THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412100057
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 145 lines
GOOD NEWS: There's a wonderful new Ray Charles version of ``The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).''
Bad news: To own it, you have to buy the soundtrack to the failed Warren Beatty movie ``Love Affair'' (Reprise).
Though the holidays encourage us to show off our better side, the record industry, as it does year-round, doesn't see past the bottom line. Once a tool for self-expression and/or financial gain, the Christmas album today more often seems an excuse for artists to show off their blandest, most turgid sides.
Even an ostensible stretch - Kenny G's brief ``Chanukah Song'' on ``Miracles: The Holiday Album'' (Arista) - is less than overwhelming.
For nods to other traditions, listeners can do much better. Rachel Buchman's ``Jewish Holiday Songs for Children'' (Rounder) offers two lively Hanukkah numbers. The label also has reissued the Klezmer Conservatory Band's ``Oy Chanukah!''
Rounder's ``Kwanzaa Music'' is an overview of black music the world over, ranging from James Brown and Aretha Franklin to great internationalists such as Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, Tabu Ley Rochereau with Orchestra African Fiesta and Abdul Aziz El Mubarak. It's a party, for sure.
Turning South, ``Navidad en las Americas'' (Walt Disney) is a spotty but entertaining collection of Latin giants including Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. Some of ``A Tejano Country Christmas'' (Arista Texas) is merely bad pop, but the year's most glorious ``White Christmas'' - ah, ``Blanca Navidad,'' by Freddy Fender - makes up for it.
Hear 1994's best new Christmas song on Robert Earl Keen's ``Gringo Honeymoon'' (Sugar Hill). The Texas singer/songwriter balances the droll and the touching on ``Merry Christmas From the Family.'' Keen's wish list: ``Send somebody to the Quik-Pak store/We need some ice and an extension cord/A can of bean dip and some Diet Rite/A box of Tampons and some Marlboro Lights.''
Nicely naughty, too, is ``I've Got Some Presents for Santa,'' a Rhino single by Sarah Taylor and Bill Mumy that pays homage to the long-dormant tradition of suggestive female Christmas vocals. Welcome back. POP (AND A LITTLE ROCK)
Too bad the most fetching thing about Mariah Carey's ``Merry Christmas'' (Columbia) is its cover - the superstar in a form-fitting Santa outfit. Her Phil Spector knockoffs and really dumb medley of the ``Joy to the World'' and the like-titled Three Dog Night hit can't compete.
Natalie Cole recently complained about other singers' recordings of ``The Christmas Song,'' made famous by her father. Guess her shameless exploitation is OK, though; she delivers a snooze-worthy take on ``Holly & Ivy'' (Elektra).
Even worse, if possible, is Donna Summer's heavy-handed ``Christmas Spirit'' (Mercury). No 18-minute disco extravaganzas, no kicks. Equally over-reverent is ``Joyful Christmas'' (Columbia), an uninspired melange of adult-contemporary rhythm-and-blues and Christian pop.
Neil Diamond wins the chutzpah award with his second ``Christmas Album'' (Columbia) in three years. Belt it, Neil!
Tasteful to varying faults are Judy Collins' ``Come Rejoice!'' (Mesa); the Nylons' ``Harmony - The Christmas Songs'' (Scotti Bros.); and ``Seven Gates: A Christmas Album by Ben Keith & Friends'' (Reprise).
Tacky beyond belief is ``Have a Nice Christmas: Holiday Hits of the '70s'' (Rhino). Those who find Wayne Newton's ``Jingle Bell Hustle'' or Donny and Marie's ``Winter Wonderland'' indispensable know who you are. Too bad Martin Mull's ``Santa Doesn't Cop Out on Dope'' really wasn't a hit.
``Billboard's Rock 'n' Roll Christmas'' (Rhino) boasts good ones from Queen, the Kinks and Foghat. And the ``Mixed Nuts'' soundtrack (Epic Soundtrax) collects gems by Leon Redbone, the O'Jays, Fats Domino and Eartha Kitt. Unfortunately, there's also Adam Sandler and some really dull score music.
Also from the vaults: Elvis Presley's ``If Every Day Was Like Christmas'' (RCA), which collects his holiday tracks; ``Christmas Songs by Sinatra'' (Columbia/Legacy), '40s and '50s cuts that sound about as innocent as the Chairman ever did; and, ``The Sinatra Christmas Album'' (Reprise), sickly sentimental '60s and '70s stuff. Your parents or grandparents, maybe even you, will like ``Personal Christmas Collections'' (Columbia/Legacy) by Andy Williams and Doris Day.
The Tony Bennett revival brings the re-release of one of the greatest Christmas albums, his ``Snowfall'' (Columbia), with a track cut for MTV last year as a bonus. Bright, swinging, joyous. JAZZ/INSTRUMENTAL
The fine line between jazz and background music is rarely so blurred as at Christmas.
Kim Waters' ``Home for Christmas'' (Warlock) is fusion a little funkier than Kenny G's, but not by much. Rick Braun's ``Christmas Present'' (Mesa) is elevator-ready. ``The Gift,'' from Liz ``Don't call me New Age'' Story, is the ambitious, if stolid, mostly solo piano you'd expect from the Windham Hill staple. Butch Thompson gets a little closer to the essence with his one-man ``Yulestride'' (Daring).
Go old-school with ``Jingle Bell Jam: Jazz Christmas Classics'' (Rhino), featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker and King Curtis' heavenly ``What Are You Doing New Year's Eve'' with Duane Allman. ``Santa's Bag: An All-Star Jazz Christmas'' (Telarc) is a sharp collation of the label's roster, including Mel Torme and Ray Brown. ``Christmas on the Bandstand'' (Columbia/Legacy) is an amusing set of big-band performances, mostly from the 78 RPM era. COUNTRY
The most appropriate ``Personal Christmas Collection'' (Columbia/Legacy) is Johnny Cash's, drawn from three albums done over his 28-year tenure with the company. ``Christmas As I Knew It'' and ``The Christmas Spirit'' showcase his great big voice and great big, yes, spirit.
John Anderson's ``Christmas Time'' (BNA), Sammy Kershaw's ``Christmas Time's A-Comin' '' (Mercury) and Jerry Jeff Walker's ``Christmas Gonzo Style'' (Rykodisc) aren't as crazy as these wild men could have made them. What, no ``Swingin' at Christmas,'' John? Trisha Yearwood's ``Sweetest Gift'' (MCA) is a good, if unexciting, showcase for her voice.
Two gems from journeypersons are on ``Giant Country Christmas Volume I'' (Giant): Dennis Robbins' ``Santa's on Vacation'' and Deborah Allen's ``Walk All the Way From Memphis.''
``Kids of all ages'' is a cliche, but ``A Gene Autry Christmas'' (Columbia/Legacy), 16 vintage tunes, proves that it's truth. SOUL
As if still daunted by Boyz II Men's bombshell sales of last year's ``Christmas Interpretations,'' the R&B field has added little to the shelves in 1994. Freddie Jackson's ``At Christmas'' (RCA) is polite, with one exception. ``Come on Home (for Christmas)'' acknowledges familiar rifts and pleads for putting aside differences. Doesn't it seem like someone should have written this song years ago?
Kofi's ``A Very Reggae Christmas'' (Atlantic/143) is workmanlike at best, and seriously marred by the involvement of schlock-hand David Foster.
Finally, grab Rhino's reissue of ``The Original Soul Christmas,'' with Curtis and Allman again, Otis Redding, Joe Tex, William Bell, Solomon Burke, Carla Thomas and Clarence Carter, whose ``Back Door Santa'' demonstrates that the guitar man got down and dirty years before he started ``Strokin' .'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Color photo
Natalie Cole delivers a snooze-worthy take on holiday tunes with
``Holly & Ivy'' (Electra).
KEN HOWARD
LEFT: Pianist Liz Story and bassist Joel DiBartolo perform together
on ``The Gift.'' RIGHT: Pulled from the vault is Elvis Presley's
``If Every Day Was Like Christmas.''
BRIAN ARIAS
No disco extravaganzas on Donna Summer's ``Christmas Spirit''
album.
by CNB