Various artists, Holiday Heart (Volunteer VolRec 002, two CDs): From the people who gave us the wonderful Ho Ho Ho Spice several years ago (if you don’t have it, what are you waiting for?) comes another 44-song collection by mostly alternative and college-radio types. If you’re a member of AAA, you may have received an e-mail offer for the last two of them. In numerical order, they are Christmas Classics (Genius Entertainment 34922) Celebrate The Season (Genius Entertainment 34932) Winterland Christmas (Genius Entertainment 34942) and Peace On Earth (Genius Entertainment 34952).
Each one has a beautiful black-and-white winter-scene photo taken by Adams on the cover, and the music inside is equally peaceful it’s great background music for holiday entertaining, and it’s mostly, if not entirely, new. (Various artists, Ansel Adams: Sounds Of Christmas series: These are four two-CD sets that are spottily available at best, but they’re worth finding. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” the opening track, is now almost upbeat, and things keep going from there. Martin Sexton, Camp Holiday (Kitchen Table KTR 004): Sexton is a folk singer, and he’s done some wonderful things with the mostly familiar songs he performs. The many highlights include a rollicking version of “Frosty The Snowman” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” as if the man with the sack had just seen the Batsignal and a cool instrumental version of “What Child Is This” that lifts riffs from “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky” and “Hang ’Em High.” Reverend Horton Heat, We Three Kings (Yep Roc YEP 2096): The self-proclaimed “psychobilly” band has put together a fun collection for Christmas. This CD is a recording of a concert she did at Fordham University, complete with the announcer’s introduction and Odetta’s between-songs patter, and it is righteous! MC-0055): Odetta is a living legend of folk music.
Odetta, Gonna Let It Shine: A Concert For The Holidays (M.C. Runner-up for the best title of a new destined-for–Dr.
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The Marshall Tucker Band, Carolina Christmas (Ramblin’/Shout! Factory DK 37463): MTB band members old and new, plus family members, contribute to this enjoyable CD.