Holiday Music 2007 Report

by Rebecca the Bookseller

I think even the Scroogiest of you will have to admit that the holiday music nuts among us have shown great restraint this year - I mean, Thanksgiving was a month ago!

There is some wonderful new holiday music out there - you can check out snippets on iTunes, or, thanks to Elaine, you can listen to some entire CDs at this very cool link: Holiday Music on AOL

And here is a very nifty site from Ramona that will create a radio station tailored to your taste: Pandora Check it out!

So, here we go with the Class of 2007. Next Sunday, look for the Best of 2006. I didn't want to overload you all in one day.

Josh Groban's "Noel" is simply magnificent. If you are one of the few who have not had the pleasure of hearing this voice, you need to catch up. The entire CD is wonderful - a warning to SusanCo and all of our other military families - "I'll Be Home for Christmas" contains some holiday greetings from far from home.

If you prefer a female voice, here are two to consider: Carnie Wilson's "Christmas with Carnie" and Yolanda Adams' "What a Wonderful Time". Yolanda Adams is a new voice to me and she is wonderful. Carnie Wilson (formerly of Heart) has a sweet voice that reminds me of Karen Carpenter, with bigger pipes, bless her.

Here's a blast from the past - remember Christopher Cross? He's not only still around, but he has a Christmas album called "A Christopher Cross Christmas" - say that five times fast. If you are a big fan, you know who you are. This is definitely one that will have you sailing into the holidays. heh. If you're interested in another flash from the past, Rick Springfield has a CD too.

And guess who is back? Not that she ever left, but Ms. Patti LaBelle has got a Christmas CD. You'd know that voice any where - check out "Miss Patti's Christmas" - and stay tuned starting tomorrow when yours truly will watch her first reality TV series ever. Who doesn't love a choir? Okay, lots of people, but I do. So don't call me when I'm watching the DVR'd episodes of "Clash of the Choirs".

For more Christ in the Christmas music, pick up David Phelps - his new one is called "One Wintry Night" and his previous Christmas release is "Joy, Joy" - both are terrific, and I actually combined them onto a CD for the car for whenever I forget to grab my iPod on the way out the door. And another new group to me is Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - they sing in that close-knit harmony that can give you chills. Their CD is called "Christmas With (you guessed it) Ernie Haase and Signature Sound". Other CCR Christmas music includes Jars of Clay's "Christmas Songs", Bebo Norman's "Christmas" and "WOW Gospel Christmas".Perhaps the most crowd pleasing one (meaning my kids will listen to it without groaning) is from Relient K - both secular and non-secular tunes, all of which are terrific - it's called "Let it Snow, Baby...Let it Reindeer". Get it? I love that.

Jim Brickman, a pianist and songwriter (from near here in Cleveland) has a lovely new album called "Homecoming" with some vocals and some instrumentals. Look for at least one of his on the Best of 2007 Collection.

It's a banner year for country music fans, starting with a two-CD set from the Big Dog himself, Toby Keith. Plus Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence (check out "Cold Beer" for a decidedly non-religious chuckle) Martina McBride, and Randy Travis.

New to me this year are two male voices that I'll be watching for during the rest of the year: Raul Malo ("Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites"); and John Pizzarelli ("Let's Share Christmas").

And last, but never least, this year's Hallmark CD is Fanilow Fave Barry Manilow's "In the Swing of Christmas". Always a crowd pleaser among those with discriminating tastes.

Whew! That's a lot of new music this year! See you next week with the Best of 2006 final choices.

Comments

[Harley]

Oh, my God. I'm a closet choir person and I never even identified it before. Choir got me through the horror of adolescence. I am a music geek, Rebecca, and Christmas is music geek heaven. Thank you for this.

Alas, my children's constant refrain is, "Mommy, don't sing."

[Nancy Martin]

Mainheim Steamroller! Der Bingle! Elvis Christmas! And I even have Don Ho. I can't believe you didn't mention any of my faves. Of course, they're all decades old.

Great job, Rebecca! Now, tell me true. Do you buy all these CDs in stores, or do you download? Because I'm behind in the music download thing. My credit card numbers were probably stolen via an early version of music downloading, so now I'm a little spooked by the process.

I salute your expertise and dedication, girlfriend.

[Rebecca the Bookseller]

Nancy - Mannheim Steamroller does have a new CD this year, I just wasn't crazy about it. But neither Don Ho nor The Bingler nor Elvis had any new releases in 2007.

I download some and buy some - and some are gifts. Because I've been doing music reviews for years, I have friends who send me the new stuff for review early in the season, which is really nice too.

As far as downloading goes, I only use iTunes, and I've never had a problem.

Harley - I've heard you sing and you have a GREAT voice! What do these kids know from a voice? All they know are overproduced, computer generated sounds. Poor things.

[Kerry, the Martial Tart]

Thanks for the tips, Rebecca -- I'll be checking them out. I also have a recommendation: check out these guys and their stunning version of "The 12 Days of Christmas."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

[Laura (in PA)]

Kerry, that video is hilarious. They're awesome singers, and so funny!

Rebecca, you know I love your music blogs, but I feel compelled to say that Carnie Wilson is not a former member of Heart, but of Wilson Phillips. She's Brian Wilson's (Beach Boy) daughter. Heart was made up of Nancy and Ann Wilson - no relation to Carnie that I know of. But they're all awesome!

I think Raul Malo has a wonderful voice. He was here (Philly) recently doing a concert that had both his Christmas stuff and other stuff. I wish I could have seen him in person.

I think Michael Buble has a new Christmas CD this year too, though I haven't heard it.

Now I'm off to listen to all these recommendations, when I really should be working on my Christmas cookies.

[Rebecca the Bookseller]

Laura - you are so right, and I even have Wilson Phillips CDs, so I should know that.

Michael Buble does not have a new CD this year, but they have been re-leasing his "Let it Snow" CD - which is a short one, and it's terrific. Got to see him in small venues when he was coming up and I am so glad - I hate seeing solo artists in the big arenas.

Kerry - excellent addition to our collection - Thanks!

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

Kerry - I LOVE them - naturally I went straight to find the "Straight No Chaser" CD (and DVD) and guess what? Because of the YouTube clips, they are sold out. Not to worry, I'll keep on it.

Thanks for adding another great group to my list - have you seen The Ten Tenors? They're Australian Opera students who started singing in local bars to earn money and are now touring internationally. Similar sound - terrific.

[William Simon]

My personal favorite is still "Silver Bells" recorded by Marti McCall for some movie back in the 70's. Her voice is crystal clear, she hits all the right notes, and I keep the MP3 close at hand this time of year...:)

[Ladytink_534]

I prefer Christmas novelty songs.

[Rebecca the Bookseller]

William - why am I not surprised that your favorite is an old school movie song?

Ladytink - I am thinking about doing a whole CD of those - Dominic the Donkey, Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, Christmas With the Family - one of my favorites is from a Bob Rivers Twisted Christmas CD and features Elvis. I'd love to hear your suggestions!

[Luce]

I love Christmas music - I usually pick up at least 2 or more cds a year. This year - it was Groban's, Celtic Woman, KT Tunstall (from Target) and I just downloaded Nancy WIlson's from 2001. I've enjoyed them all. KT's has only 6 songs and couple of them are melancholy. I don't know how I've overlooked Wilson's all these years.

All time faves - any of Amy Grant's, Ella's Swinging Christmas, Diana Krall's, George Winston's December, and Jane Oliver's to name a few. Oh, check out Gary Hoey if you like Christmas rock for a change of pace.

[Nancy Martin]

Great video, Kerry! I'd love to see those guys live!

[Mary Storyteller]

Harley, I guess singing comes under the heading of "things to do to embarrass your children." So sing! -- often and loud. One of my friends encouraged the audience at the New Salem Storytelling weekend to sing along, "If you don't sing well, sing louder -- revenge!" There is a class at COCA (arts center in University City) titles, "Singing for People Who've Been Asked Not To." The year I signed up, there were so many on the waiting list that they opened a second section.

[Tom]

Children are not to be allowed to control adult singing. They are not good judges. They lack experience. Don't enable the little Masters Of The Universe. Who stands on the podium conducting? Not an infant - and older person, often white-haired.

Bryn Terfel is a Welsh bass-baritone who sings popular music as well as classical music. He does a lot of trad and contemporary sacred music. Think Barry White, but more dynamic and more mischievous. Tom Jones, but a bigger, darker voice - and more subtle. Check him out. And Pizzarelli, Buble, Harry Connick, Jr. and Groban are pretty durn good, too.

[Pam aka SisterZip]

The only new one I picked up is Josh Groben. But I have probably 30 Christmas cds.

Just a few of what I have:

Amy Grant (I have 3 of her Christmas cds, but my favorite is the first one, A Christmas Album)
Kenny G (I have 3)
Andrea Bocelli Sacred Arias
The Irish Tenors Home for Christmas (WOW! is all I can say)
The Three Tenors Christmas
Celine Dion These Are Special Times
and my all time favorite....
John Denver & the Muppets A Christmas Together (1989)