A Christmas Catch All

A Christmas Catch All

by Kristin Battestella

Music, vinyl, or specials – this holiday trio offers a little festive something for everyone!

Tennessee Ernie Ford: Christmas – Try and keep up, for although the rousing “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “What Child is This?,” and “Away in a Manger” repeat from Tennessee Ernie Ford's Christmas Special – itself a double LP combining his previous Sing We Now of Christmas and O Come All Ye Faithful albums – this CD compilation is not the same album as any of those. Bellowing carols “O Holy Night,” “It Came upon the Midnight Clear,” “Silent Night,” “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” and “Joy to the World” are also repeated from The Star Carol: Tennessee Ernie Ford Sings His Christmas Favorites, but this isn't that complete session gone digital, either. The download version, however, lists some of the songs herein as 1971 re-records, so unfortunately Ford fans looking to upgrade their scratched vinyl have to pick and choose individual tunes. Of these fifteen tracks, remaining songs that don't appear anywhere else include a lofty “The First Noel” before a jolly, family friend “Up on the House Top/ We Wish You a Merry Christmas” medley and the deep, somber “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” “O Christmas Tree/ Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” end the set with traditional festiveness for all, and while frustrating thanks to its confusing set list, this forty minute CD fits the bill for boomers nostalgic for a good old fashioned baritone Christmas.

A Very Terry Christmas – NBC invites viewers to Get Cozy with Terry Crews as the Brooklyn 99 sergeant embraces the ever lovable Bob Ross The Joy of Painting model with a fireside canvas and holiday brush strokes. Calming Christmas music accents the relaxing blue skies, and it's fascinating to see our burly, funny favorite's soft spoken delight over the two inch brush and his gentle satisfaction while equating mixing paints to playing in the mud. Breezy inspirations and lighthearted instruction create art therapy with no wrong moves. It's all good – paint over what you don't like because Terry's always wanted to say “Happy little trees.” For those who have never actually watched Bob Ross or only know of his recent resurgence in pop culture, this ode may be too unusual or boring. This presentation expects viewers to know the format and doesn't explain itself, for the wonderfully nostalgic and comforting recreation adds it's own spin, including Terry working left handed and portraits of co-star Andre Braugher's Captain Holt hanging beside the Christmas tree. Although this was originally a 2018 streaming event on a twenty four hour loop, now the one off forty minute special remains bemusing on its own, and I'd love to see Terry make more holiday painting appearances. The question isn't “Why should we watch a former football player paint a Christmas tree?” but “Why not?”

You Make the Call

Amy Grant: A Christmas Album – The Contemporary Christian flavor of this 1983 debut holiday hit gets to the country strings immediately with the snowy, sentimental, and slightly dated saccharin “Tennessee Christmas.” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” lets Grant's voice shine with an a cappella start before the choir and music swell for the big finish and the festive, instrumental “Preiset Dom Konig (Praise the King)” interlude. Though a chart topper in its day, the electronic sound, tech beats, and synthesizer mixing of “Emmanuel” now sounds more like it belongs over an eighties action movie montage than on a Christmas album. Some who like Christian Rock may still find this hip, but break dancing over the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace won't be for everyone. Several of the tracks segue into one another, and it's tough to tell where “Little Town (O Little Town of Bethlehem medley)” begins thanks to similar keyboard edge interfering with Grant's delivery. She can hold the big notes so the over produced orchestration is unnecessary on centuries old carols that have stood the test of time. “Christmas Hymn” is a much more heartfelt original, reverent with its choir echoes and crescendos while “Love Has Come” combines the family holiday with praise and worship verses in obligatory Contemporary Christian style. It's not that this is a bad song, in may ways there's nothing wrong with it. However, it reminds me exactly what I don't like about contemporary worship music – the need to make Jesus hip. Yeah! Rock on! Hold up the lighters for Christ! Fist bump! John 3:16! Why does it feel the need to make the Messiah cool as if he hasn't done enough already? o_O “Sleigh Ride” is much better, a familiar medley and jolly pace that showcases Grant's vocal alongside the long, lingering, mellow notes of “The Christmas Song,” which is arguably the best tune on the album. “Heirlooms” lays on more sentiment, starting off cozy and seemingly secular before switching to adoration – pretty, but thematically a little all over the place. Why would you equate Jesus to random trinkets? Again, the style tries to say something powerful but comes off forced when the orchestral prelude of “A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard on High” is stronger. This longest finale track brings down the house with traditional chorales and uplifting high notes peppered with classical accents. Though definitely dated with an of the moment, doing too much contemporary movement capitalization that will be off putting to some listeners, this thirty-seven minute brevity can be a fine accompaniment to baking cookies or wrapping presents.