Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
A joyful noise
We need a little Christmas (music), right this very minute
“Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy” — “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Comfort and joy are especially needed by us all this holiday season, and while music can’t make up for the loss or reduction of the traditional celebrations we cherish, Christmas music can play an even more important role than ever for our comfort and to awaken that joy … and maybe help rekindle hope for a brighter future even as so many suffer from the impact of the pandemic.
Batesville country singer Debbie Cochran has high hopes for providing all of that with her new album, “My Heart at Christmas.”
“I hope it will be a message of love, joy, peace and harmony,” she says in an email interview. “As you decorate your
tree, remember the holy jubilee. Let bygones be forgiven.”
“We sometimes seek for answers in music,” country star Garth Brooks says in an interview with the Associated Press. “I know we seek for comfort.”
Andrew Ghrayeb has witnessed the power of music and Christmas music firsthand.
A board certified music therapist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ghrayeb plays music for patients to help reduce anxiety and pain. He says music can help “create a sense of normalcy and anxiety reduction … .”
Ghrayeb believes the same is true for most of us.
“I think music will be extra important this year as families will not be able to gather in a way they might be used to for the holidays. This type of music will hopefully keep the holiday spirit and give us all the hope that next year will look the way we want it to.”
Cochran recorded her album in October in the woods outside Franklin, Tenn.
“Pam Lewis, my publicist at PLA Media, decorated the entryway to the studio. The recording room overlooks beautiful green rolling hills; as I was recording, I could see deer grazing. It was as peaceful as a silent night. Even though we were [social] distancing and wearing face masks, the minute the band began to jam, I was in music heaven.”
The album concludes with a striking original, “It Breaks My Heart,” in which she walks past a choir and manger scene and reflects: “And it breaks my heart/How I traveled so far/ from his footprints he left in the sand/And it breaks my heart/when I cradle the dark/ Hiding in my shadow while angels sing.”
Cochran is planning to stream a concert of her new music.
“I was grocery shopping [recently] and I heard Christmas songs. It made me smile underneath my mask. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered old family traditions back in my childhood days. Christmas songs can either take me far away to Bethlehem or rock me around the Christmas tree.
“No matter the season, music will always be a medicine for the soul,” she says. plate this year? Streaming services, stores and websites will be overflowing with new albums by major names such as Dolly Parton, Tori Kelly and Carrie Underwood, some lesser-known ones and some classics. Some highlights:
■ Leslie Odom, Jr., “The Christmas Album” (BMG). Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”) has a rich tone and emotional depth. His jazzy take on “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” is pretty near irresistible. Likewise, his tender and haunting “Auld Lang Syne” is stunningly beautiful. But the biggest surprise on the album is an unexpected reworking of “Little Drummer Boy” with South Africa’s Mzansi Youth Choir.
■ Carrie Underwood, “My Gift” (Capitol Nashville). The best part of Carrie Underwood’s new album is a wonderful duet with John Legend on “Hallelujah,” which Legend co-wrote. “Let There Be Peace,” which Underwood co-wrote, is a gospel-spiced standout. Traditional carols include heartfelt versions of
“Silent Night” and “O Holy Night.”
■ Dolly Parton, “A Holly Dolly Christmas” (Butterfly Records). We can always count on Dolly Parton to raise our spirits as she raises the roof musically. An undeniable nostalgia and feel-good sensibility inhabits this holiday offering, which includes some songs from her Netflix musical “Christmas on the Square.” Tracks include “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Guests include Willie Nelson, Michael Buble and Miley Cyrus.
■ “Christmas at Birdland with Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso and Klea Blackhurst” (Provident). This jazzy, vibrant Christmas cabaret led by three Broadway singers is a real blast of energy and cheer. The mostly upbeat arrangements and superb vocals celebrate classics such as “The Christmas Song” and “Silent Night” and lesser-known jewels such as “Christmas Is Starting Now” (with Donny Osmond!) and “He’s Stuck in the Chimney.”
■ Calexico, “Seasonal Shift” (Anti-). This Tucson-based band has a rich, open style and its Mexican-rock mix can be heady listening. So its approach to Christmas is hardly traditional, but the album’s somewhat melancholy tone seems focused more on introspection than celebration. Clearly, it’s easy to tell this was recorded during the pandemic. But there’s much to enjoy: their cover of Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again,” the festive Venezuelan tune “Mi Burrito Sabanero,” the cool instrumental “Glory’s Hope” and the pedal steel that gives “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” a cool vibe.
■ Larry Stewart, “Every Day Is Christmas” (AMPED). The Restless Heart singer steps out with a set of holiday love songs, including “Don’t Save It All for Christmas Day,” “This Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (a duet with Pam Tillis). He sings a lovely and heartfelt “What Child Is This.” Stewart co-wrote the title song and includes a welcome version of the romantic “What Are You Doing (New Year’s Eve)” by the great Frank Loesser. Country and pop fans should enjoy.
■ Tori Kelly, “A Tori Kelly Christmas” (School Boy/Capitol). With Babyface (Kenny Edmonds) as executive producer and duet partner on “Let It Snow,” Tori Kelly steps out with a superb new holiday offering that includes “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “O Holy Night” and “Christmas Time Is Here.” The powerhouse gospel singer also does a striking version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and adds a couple of originals. A version of the album available at Target has two additional tunes.
■ Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, “A Merry ‘Hee Haw’ Christmas” (Omnivore). Does it get any better than Bakersfield country for Christmas? The 1970 original combined two of Owens’ holiday recordings: 1965’s “Christmas With Buck Owens and His Buckaroos” and 1968’s “Christmas Shopping.” For this year’s reissue, four tracks cut from the two albums for the 1970 edition have been restored, including “All I Want for Christmas Is My Daddy” and “It’s Christmas Time for Everyone But Me.” Never get tired of hearing Owens sing “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked a Lot Like Him),” which he wrote with frequent collaborator and gifted Buckaroo Don Rich.
SINGLES
■ “I Need You Christmas” by the Jonas Brothers (Republic). The song’s classic pop/rock Christmas feel inspires a nostalgia-imbued lyric focused on being with friends and most of all, waiting for Santa.
■ “O Holy Night” by Ruston Kelly (Rounder). An achingly raw, emotional vocal makes Ruston Kelly’s track stand out as the best in a crowded Christmas music scene. His “O Holy Night” is deeply moving and heartfelt.
■ “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” by Dan + Shay (Warner Bros.). The award-winning duo wrote this song as a tribute to their families.
■ “Oh Santa!” by Mariah Carey featuring Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson (Apple Music/Sony). Co-written by Carey, the singer and writer of the modern Christmas favorite “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
■ “The Magic of Christmas Day” by Dee Snider and Lzzy Hale (BFD). Twisted Sister singer and Halestorm vocalist team up for a rockin’ holiday. Celine Dion recorded Snider’s tune on her album “These Are Special Times.”
■ “Go Tell It on the Mountain”
by Lee Brice (Curb). Powerful rendition of the gospel song.
■ “Hello Christmas” by Dion with Amy Grant and “You Know It’s Christmas” by Dion and Joe Bonamassa (KTBA Records). Dion (“Ruby,” “Abraham, Martin & John”) keeps the good music coming. Both songs co-written by Dion, whose career revival in the blues has been most impressive.
■ “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Kelly Clarkson (Atlantic). The singer’s retro-drenched version radiates a Phil Spector early ’60s girlgroup vibe. It’s a cover of Vince Vance & the Valiants’ tune.
■ “Silent Night” and “Blue Christmas” by Sharon Van Etten (Jagjaguwar). A brooding, stripped down and edgy take on “Silent Night,” while “Blue Christmas” retains a ’50s vibe.
■ “Lit This Year” by Florida Georgia Line (Big Machine). A country Christmas novelty about sippin’ a little too much holiday cheer.
■ “Pretty Paper” by Tami Neilson (Outside). Tami Neilson has a cool, expressive, stone country voice and excels on this Willie Nelson tune. The New Zealand-based singer echoes Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and other classic singers.
VINYL
■ Sony/Legacy has released new vinyl albums of a number of Christmas titles from its catalog:
“The Classic Christmas Album” by Elvis Presley, “Christmas” by Alabama, “Andy Williams’ Personal Christmas Collection,” “The Dean Martin Christmas Album (on red vinyl),” “Rudolph The RedNosed Reindeer and Other Christmas Favorites” by Gene Autry, “Merry Christmas” by Johnny Mathis, “Miracles: A Holiday Album” by Kenny G, “Once Upon a Christmas” by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton, “Season’s Greetings From Perry Como” and “A Christmas Gift for You” featuring the Ronettes and the Crystals; produced by Phil Spector.
■ For jazz lovers, “We Wish You A Swingin’ Christmas” is a new vinyl boxed set of classic record albums from Verve Records. The titles include Ella Fitzgerald’s 1960 release “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas,” Kenny Burrell’s 1966 album “Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas,” Ramsey Lewis’ 1961 recording “Sound of Christmas” and Jimmy Smith’s 1964 title “Christmas ’64,” which was also known as “Christmas Cookin’.”