Rod Stewart doesn't mess around on the expanded deluxe-edition CD reissue of his 2013 album Merry Christmas, Baby (Verve). Singing in the crooner style of his 21st-century releases, Stewart teams up with some interesting duet partners. Modern-day crooning dude Michael Buble holds his own against Stewart on "Winter Wonderland." Cee Lo Green inspires Stewart to dig deep and unleash his most soulful self on the title cut, while Mary J. Blige brings out Stewart's more serious side on "We Three Kings." Stewart even tries his hand at an original yuletide tune with "Red-Suited Superman" (co-written with David and Amy Foster). "When You Wish Upon a Star," the least holiday-oriented selection, is a pleasant surprise. Of the three bonus tracks, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" glows the brightest. A bonus DVD features six intimate live performances, including "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
New wave, hip-hop, ska, boy bands and divas were the order of the day in the 80s, represented on The Classic Christmas 80s Album (Legacy). New wave acts the Waitresses ("Christmas Wrapping," later covered by Spice Girls), the Bangles (Simon & Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of Winter"), the Hooters ("Silent Night") and gay music legend George Michael's launching pad Wham! ("Last Christmas") stand under the new wave banner. The late Whitney Houston ("Do You Hear What I Hear?") and 70s-survivors-turned-80s-superstars the Pointer Sisters ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town") have diva territory covered. Hip-hop forefathers Run-DMC ("Christmas in Hollis") fly the rap flag, while the high-energy ska act Fishbone ("Slick Nick, You Devil You") gets serious. For sheer 80s hose-head novelty, there's Bob & Doug McKenzie's rendition of "12 Days of Christmas."
Sarah McLachlan released her debut album at the tail end of the 80s, then went on to become one of the singer-songwriters most closely associated with the 90s, due in part to her series of Lilith Fair music festivals. The Classic Christmas Album (Arista/Legacy) includes all 12 tracks from McLachlan's 2006 Wintersong disc and adds five more songs to the mix. Merry, memorable selections include the McLachlan original title tune, covers of songs by fellow Canadians including Joni Mitchell ("River") and Gordon Lightfoot ("Song for a Winter's Night"), "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and "Christmas Time Is Here," featuring Diana Krall. Holiday highlights include her medley-duet with Barenaked Ladies on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings," and the originals "Find Your Voice" and "Space on the Couch for Two."
A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas! (Concord) is an accurate title for the new holiday recording by the Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Scotty Barnhart. Swing it does! Released to coincide with the orchestra's 80th anniversary, AVSBC! is the first Christmas recording in its history. Gay pop music legend Johnny Mathis, a man with his own history of Christmas music, can be heard lending his vocals to Kay Thompson's "It's the Holiday Season." Fittingly retitled, "Good 'Swing' Wenceslas" lives up to its name. Carmen Bradford, who has sung with the orchestra for more than 30 years, takes the lead on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," while 21st-century soul goddess Ledisi belts it out on "The Christmas Song." The encore selection "I'll Be Home for Christmas" wraps things up with Ellis Marsalis on piano and Plas Johnson on sax.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis presents the live album Big Band Holidays (Blue Engine), featuring vocal soloists including Cecile McLorin Salvant, Gregory Porter and Rene Marie. This holiday recording has an interesting selection of seasonal tunes, including "A Cradle in Bethlehem," "It's Easy To Blame the Weather" and "'Zat You, Santa Claus?" Living up to the jazz in its name, a number of the songs clock in over the five-minute mark, and the improvisational rendition of "We Three Kings" is pure jazz.