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Show THE FORUM 3 - DECEMBER 5, 2012 - cy i c;:. c . t. i. jdi r C. cccncr i - 5n n ncc a: ij3 cl r; : jap". wnm M 4. 5Tv l--j M sjr zrs m Coi 4 y i a: tc tp xcc. iar., 'CCC. wj a ilW W &A Ik C Phillip K. Gipson Contributing Writer CL C r v. TE i o o oc, m . T o'c gro & o 22 CL 3 D co o CD sf'' i o'c 3Z CD cu 3 CCCi If: CL E tu ? c : C CD CD t ridcc rs rJ met C --- c" oo ri fn JK : f C c 15 $oe; c .vOOi'j'it C 'SZZtid ctrccccc 3333 q j q This issue, I present to you my three favorite holiday albums: zz v r VA rp tn rc cp Soul Christmas o o ro c - v cp cp t IMT Im a big fan of classic R&Bsoul music, W so this 1968 Atlantic Re- "rzrq o - cords compilation featuring Donny Hathaway, Booker T. and The MGs, Otis Redding and more, is certainly a holiday favorite of mine. Otis Redding only ever recorded two Christmas songs, and theyre both featured here. His excellent version of White Christmas is admittedly a bit cheerless, but awfully expressive and beautifully sung. The hilarious, sexually suggestive Back Door Santa by Clarence Carter cant be missed. It was sampled by Run -- D.M.C. for their Christmas in Hollis. My two favorite tracks on this compilation are Carla Thomas bouncy, upbeat number Gee Whiz, its Christmas and William Bells smooth holiday love song Every Day Will Be Like instrumentals k a Holiday. In addition to the sold tracks, five are scattered throughout. A A A A A5 c ! rT jazz-fun- Chris Isaak Chris Isaak Christmas n crooner Isaak takes a page from the crooning veteran handbook here, following predecessors like Elvis and Bobby Darin, in releasing his own renditions of Christmas classics. He even introduces a few fabrications of his own into the canon. One of which, Washington Square, may be the strongest offering on the LP. Though most often compared to The King, the bravado and machismo pomp of Elvis never suited Isaak. Rather, Isaaks always been the Orbi$on of my generation, a dark crooner unafraid to cry. The heartbreak comes through on many tracks: on his rendition of the song Pretty Paper and certainly on the aforementioned Washington Square, among others. Still, chipper classics like Let it Snow and Mele Kalikimaka retain their joyfulness as they should. Isaaks more commonly associated with hits like Wicked Game and Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing, but who needs holiday cheer more than and the lovesick? the Rockabillyroots-roc- k CHRIS ISAAK CHRISTMAS y VVy-- .? 2 iI v (.' f E (2S) 3. X tear-soak- ed The Ventures The Ventures Christmas Album surf-roc-k beach holiday, anyone? OfSplish splash. Twangy 1960s ten thought of as the greatest instrumental rock group, the famous reverb-drenchsurf tunes that put a pleasd, quartet delivers well-knoant tropical spin on holiday greats. The tracks open with 60s poprock intros which quickly transition into Venturized renditions of holiday standards. What better way to kick off Frosty the Snowman than with Tequila? Or Rudolph... with The Beatles I Feel Fine? Imagine actually dancing or partying to holiday music like This albums the cats your embarrassing folks! Absurd, right? Wrong. release was a mono vinyl pajamas, and oh so danceable. The original version, but today you can pick up a remastered stereo reissue copy on the cheap just about anywhere online. Whether in sand or snow, hang ten with The Ventures this season. Favorites: Sleigh Ride, Jingle fast-pace- ed wn DA ! Bell Rock, and Blue Christmas. Don:t forget these classic records: Ella Fitzgerald Eila Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, Nat King Cole The Christmas Song, The Beach Boys Bing Crosby Merry Christmas, and The Beach Boys Christmas Album. nn .4 |