GrooveOut

by Gregg Shapiro

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON

From Carly Simon to Barenaked Ladies, new releases ring in the holidays.

Every year around this time, something happens that is as exciting to me as a music journalist as guessing what is in the packages wrapped under the Christmas tree is to children of all ages. I'm talking about the arrival of the latest crop of holiday music CDs. Last year was an especially bountiful time for festive discs by an impressive array of superstars including Barbra Streisand (her first Christmas CD in 35 years), Jane Olivor, Destiny's Child, Kelly Price, They Might Be Giants, and the fifth installment in the A Very Special Christmas various artist series. Queer artists such as folky Ann Reed, punky Evil Beaver, and The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus also made sure that their voices were heard during the season with their respective CDs.

Leading the pack in 2002 is Carly Simon with Christmas Is Almost Here (Rhino). A tasteful blend of new and old songs of the season, Simon and co-producer Don Was have done a lovely job in giving all of the songs the right weight and importance. A new song such as the title track, which was written by Simon's former brother-in-law, Livingston Taylor, sounds perfectly natural coming before "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Simon's own original "The Land of Christmas (Mary)" logically precedes "Silent Night." It's also meaningful to have wonderful songs such as "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Heaven" (co-written with Carly by her older sister Lucy), and Willie Nelson's "Pretty Paper," performed by an amazing array of musicians including Simon's son Ben Taylor, Billy Preston, and openly gay singer Arnold McCuller, to name a few.

Like the Carly Simon album, country diva Lee Ann Womack's The Season for Romance (MCA Nashville) is a pleasant blend of new and traditional songs, in arrangements that may take Womack's deeply country fans by surprise. Her gifts are in evidence on a jazzy duet with Harry Connick Jr. on "Baby It's Cold Outside" and equally jazz-influenced interpretations of 20th-century standards such as "White Christmas," "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," and the swinging "The Man with the Bag."

If your tastes in holiday harmony run toward the more experimental and, dare I say, modern, I highly recommend the various-artists compilation Maybe This Christmas (Nettwerk America). The array of music, originals, and covers, performed by some of the coolest people in contemporary music, makes this collection essential. Phantom Planet (which counts actor Jason Schwartzman as a member) begins the disc with "Winter Wonderland," which is followed by the title track, written and performed by Ron Sexsmith. Coldplay, who are leading the new wave of British invasion bands, perform a gorgeous rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," while Vanessa Carlton's piano is enhanced by Mike Farrell's trumpet on "Greensleeves." Critics' darling Bright Eyes made the right choice to cover "Blue Christmas" and the Barenaked Ladies/Sarah McLachlan duet on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" alone is worth the price of the disc. Also deserving of mention are Neil Finn's exquisite "Sweet Secret Peace" and Ben Folds's, well, bizarre "Bizarre Christmas Incident."

For those seeking the peace that Neil Finn sings about, I suggest the new age-oriented various artists collection A Peaceful Christmas (Time Life Music/BMG). Piano is the instrument of choice here with selections by George Winston ("The Holly and the Ivy"), Jim Brickman ("What Child Is This?" and "Joy to the World"), Liz Story ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"), and Phil Coulter ("White Christmas"). Queer listeners should pay special attention to the song "Emmanuel," sung by Kathy Mattea, Deana Carter, and out lesbian singer/songwriter Janis Ian.

For pure kitsch value (unless, of course, you are the president of his fan club), take a listen to Christmas (Columbia/Legacy) by Jim Nabors (a.k.a. Gomer Pyle, USMC). The '60s sitcom star was also a well-respected baritone and recorded numerous record albums throughout his career, including this one from 1967, now available on CD.

Holding up their end of the holiday harmonies, the contemporary a cappella group Rockapella have released their second domestic disc of seasonal music. All sounds on Comfort & Joy (Amerigo) "were produced by the voices and appendages" of the five Rockapella members. The Christmas cover tunes include "Merry Christmas Darling," and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and new songs include "Little Mary Snowflake," "Love and the Lights," and "Peace on Earth."

Christmas music traditionalists will most likely be pleased with three various artists compilations-The Ultimate Classical Christmas Album of All Time (Sony Classical/Legacy), The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas (Time-Life Music/EMI/Universal), and Christmas All Over the World (Sony Classical/Legacy). The double disc Ultimate set features more than 40 classical performances of traditional music. Treasury is also a two-disc package and includes a broad array of performers from The Chipmunks, Burl Ives, and Perry Como to Eva Cassidy, Greg Lake, and the Beach Boys. The single-disc World compilation is true to its name, with carols sung by Charlotte Church, Patricia Kaas, Ying Huang, Sissel Kyrkjebo, and The Three Tenors, to name a few.

Finally, fans of the animated Rankin/Bass holiday TV specials can now find both the soundtracks and complete telling of each on one CD-Santa Claus Is Coming to Town/Frosty the Snowman (Turner Music/ Rhino). Santa Claus, told and sung by Fred Astaire, and featuring the voices of Mickey Rooney and Keenan Wynn, has been delighting children of all ages for years. The Jimmy Durante-narrated Frosty also featured the voices of Billy De Wolfe and Jackie Vernon, and will help to make the holidays a nostalgic experience.

Pop culture journalist Gregg Shapiro is also a published fiction writer and poet. He has a poem in the new collection, Sweet Jesus (Anthology Press).