This is an album I've been waiting a few years for! Even before the big success of "Jump Jive and Wail", I've always thought Setzer could pull off one heck of a good Christmas album. This one exceeds my expectations! I'd have expected a big-band-meets-rockabilly bash on all of the tracks, but influences abound here. Fans of big bands of the past will recognize many of the styles here, including Basie, Ellington, Al Hirt, Les Brown (via an imaginative big band rendition of the Nutcracker Suite), Lionel Hampton and yes, even Kay Starr. He teams up with Ann Margret for a duet on "Baby It's Cold Outside"...which is as "warm" inside as you'd expect it to get. Overall, it's anchored by Setzer's fiery guitar and the well-oiled Brian Setzer Orchestra.
For the completist, there are two other Setzer tracks out there that did not appear on this album. There is an instrumental version of "Jingle Bells" that predates this album by a couple of years--this track originally appeared on the "Merry Axemas" CD, which featured top rock guitarists doing instrumental versions of holiday songs. Also, there is a recording of the BSO with Lou Rawls singing "So They Say It's Christmas" (from the Jingle All The Way soundtrack). Note that the import version of this CD includes the instrumental "Jingle Bells" as a bonus track--you're better off finding the Merry Axemas CD instead.
(Click to order from Amazon)
Tracks:
1. Jingle Bells
2. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
3. Winter Wonderland
4. Blue Christmas
5. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
6. Baby Its Cold Outside (Duet With Ann Margret)
7. The Nutcracker Suite
8. (Everybodys Waitin For) The Man With The Bag
9. Sleigh Ride
10. So They Say Its Christmas
11. O Holy Night
12. The Amens
The BSO is making a few concert appearances over the holidays. Setzer and the band will be appearing on NBC's Today Show on Christmas morning. They will also be on the TNT cable network on Monday, 12/23, at 11:00pm EST.
For the completist, there are two other Setzer tracks out there that did not appear on this album. There is an instrumental version of "Jingle Bells" that predates this album by a couple of years--this track originally appeared on the "Merry Axemas" CD, which featured top rock guitarists doing instrumental versions of holiday songs. Also, there is a recording of the BSO with Lou Rawls singing "So They Say It's Christmas" (from the Jingle All The Way soundtrack). Note that the import version of this CD includes the instrumental "Jingle Bells" as a bonus track--you're better off finding the Merry Axemas CD instead.
(Click to order from Amazon)
Tracks:
1. Jingle Bells
2. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
3. Winter Wonderland
4. Blue Christmas
5. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
6. Baby Its Cold Outside (Duet With Ann Margret)
7. The Nutcracker Suite
8. (Everybodys Waitin For) The Man With The Bag
9. Sleigh Ride
10. So They Say Its Christmas
11. O Holy Night
12. The Amens
The BSO is making a few concert appearances over the holidays. Setzer and the band will be appearing on NBC's Today Show on Christmas morning. They will also be on the TNT cable network on Monday, 12/23, at 11:00pm EST.