Aled has made 2,003 Christmas albums ... this is my first one!
BEST MATES ALED JONES AND RUSSELL WATSON TELL MARION MCMULLEN THEY COULDN’T BE HAPPIER TO BE GETTING TO SING TOGETHER THIS FESTIVE SEASON
been three years since Aled Jones and Russell Watson were last able to bring out a joint album, but now the friends are inviting people to unwrap an early Christmas present and see them on tour.
“Everything stopped, it really did, because of Covid,” says Aled, 51. “There were times when you didn’t know if you were going to sing publicly again or if it would be different. Would people be masked up all the time?
“We did a concert this year at Llangollen at the International Music Eisteddfod and we hadn’t been on stage together for a long time and just as soon as we stepped out the laughs started again. Maybe we did take the singing for granted before Covid but certainly not now.”
Russell, 55, agrees, saying: “It seemed like we were never going to come out of this lockdown situation, but we were talking and saying ‘when we do and if we do, we should do another album’ and Christmas was top of the list of priorities.”
He laughs: “Aled’s made – I think – 2,003 Christmas albums and I have not made any. This is my first Christmas album.”
Aled says: “I’m so excited by that Russ. It’s ace.”
“It just gives you a nice big lift running into that festive period. It’s great,”smiles Russell.
Christmas With Aled And Russell is out now and the pair are on a mission to bring some early festive cheer to everyone. They even recorded a special rendition of Walking In The Air, which was famously released by then boy soprano Aled back in 1985.
“I’ve never done it with anyone before,” Aled reveals, “and he’s always ribbing me about The Snowman. It’s my chance to get back at him with Walking In The Air and now he’s part of that, which is great.
“I’ll always be associated with Christmas and we always have a blast on tour, so getting to sing our favourite Christmas songs together in so many stunning venues will be a real treat. It’s Christmas music, so what’s not to love?”
Russell laughs: “Walking In The Air ... my big moment. I know for a fact that he’s been offered the opportunity to perform this particular track in the past with other people and he’s never taken it up, so I feel quite honoured.
He continues: “The whole album has been created and made with a wonderful spirit behind it. Aled and I have known each other for a very, very long time and been good pals for a long time too. I think you can hear that in the music and you can definitely see it when we’re together.
“We have a good laugh together and lots of jokes and fun. That spirit I think has sort of oozed into the music as well.”
The album features new recordings of festive favourites like White Christmas and It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas as well as carols such as O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem and In The Bleak Midwinter.
It follows the success of their 2018 album In Harmony and Back In Harmony the following year.
Both went straight to number one on the UK Classical Album Chart and made the top 10 of the UK Official Album Charts.
Aled was just 12 years old when he became one of the world’s most successful boy sopranos. Earlier this year he appeared on ITV’S hit show The Masked Singer this year as Traffic Cone.
Russell’s debut album The Voice saw him hold the top spot in the UK charts for an unpreceit’s dented 52 weeks in 2001 and he has performed for some of the world’s leading figures, including the late Queen Elizabeth II. More recently, he played lawyer Billy Flynn in hit musical Chicago.
Aled has worked on Christmas morning in the past, doing his Classic FM radio show, and says: “The run up to Christmas is always busy and then it’s time for me to just close the door, have family time and relaxing.
“I’m not a big fan of January, it’s my least favourite month, you get to the end of the year and give yourself a pat on the back for getting that far and then all of a sudden you’ve got to start again.”
“I like January,” says Russell, “predominately it’s because it’s when I take my annual sabbatical. I don’t usually take any bookings in January and just take the time to recuperate and kick back.”
So will the guys be swapping Christmas presents on tour?
“Shall we be honest, Al?” asks Russell. Aled pipes up: “I bought Russell a present and he didn’t buy me one.”
“Are you still going on about that?” says Russell. “That really hurt you, didn’t it.”
They both fall about laughing. “I’m one of those people rushing around department stores on Christmas Eve,” admits Aled. “Yeah, me too,” says Russell. “I can usually be found running around with a red face trying to find something appropriate for my wife and kids.
“I think I did better last year... I started my shopping on December 23.”
Christmas With Aled And Russell is out now via BMG. Their tour runs until December 12. Visit aledandrussell.com for booking details