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New Seasonal Album Offerings Compete for Attention
11/26/2004 3:05 PM, Reuters
Barry A. Jeckell
Every year, recording artists and
their labels pull together holiday music releases in hopes of
striking perennial silver and gold, and 2004 can be considered
a banner year for seasonal fare.
Thanks to new albums from Vanessa Williams and Jessica
Simpson , reissued material from Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder
and compilations featuring everyone from modern rockers to
teenyboppers, the songs of the season are everywhere.
-- Jessica Simpson, "Rejoyce -- The Christmas Album"
(Columbia). Expect to hear Simpson and husband Nick Lachey
performing selections from the set on a new variety special
they will host Dec. 10 on ABC.
-- Vanessa Williams, "Silver & Gold" (Lava). Includes a
guest appearance by Brian McKnight on "Joy to the World."
-- James Taylor , "James Taylor: A Christmas Album"
Exclusively available via Hallmark retail stores, the 11-track
set finds the singer/songwriter joined by Natalie Cole for
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" and trumpeter Chris Botti on "Winter
Wonderland."
-- Clay Aiken , "Merry Christmas With Love" (RCA). By
selling 270,000 copies last week, the former "American Idol"
contestant set a record with the biggest debut sales week of
any holiday album in the SoundScan era, which began in 1991.
-- Chris Isaak , "Chris Isaak Christmas" (Wicked Game
Records/Reprise). The crooner's first holiday collection
features 11 traditional songs and five originals, including a
duet with Stevie Nicks .
-- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, "Everything You Want for
Christmas" (Vanguard). Amidst the originals and obvious covers
like James Fox's "'Zat You Santa Claus?" is a notable version
of "Mr. Heatmiser," from the Rankin/Bass animated Christmas
special "The Year Without a Santa Claus."
-- Dionne Warwick , "My Favorite Time of Year" (DMI). The
veteran vocalist is joined by Gladys Knight, BeBe Winans and
Dave Koz on her first album of Christmas music.
-- Stevie Wonder, "The Christmas Collection"
(Motown/Universal Chronicles). A 14-track, career-spanning
album from the 2004 Billboard Century Award honoree.
-- The Statler Brothers, "The Christmas Collection"
(Mercury/Universal Chronicles). A compilation of 11 cuts from
the veteran country vocal quartet, including a medley of
"Silent Night," "O Holy Night," "The First Noel" and "It Came
Upon a Midnight Clear."
-- Frank Sinatra, "The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection"
(Reprise). Classics from Ol' Blue Eyes, including a newly
assembled version of "Silent Night" he recorded in 1991, and
never-before-released duets with Bing Crosby .
-- Afroman, "Jobe Bells" (HH Records). A stoner-friendly
view of the holidays including "O Chronic Tree" and "Violent
Night."
-- Cherish The Ladies, "On Christmas Night" (Rounder).
Traditional Irish favorites and carols from a top-notch women's
ensemble.
-- Dwight Twilley , "Have a Twilley Christmas" (Digital
Musicworks International). An EP of six new original holiday
songs from the veteran singer/songwriter, including "Christmas
Stars" and "Santa Claus' Favorite Christmas."
-- Brian Setzer , "Boogie Woogie Christmas" (Surfdog). A
reissue of the former Stray Cats frontman's 2002 set, with new
recordings of "Cactus Christmas" and Chuck Berry 's "Run Rudolph
Run."
-- Emmylou Harris, "Light of the Stable" (Rhino/Warner
Bros.). An updated version of the singer/songwriter's 1992
holiday collection with new recordings of "There's a Light,"
"Cherry Tree Carol" and "Man is an Island."
-- Judith Owen , "Christmas in July" (Dog on the Bed Music).
Released, as its title suggests, in July, this six-song EP
features special guest appearances by actor/comedian Harry
Shearer and singer/songwriter Julia Fordham .
-- Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "The Lost Christmas Eve"
(Lava). The rock opera phenomenon completes its Christmas
trilogy. Also available in box set that includes "Christmas Eve
and Other Stories" and "The Christmas Attic," as well as the
DVD "The Ghosts of Christmas."
-- George Huff, "My Christmas EP" (Word/Curb/Warner Bros.).
The five-track debut from the third season "American Idol"
finalist leans heavily on Huff's gospel background.
MULTI-ARTIST COMPILATIONS
-- "Have a Merry Chrismukkah! -- Music From the OC: Mix 3"
(Warner Sunset/Warner Bros.). The Fox series spins off another
modern rock compilation, this one with holiday tracks from the
Raveonettes, Jimmy Eat World, Eels and more.
-- "Ultimate Christmas 2" (BMG Strategic Marketing). This
collection earns its "Ultimate" moniker with cuts from such
superstar talent as Whitney Houston, Britney Spears , Alan
Jackson, TLC, Santana, R. Kelly, Christina Aguilera and 'N
Sync .
-- "The Polar Express" (Warner Sunset/Reprise). Alongside
favorites from Crosby, Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters are cuts
from Aerosmith 's Steven Tyler, Josh Groban and this holiday
film's star voice, actor Tom Hanks .
-- "Radio Disney-Jingle Jams" (Walt Disney Records). To
warm the cockles of the teen and tween set, this release
gathers holiday favorites from Hilary Duff, the Beu Sisters,
Aaron Carter , Ashlee Simpson , Stacie Orrico and more.
-- "Rockin' Christmas Party, Volume One" (Digital
Musicworks International). Collecting holiday classics from a
classic era, this set boasts cuts by Ron Dante , Lou Christie ,
Tommy Roe, Gary Lewis and Bobby Vee .
-- "A Windham Hill Christmas -- I'll Be Home for Christmas"
(Windham Hill). From George Winston to Liz Story and Jim
Brickman , this 14-track set collects ethereal and soothing
tracks from the label's best.
-- "The Very Best of Celtic Christmas" (Windham Hill). The
venerable label taps the Emerald Isle's rich traditional music
across 19 tracks from such storied artists as James Galway,
Altan and Donal Lunny.
Reuters/Billboard
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