Christmas Time Again [Original recording reissued, Extra tracks]

dB's | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 21, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Extra tracks
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B000IAZNDG
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,756 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Christmas Time-The dB's

2. Home For The Holidays-The dB's

3. (It's Going To Be A) Lonely Christmas-Marshal Crenshaw

4. Jesus Christ-Big Star

5. Holiday Spirit-The dB's

6. Christmas Time Is Here-Thad Cockrell & Roman Candle

7. Houses On The Hill-Whiskeytown

8. The Only Law That Santa Claus Understood-Ted Lyons

9. I Saw Three Ships-Don Dixon

10. Christmas Is The Only Time-Wes Lachot

11. Christmas Light-Keegan DeWitt & The Sparrows

12. Santa's Moonlight Sleighride-Ted Lyons

13. Sha La La-Cathy Harrington

14. The Christmas Song-Alex Chilton

15. Christmas Is Saturday-Don Dixon

16. Felex Navidad-The dB's

17. Holy Night-Peter Holsapple

18. You're What I Want For Christmas-Chris Stamey & Cathy Harrington

19. Silent Nocturne-Brent Lanbert

20. It's A Wonderful Life-Chris Stamey

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is the gift that keeps on giving--the Yuletide album that Chris Stamey and the dB's originally released as a vinyl EP in 1986, later expanded into a CD, and have now updated as a 21-cut extravaganza of holiday cheer (and occasionally bittersweet reflection). It's like a family album of a musical clan that keeps extending itself, now encompassing the likes of Marshall Crenshaw (with a soulful "Lonely Christmas"), Don Dixon (with two cuts including a live, finger-snapping "I Saw Three Ships"), and Whiskeytown (a previously unreleased Ryan Adams/Caitlin Cary collaboration, "Houses on the Hill"). Most of the material is original, covering a territory that extends from punk, new wave, and power pop through alt-country, though Peter Holsapple delivers a surprisingly straightforward "O Holy Night" and Alex Chilton does Mel Tormé proud with "The Christmas Song." --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Overlooked Classic, December 7, 2009

By 

B. Niedt (Cherry Hill, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christmas Time Again (Audio CD)

The dB's were one of the great unsung groups of the burgeoning Southern alt-pop scene in the 1980's, and like much of their catalog, this Christmas offering has been largely overlooked over the years. I only discovered it myself a couple of years ago, and I'm glad I did. It apparently started out as an EP, expanded to a full-length album, and more recently was re-released as an expanded version with 21 tracks. The dB's - Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple - do a fine job with some familiar old tunes as well as new and original ones, and their collection of "friends" is impressive as well: Alex Chilton and Big Star, Marshall Crenshaw, Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown, Don Dixon, et al. There aren't many clinkers here, (Ted Lyons' bizarre "The Only Law that Santa Claus Understood" is one exception). Overall, it's a very enjoyable collection of jangle-pop mixed with a downbeat ballad or two and even a somewhat jazzy arrangement (Don Dixon's version of "I Saw Three Ships"). In short, it's a nice departure from the "same-old same-old" holiday fare.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Few Nuggets, May 20, 2007

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas Time Again (Audio CD)

Chris Stamey Group released "Christmas Time" in 1986. Collectors Choice release "Christmas Time Again" includes many of the tracks from that set and expands with added selections. Marshall Crenshaw works up a sweat on "Lonely Christmas" with a boy scout vocal wringing the most from the track. Big Star's "Jesus Christ" has a good religious sentiment, "With love they did rejoice, fine & pure of voice; & the wrong shall fail & the right prevail." The dB's "Holiday Spirit" satirizes commercialism, "I've got that holiday spirit, gimme, gimme, gimme." Whiskeytown with Ryan Adams on vocals relates a sad story, "I found a bunch of letters, they were written for the fellow who broke your mama's heart." Ted Lyons does a parody of Gene Pitney's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" on "The Only Law that Santa Claus Understood" casting Santa as a gunslinger. Don Dixon provides a jazzy bass-thumping version of "I Saw Three Ships." Musically, Wes Lachot's vocals recall the Beach Boys on a song with a sad message, "Christmas is the only time I think of you." Cathy Harrington's "Sha La La" sounds like the Go-Gos channeling the Crystals, but unfortunately, Harrington's voice is not one you want to hear again & again. With his warbling vocals, Alex Chilton sounds like he's trying to make fun of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire). "Christmas Time Again" is a varied set with a few nuggets & a few clinkers. It fills the spot for those not wanting to hear the same old thing at holiday time. Enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this album, December 15, 2010

By 

Greg Wall "Smartguy22" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christmas Time Again (Audio CD)

Who were the Lamberts? Bret Lambert's short "Silent Nocturne" is incredibly beautiful, and should be on
anyone's Christmas Mix tape. Their light jazz touch on "Silver Bells" makes for a great version too. The rest
of this sort of Alt Country Christmas is very good indeed. Highly recommended.