O’er the fields we go celebrating physical media and specifically Christmas music on compact disc. There is something about the crazy CDs you find in the wild and so many of them are Christmas collections. Some make obvious sense and some are quite baffling and require some research. And other times they are just sublime and become regulars in your Christmas rotation. Let’s hit the slopes once again.
Merry Christmas Everybody (1970)
Why’d I Buy This? Good question. It seemed interesting enough and I know that Stompin’ Tom has a way with a lyric so I thought it might have a certain charm.
What’s On This? All originals. That can be a real challenge when we all expect certain songs at Christmas. While I can name some instances where original songs have been thrilling to discover, generally its a gamble. A prolific songwriter, Connors presents tales of an Everyday Regular Joe Christmas including simple holiday greetings, a song about a woman bolting (as they do), a comical tale of a rough year culminating with a challenging Christmas, Christmas at the orphanage and one classy tune telling the story of the life of Jesus.
What Is This? It is an early release from Stompin’ Tom, one that was re-released on Capitol once he hooked up with that venerable label. It is also a particular brand of country/folk music that bears Connors’ own inimitable stamp and it is more accurately termed Canadiana. You non-Canucks might like to lump Tom in with Gordon Lightfoot but Stompin’ Tom Connors is less polished and much more rustic and perhaps Tom’s music is more akin to that of his countryman Hank Snow’s. Stompin’ Tom was a staunch patriot, always ready to go ten rounds with the Junos or the CBC whenever he thought they might not have the best interests of Canadian artists at heart. His music was for and about the Canadian everyman; about the rural communities and about a life experience that is particular to Canadians.
And In the End… I feel this way about many artists – I have a great respect for them but don’t care for their music. I’ve gotten a kick out of many of Connors’ tales over the years but they simply don’t resonate with me and the same, I’m actually ashamed to say, goes for these Christmas songs. But I’ve been made to look into the life of Stompin’ Tom Connors and that has been interesting and this in and of itself is always a good reason to just grab these CDs and take them home. It is almost always illuminating and it will grow your musical fluency.
Kī hō’alu Christmas (1996)
Why’d I Buy This? Because of all of the places I will go in my head, mostly where I go is someplace warm. I have always been tropically-minded, if you know what I mean and I have always loved, surf music, bossa nova and Hawaiian music. One year, I decided to see if I could find some Hawaiian Christmas music. I came upon this and my Christmas celebrations have been all the better for it.
What’s On This? Songs you will recognize like “Mele Kalikimaka” (of course), “Away in a Manger”, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and “Winter Wonderland”. There are also some enchanting originals including “Christmas Memories” by the Rev. Dennis Kamakahi – a song that has become one of my favourite deep cuts and one who’s lyrics and melody take you right to the islands for the holidays.
What Is This? Another stellar release from Dancing Cat Records, a label started by the late new age musician George Winston. The label’s original purpose was to feature Hawaiian slack-key guitar music – kī hō’alu means “slack-key guitar” in Hawaiian. The translation more literally refers to the particular guitar tuning that slack-key employs. Without getting too much into the weeds, it will suffice to say that this music is divinely pleasant and acutely transporting.
And In the End… This compact disc is not easy to find but if, like me, you love both Christmas music and Hawaiian music, this album is a wonderful addition to your rotation. But it’s not just “Hawaiian Christmas music”; it is wonderful music. This is a keeper that I’ll cherish and play every year.
Christmas with Marty Robbins (1967)
Why’d I Buy This? I love Marty Robbins and my article on him is one of my all-time champs here at SoulRide. On an old, cheapie Christmas compilation cassette I had heard Marty’s “Many Christmases Ago” that I really liked it and I wondered if one day I might discover what album that was originally on and if I would ever find it. Sadly, I did.
What’s On This? Mostly originals but only a couple written by Marty. There are two carols and the rest range from the ponderous meditation of “Christmas is For Kids”, to the silly “One of You (in Every Size)”, a song who’s lyric makes no sense, to “Christmas Kisses”, a tune decidedly beneath Marty Robbins. Robbins had what it would’ve taken to pull these songs out of the mire except there was nothing worth pulling. This album would’ve made a great Double A Side single by pairing “Many Christmases Ago” with “A Christmas Prayer”. Throw in the pleasant “Christmas Time is Here Again” but it’s less than 80 seconds long.
What Is This? A fair question since Marty Robbins was still a vital country artist at the time but this his first Christmas album does not seem to have made an impression either then or now. In 1967, though, he was still pumping out LPs regular and placing them high on the Country charts – the same with singles. This was part of his late Sixties, three-albums-a-year run but this one faded into the dark December sky. An uninspired album cover didn’t help; what, is Marty’s dead protagonist from “El Paso” a ghost now who’s looking out over the San Antonio night?
And In the End… Marty gets a pass because of all he has given me. I cannot be angry with him for issuing such an inconsequential Christmas album – I have learned a hard lesson that some of my favourite and some very notable artists have somehow released very pedestrian (Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder) or downright bad (Paul Anka, the Everlys) Christmas records. Marty’s is not bad; it is earnest as the best Yuletide records are but it just lacks substance. So, I won’t be keeping this disc or the music on it. She gone. I’m hanging this compact disc tonight.
Next time you see a compact disc or a DVD for sale anywhere, pause before you tell yourself you can stream it somewhere. Can you? And even if you can are you OK with that? With someone else letting you listen to their music or watch their movie and curating for you? Take the hard copy home! Physical media – it’s the only media you can trust. Merry Christmas!
SoulRide 