HOLIDAY COMPILATION ALBUMS
REVIEW: Various Artists, Yuletunes (Black Vinyl)
- Al Muzer
Released way back in 1991 on the indie label helmed by acclaimed pop group, Shoes - this 16-track holiday compilation easily outshines the eggnog-oriented crap now being released by the majors to cash in on the pending holiday joy.
Any album featuring Shoes, Matthew Sweet, Material Issue, The Cavedogs, Marti Jones, The Spongetones, Don Dixon and Bill Lloyd would be a classic no matter what subject the artist's involved decided to sing about - the Christmas theme these tunes all share, however, makes this disc a "must have" for maximum volume at family gatherings around the tree this holiday season.
All songs, save one, are original, jangle-rock celebrations of "The Saddest Time of the Year" (as Spooner from Madison, Wisc. puts it). An instant favorite in any power-pop collection, many of these songs are the sort of thing you'll want to hear year round.
For more information, contact Black Vinyl, 2269 Sheridan Road, Zion, Illinois 60099. Cost for the CD is $15 plus $2 P&H
REVIEW: Various Artists, A Classic Cartoon Christmas (Epic)
- Bob Gajarsky
When the holidays roll around, stores become filled with racks and racks of the seasonal compilations. And some relatives will ask the music fan in the family to "Go buy one or two of them to play at Aunt Jemima's during Christmas dinner". The key here isn't to experiment, but to get songs that everyone knows, to keep the holiday spirit flowing.
A Classic Cartoon Christmas perfectly fits that bill. With the original songs that are known by people of ages 3 to 93, Mickey Rooney and Jimmy Durante aren't exactly world class vocalists, but their voices breed a familiarity that makes everyone think of the "good old days" - even if they weren't quite so good - and eagerly await the new year. Kids of all ages will appreciate Kermit and the Muppets singing on two different tracks - and for the Scrooge in the family, there's the inclusion of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch".
It's not experimental, it's not daring, and it's nothing new. But it *is* everything people think about Christmas. TRACK LISTING: Welcome Christmas; Burl Ives - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer; Billie RIchards and Paul Soles - We're A Couple of Misfits; Jimmy Durante - Frosty The Snowman; Mickey Rooney & Keenan Wynn - Put One Foot In Front Of The Other; Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, O Tannenbaum; Muppets - Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock, We Need a Little Christmas; You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch; Fred Astaire - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; Vienna Boys Choir - Little Drummer Boy; Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas
REVIEW: Mary Margaret O'Hara, Christmas EP (Koch)
- Al Muzer
With a mere 2,500 copies of this EP scheduled for release, the follow up to her outstanding (and only) 1988 album promises to maintain O'Hara's semi-obscure status while keeping her semi-legendary reputation intact.
Lending her truly beautiful voice to one holiday classic ("Silent Night"), two R&B cuts ("Blue Christmas," "What Are You Doing New Years Eve?") and one MMO'H original ("Christmas Evermore") worthy of the charts any time of the year - O'Hara is Patsy Cline, Bessie Smith, Kaye Starr and Kate Bush in one emotional, deeply moving package.
