I've been looking forward to today since the end of August when it was announced everybody's favorite uncle, Bob Dylan, was going to release a Christmas album. We'll talk more about that one in just a bit. Let's skim the rest of our releases and dispense with them first.
There are three other Christmas records on the roster this week: there's one from former American Idol contestant David Archuleta, Charlie Daniels has a bluegrass Christmas collection, and I believe this is the third Christmas collection from Neil Diamond. Oh, wait. There's a fourth. I saved the worst for last: Barry Manilow. I'm not the only one noticing a trend here, am I?
One of our regular readers is a huge King Crimson guy, so I should mention it appears In The Court Of The Crimson King is getting some manner of re-issue. I'm not a KC guy so I went tell you if it's worth buying or not; best you check that out on your own, is what.
Bob Dylan
Christmas In The Heart
A Bob Dylan Christmas! How cool is that? I mean, think about it! Dylan does Christmas? I can't wait to hear Dylan take on "Winter Wonderland" and "Here Comes Santa Claus." How can you not get excited about hearing Dylan bray and croak "O Little Town of Bethlehem" or "Hark The Herald Angels Sing?"
I've listened to some song clips and it sounds exactly like I thought it would. This is going to be fun, people. He's got his current band and he's playing these songs with a sense of fun, cool, and swing. He's even enlisted a schmaltzy choir of background singers. This is a traditional Christmas record without the stuffiness or the annoying family members.
The best part: this is a charity benefit record. Dylan is donating the proceeds. Talk about the spirit of Christmas. Everybody wins. I'm having one of these!
Bob Dylan
Christmas in the Heart
The Flaming Lips
Embryonic
Hall & Oates
Do What You Want Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates
Mario
D.N.A.
Nellie McKay
Normal as Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day
Ben Allison
Think Free
Gregg Allman
The Solo Years 1973-1997: One More Silver Dollar
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Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
it's gonna be a christmas two-fer for me this year: first with the Dylan and second with the Rob Halford.
i'm not kidding
2 - Mark Saleski
p.s. the new Flaming Lips is fantastic & fantastically weird
3 - Josh Hathaway
I likely pass on the Halford, but I'm having that Dylan.
Hadn't listened to the Lips yet.
4 - Tom Johnson
I'll chime in with some info on the Crimson release(s):
Unfortunately, there's no release of King Crimson's In The Court in the US this week, it won't be out for a month here. It was out in the UK yesterday in two 2-disc versions (2-CD and 1-CD/1-DVD,) but the 5-CD/1-DVD box is delayed until at the end of the October in the UK.
King Crimson's Red was released last week in the UK and is the definitive version of the album, for sure. Remastered CD with unreleased bonus tracks, DVD with surround and hi-rez audio mixed by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson in addition to a 40-minute live-on-TV concert, which is great sound and video quality for its time. All of the albums will be getting this treatment. It's annoying to re-buy these once again but they're really doing these right.
5 - Josh Hathaway
I knew we could count on Mayor Johnson to set us straight on the Crimson releases. Thanks for the update, Mr. Mayor.
6 - Tom Johnson
It's what I'm paid for, man. Why is this money I get always so small and funny colored?
7 - Mark Saleski
oh dang, i forgot about Red. gotta have me that.
may get the Hall & Oates too.
no..really! ;-)
8 - Tom Johnson
Dude, Mark, the video footage is worth it alone. It's hilariously "70s European-experimental." I think it's "The Night Watch" that is presented entirely in "black screen with colored outlines," which would be almost maddening if it wasn't so ridiculous looking. "Larks" has a seizure-inducing, color-changing blob flashing behind the band, who must be playing in front of a green-screen. Not to mention the first few couple of minutes spent with the camera looking at various baby-doll heads . . . ? The best, the absolute best, however, is, again during "Larks," Fripp burns holes in the camera, which dares cross the Frippian DMZ. You won't see shots like that again in the rest of the performance - scared the poor cameraman off.
Must have been a lot of film-school graduates at the time with nowhere else to use their cutting edge "techniques." It's a strange affliction many other live TV performances of the era are saddled with, too, from what I've seen on VH1 Classic.
9 - Christine
David Archuleta
Christmas from the Heart
We love David Archuleta!
10 - S.Rod
Josh, Mark is right about The Flaming Lips...I've been listening to the new album all day. Definitely weird in a great way.
11 - Josh Hathaway
Look at S.Rod, all growed up and stopping by with a comment. I'll have to look into this.
12 - malia08
David Archuleta for sure. I heard the preview before, they were amazing. I'll buy for myself and some of my friends for Christmas gifts. My favorites are "Ave Maria"; "Oh Holy Night" and "Melody of Christmas", but I'm sure that all of the songs in the whole album will be AMAZING!!!!
13 - Ruvy
Bob Dylan? Christmas? Napoleon-in-rags must be desperate for some scratch....
14 - Josh Hathaway
Someone hasn't been reading articles before commenting, not that I'm very surprised.
The best part: this is a charity benefit record. Dylan is donating the proceeds.