Bob Dylan album

Album   Released Publisher Rating
Christmas in the Heart (Deluxe Version) 2009 Sony Music Distribution
Back to the topChristmas in the Heart (Deluxe Version)
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Released:
October 13, 2009
Label:
Sony Music Distribution
Rating:
Genre:
Folk
Styles:
Christmas
Rock & Roll
Americana
After the initial shock fades, the existence of Christmas in the Heart seems perhaps inevitable. After all, the thing Bob Dylan loves most of all are songs that are handed down from generation to generation, songs that are part of the American fabric, songs so common they never seem to have been written. These are the songs Dylan chooses to sing on Christmas in the Heart, a cheerfully old-fashioned holiday album from its Norman Rockwell-esque cover to its joyous backing vocals. Apart from the breakneck "Must Be Santa," which barrelhouses like a barroom, Dylan doesn't really reinterpret these songs as much as simply play them with his crackerjack road band, dropping in a little flair -- restoring "we'll have to muddle through somehow" to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," singing the opening of "O Come All Ye Faithful" in its original Latin -- but never pushing tunes in unexpected directions. Many would argue that having Dylan croon these carols is unexpected enough and, true, there are times his gravelly rumble is a bit pronounced, but nothing here feels forced, it all feels rather fun, provided you're on the same wavelength as latter-day Bob, where the sound and swing of the band is as important as the song, where there's an undeniable nostalgic undertow to all the proceedings. And, of course, there's no better time for celebratory sound, swing, and nostalgia than the holidays, which may be why Christmas in the Heart is a bit of a left-field delight.
Track # Track Time Composer
1 Here Comes Santa Claus 2:35 Haldeman, Autry
2 Do You Hear What I Hear? 3:02 Baker, Regney
3 Winter Wonderland 1:53 Bernard, Smith
4 Hark the Herald Angels Sing 2:30 Traditional
5 I'll Be Home for Christmas 2:54 Kent, Gannon, Ram
6 Little Drummer Boy 2:53 Onorati, Davis, Simeone Ringtone
7 The Christmas Blues 2:54 Cahn, David Jack Holt
8 O' Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) 2:48 Traditional
9 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 4:06 Martin, Blane
10 Must Be Santa 2:48 Moore, Fredericks Ringtone
11 Silver Bells 2:36 Evans, Livingston
12 The First Noel 2:30 Traditional
13 Christmas Island 2:28 Moraine
14 The Christmas Song 3:57 Wells, Torme, Wells
15 O' Little Town of Bethlehem 2:17 Traditional
Price: $21.94     23 Reviews
Deluxe Edition includes five exclusive holiday cards. 2009 holiday release, the first Christmas album from the legendaryFolk/Rock singer/songwriter. Christmas In The Heart is Dylan...
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