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DVDfever.co.uk – A Family Christmas: Various Artists CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Putumayo World Music
- Released: October 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Alternative Xmas album. Good too.
While youre decorating the Xmas tree, making a gingerbread house or simply wrapping pressies, why not relax and enjoy this cool collection of yuletide yummies from Putumayo World Music. Lots of familiar titles and a few household names like Maria Muldaur (Midnight At The Oasis / 1974) and Yorkshire songbird Kate Rusby get stuck into some seasonal delights.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town first aired on radio in 1934, with Bruce Springsteens live 1981 version being the definitive version. Here Seattles Johnny Bregar who once fronted rock bands, now he writes songs specifically for kids, does a nifty acoustic and family-friendly cover, recorded especially for this album.American songwriter Johnny Marks wrote numerous Xmas favourites including Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949), and Rockin Around The Christmas Tree (1958) amongst others, including Holly Jolly Christmas in 1962. This version by 43-year old New York folk singer Martin Sexton is an immaculate stripped down little gem featuring some finely honed soulful vocals and peppy guitar work.
Californian contemporary retro-swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy fronted by Scotty Morris do a raucous fun-filled cover of the 1953 standard Is Zat You Santa Claus?, popularised by jazz legend Louis Armstrong. The band keeps the proceedings well and truly rooted in the jazz frame. Written in 1945 by Californian lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne, it seems that Let It Snow, one of the most popular songs of all time, was a bit of wishful thinking on their behalf. Despite being written on one of the hottest days of 1945, theres now mention of Christmas in the title both Cahn and Styne were Jewish. Leon Redbones perky version has all the warmth of Bing Crosbys 1962 rendition but Redbone adds a touch of country swing to the mix.
Stunning blonde country singer Deana Carter, 43, throws down a wispy and quirky take on Winter Wonderland, while Sam Bushs instrumental Sleigh Ride written in the heat of summer in Boston by Leroy Anderson in 1946 is given a galloping bluegrass swing by Bushs masterful mandolin tricks.Best known for her joyful folk songs, Kate Rusby unleashes a spectacular and fresh Here We Come A-Wassailing, aka Here We Come A Caroling, a well known English carol and New Year song written over a hundred years ago.
Grammy winners Brave Combo hail from Texas. Their live instrumental version of Jolly Old St. Nick, though to originate from the late 1800s, is in-keeping with their polka-rock tendencies fused with Jamaican ska.From the island of Hawaii comes a festive greeting in the shape of Mele Kalikimaka written in 1949 by R. Alex Anderson. New Orleans husband and wife duo Debbie Davis (vocals and ukulele) and Matt Perrine (bass and sousaphone) and their vocal trio Pfister Sisters throw in plenty of party spirit from the Aloha State.
Written in the 40s by R&B / rocknroller Leon Rene, Boogie Woogie Santa Claus is given a new lease of life from the energetic Christmas Jug Band formed by pals in the Mill Valley California in the 70s.Here this fabulous rhythm and blues blast features American folk-blues icon Maria Muldaur.
First recorded by The Singing Cowboy Gene Autry in 1950, Frosty The Snowman has been a staple sing-along ever since. Swedish born New Orleans-based Lars Edegran and his mercurial Revelers whip up a right old trad-jazz storm.
The verdict Happy alternative Christmas!
Weblink:putumayo.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Johnny Bregar
2. Holly Jolly Christmas Martin Sexton
3. Is Zat You Santa Claus? Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
4. Let It Snow Leon Redbone
5. Winter Wonderland Deana Carter
6. Sleigh Ride Sam Bush
7. Here We Come A-Wassailing Kate Rusby
8. Jolly Old St. Nick Brave Combo
9. Mele Kalikmaka Debbie Davis & Matt Perrine
10. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus The Christmas Jug Band featuring Angela Strehli and Maria Muldaur
11. Frosty The Snowman Lars Edegran and his Santa Claus Revelers featuring Big Al CarsonView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.