Here we round-up the Christmas offerings for this year, be they singles, EPs or albums. Get your favourite tipple and mince pies at the ready as we delve into 2022′s Christmas offerings…
Pylon Poets give us ‘Say That You’ll Stay, a wistful approach as the band pine for a lost love. I kept thinking of the East 17 classic for some reason with the chorus! Good song and a band that are worthy of your time even outside of the festive season.
Bryan Adams gives us ‘Let’s Get Christmas Going’. An artist with previous Christmas form having released the ‘Christmas Time’ in 2019. It has a chidren’s choir, sleighbells and lyrics just the right side of cheesy. Not bad Mr Adams.
Sir Cliff Richard is Christmas for many people of a certain age and this year he is releasing a whole album of Christmas music, ‘Christmas With Cliff’. Fair play to him as he still sounds great and makes for a perfect musical diversion to get granny away from the sherry… (Robbie Williams…and now Sir Cliff! What have we done? Ed.)
Former Journey singer Steve Perry has re-issued his 2021 album ‘The Season’ as a deluxe edition. Basically adding ‘Maybe This Year’ and ‘Christmas Time’ to give ten songs. Mmmm, great to hear his vocals, however, the songs are arranged in a lounge/jazz style and certainly not for everyone. Someone likes it though as on its original release the album made number 4 on Billboard’s Holiday Albums and number 80 in the Billboard 200.
Albion Christmas Band return with ‘All Are Safely Gathered In’ (Talking Elephant). The Albion Christmas Band features Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention) on acoustic guitar & vocals, Kellie While (Albion Band) on acoustic guitar & vocals, Simon Care (Edward II) on melodeons, and Ashley Hutchings (founder of Fairport Convention, Albion Band, and Steeleye Span) on bass guitar & vocals. They are joined on several tracks by special guests Blair Dunlop (vocals, acoustic and electric guitars), Ruth Angell (violins) and Holly Brandon (fiddle).
The album includes a fine rendition of ‘If I Were A Carpenter’, a rousing drinking song ‘We Won’t Come Home Til Morning’ and the title track, which updates a traditional tune.
An enjoyable traditional folk Christmas album and the band are touring on the back of this album’s release.
Tony Mitchell has been busy this year with a revived Kiss Of The Gypsy and album, with another solo album in the works. He also found time to record this rather good Christmas album ‘Tales From The Christmas Inn’, which he started recording before last Christmas but ran out of time.
‘Northern Lights’ is a cracking melodic rock tune, which sounds good whatever the season. ‘Once Upon A Christmas Time’ has a neat 70′s rock vibe, whilst ‘Here’s To Us’ is a seasonal musical feast. If this doesn’t get you in a seasonal mood nothing will! Touch of the Pogues and Flogging Molly on ‘The Great Boxing Day Kick Off’.
Plenty of variety and despite the Christmas trimmings this is no musical turkey!
Reviews by Jason Ritchie
Feature (Box sets for life, not just for Christmas (2022))
Feature (An introduction to Christmas Rock Music)
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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