that the Army even allowed such a performance as they were already regretting their creation. Though the Army wanted to pull the plug on the Joystrings as early as 1965, the group's popularity made that virtually impossible until 1969.

During their reign, the Joystrings recorded a number of Christmas songs. For many of us, though, their finest hour (so to speak) was the 1966 album "Well Seasoned"--the only Joystrings album to be released in the United States. Only one half of the album was Christmas, but it was on that album that the Joystrings showed their psychedelic side with their legendary covers of "We Three Kings" and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", the latter performed to the music of "House Of The Rising Sun".

It has taken a long, long time to get these wonderful Christmas recordings released on CD, but finally here they are--remastered and restored to their full glory glory hallelujah! "Christmas Collection" will is now available on CD (even if only as an import) and is currently available as a digital download from the sp&s store, an offshoot of the UK's 7 Digital (if they'll let any of us yanks take the plunge). If nothing else, I'll be watching for it on eBay. (My thanks to my pal Ernie for the rip of "Little Town" above. His web site is amazing. You should spend lots of time there.)

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

8/30/2012

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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

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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.

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JASON GRAY - Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy

8/28/2012

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1. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
2. Christmas Is Coming
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Rest (The Song Of The Innkeeper)
5. Ave Maria (A Song For Mary)
6. Forgiveness Is A Miracle (A Song For Joseph)
7. Man Of Mercy
8. I Will Find A Way (The Song Of Emmanuel)
9. O Holy Night
10. Gloria (The Song Of The Shepherds)
11. Easier (The Song Of The Wisemen)
12. Christmas For Jesus
13. Children Again
14. Joy To The World

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Minnesota native Jason Gray has been writing and singing worship music professionally since at least 1990. Like most of his generation, Jason brings contemporary pop, folk and Indie influences and flavors to the music he plays and he's certainly capable of rocking out when the occasion calls for it. As someone who grew up with a stutter, much of Jason's original music is about finding strength in weakness. Beyond the music, Jason's well known for his humanitarian work and advocacy for children around the world, most especially those orphaned by AIDS in Africa.

Jason has recorded a handful of Christmas carols in the past, emerging as one of the true standouts on the outstanding "Bethlehem Skyline" compilations. For his first full-length Christmas album, however, Jason wasn't content to just cover a handful of classics and toss them out there. Jason wanted his Christmas album to have all the depth and texture of any other album he'd put his name to. In the end, Jason decided to explore all of the characters of the Nativity, finding parts of them in himself and part of himself in them. Jason weaved the lessons and stories of these characters into a coherent tapestry, knitting together the sentiments of the season with his own pop sensibilities.

While we don't have samples of all the tracks just yet, Jason did post one of the originals some time ago. "Easier" is Jason's song of The Wisemen (click here to listen and read the lyrics). It was the first song he wrote for "Repeat The Sounding Joy" and, in many ways, helped him determine the direction for the rest of the album. If "Easier" is any indication, this is going to be an incredible record.

"Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy" from Jason Gray will be released October 9.

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JOHN DENVER - THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS ALBUM

8/27/2012

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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

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

8/10/2012

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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

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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.

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JAMES TAYLOR - JAMES TAYLOR AT CHRISTMAS (10/30/12)

JOYSTRINGS - CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

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

JASON GRAY - Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy

JOHN DENVER - THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS ALBUM

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

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