Customer Reviews

Come on Christmas

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Being a real 'Bah, Humbug' individual when it comes to Christmas, it takes more than an collection of white-bread Christmas music to entice me to purchase and listen to a seasonal CD. The only one I have really warmed up to since the Original Elvis Presley Christmas Album was the beautiful work on Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas. That is until...Dwight's 'Come On Christmas' hit my ears and my heart.

I can't stress too much the overwhelming beauty of the first strains of the opening track, 'Come On Christmas' and how it causes you to catch your breath before even hearing the rest of the CD. And this beautiful song displays perfectly the impact that Elvis Presley's singing has had on Dwight's style.

To Dwight's credit, when he immerses himself and his great country style into 'Santa Claus Is Back In Town', he does not copy Elvis' rendition. Although a great deal of the arrangement is the same, Dwight belts it out as a C&W tune and makes it his own by making it totally down-home rocking country.

As others have mentioned the traditional carols are also sang in Dwight's own style, making them not just another karaoke rendition of songs we have sang every Christmas since childhood. You haven't heard them like this before I promise.

Dwight's own 'Santa Can't Stay' might be humorous to some and may bring back childhood memories to many who have experienced many a past Christmas as a child amidst a totally dysfunctional family life. Either way, the tune is a treat.

This entire offering makes Christmas music so much more than such bearable and ordinary. Listening is like giving yourself a very special gift.

So rush to obtain a copy of this very enjoyable Christmas CD for this season....then, I think it will be safe to say that every future Noel you will be saying 'Come On Christmas' in order to pull this disc off the rack and listen again and again.

This album blew me away, as all of Dwight's do. His rendition of" Silver Bells", has a Tex/Mex feel to it that will have you dancing in the holly decked halls.His version of "Away In A manger", nearly brought me to tears.As he has proved time and time again,"Dwight Rules".

I've listened to Christmas albums by a Soul luminary (Al Green), the King of Rock and Soul (Solomon Burke) doing Gospel, the greatest band ever groovin' away (Booker T. & the MGs), and am, as most folks, very familiar with all the traditional Yuletide jingles done by various artists since the dawn of Rock 'N Roll, but this one is the best, and by far the most accessible, of them all.

After hearing Yoakam perform a stupendous working of the great "I'll Be Home For Christmas" on television, I knew I had to get this album. Lee Thornburg's great horn arrangements (right up Wayne Jackson's and Andrew Love's [Stax's Memphis Horns] alley), and typically superb work from Skip Edwards (B-3 organ) and guitarist/producer Pete Anderson, and of course Yoakam's crooning, made this the new definitive version of the classic. This great and unforced Southern Soul feel was totally unique in 1997, and still is today. Nothing else on the album goes in this direction. But that's okay.

Opening and closing with two excellent original numbers, what Dwight Yoakam does with the eight time tested (or time wearied) standards is something I've never heard anyone else do. There just doesn't seem to be a throw away here to be found; all are extremely interesting. He explores several different styles of music, keeping the listener on his or her toes and anxious to find out what he'll do next. This is truly a showcase for one of the greatest instruments in music, the vocals of Dwight Yoakam.

From the fascinating "Away In a Manger" (so darn authentic, you'll think it was recorded pre-Hank Williams!) to the great rockin' remake of Chuck Berry's "Run Run Rudolph", Dwight and these fantastic musicians turn out a classic collection that everyone, Country fan or not, should own.

Forget the fact that these are Christmas tunes, and that all but two are Yoakam originals. This is a stunning album. And though you may have heard this said before, trust me, you can play this good and loud in July and it's just as great as on Christmas morning.

The most entertaining Christmas album I have ever heard. Santa can't stay is a humourous commentary on today's family values. The traditional numbers are arranged with a inventive new flare that only a "Dwight Yoakam" can improve upon.

This CD starts out on a downer with the title track. It's ok, but stick with it. The rest of the songs are first class. Dwight sings the sexiest version of any Christmas song on "Santa Claus Is Back In Town". On "Silver Bells" he does a Tex Mex version that works. Only Dwight and Pete would think of this one. The song "Away in a Manger" is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. This one is definitely worth buying.

I love the combination of Country and Christmas music. However, Dwight Yoakam did not seem like the obvious choice, having a voice that's more suited to lonesome material, rather than the festive fare usually associated with Christmas. Being absolutely mad about Dwight and bit of a completist this album finally did wound up in my mailbox. And I'm glad it did! Trust Dwight to make this anything but standard material. The closing track "Santa can't stay" tells of a drunk dad dressing up like Santa throwing presents at mom's new boyfriend. See what I mean? Lyrically, the other songs are more conventional as Dwight resurrects some classic Christmas songs. However, it's the arrangements that make it really work. "Away in a manger" and "Silent night" prove that Dwight really ought to bring the world a Gospel album. "Silver bells" is hauntingly beautiful because of the harmony vocals of Beth Andersen. "Here comes Santa Claus" has a Rhumba feel to it, which can't help but make you smile. Overall, this is a surprisingly original Christmas album. If only more Christmas albums were this innovative.

There is only one album that stays in my truck all the time and this is it. I can't pick a favorite song, but the trumpet solo on "Come On Christmas" can give me the chills in July. Mr. Yoakam got serious when he put this effort together.

I love this album because Dwight's personality comes through, along with his amazing vocals and diverse musical stylings (rockabilly, country, jazz). This really deserves to be complemented by a Volume 2, but meanwhile I'll play this over and over. I especially enjoy "Away in a Manger," "Silver Bells," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "The Christmas Song," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Run Run Rudolph" and "Santa Can't Stay." I consider the latter to be a new modern classic for the holidays. It's a tongue-in-cheek original composition by Dwight who sings it with appropriate gusto. Bottom line, this album is a real quality effort, NOT an obligatory or ho hum affair.

Tired of the same old versions of your favorite Christmas tunes? Take a chance on this Christmas album, its funky, twangy and fun and rejuvenates all your favorite Christmas songs. I really like what Dwight does here bringing the rockhonkeytonkfun to christmas. And there's even a slingblade-redneck type tribute christmas song to boot. Funny and cool.

Get it.

Come on Christmas is the opening song on this beautifully done album..the sounds of joy fill the air with a definite Christmas Spirit one hears while listening..from the first time listening to the onehundredth~it touches a spot in Your heart and emotions that come with the Season..Run* Run *Rudolph~the Classicly done cover is a sure fire favourite to warm up Your holiday with~great for dancing at parties/family..Silver Bells w/Beth Andersen singing along is reminiscent of yesteryear and brings you up to your feet and singing along..ALL the songs are definite must listens:)Santa Claus is back in town is my favourite..with the slight swag and sway the music of the Holiday songs are inspired with the bar sound that comes out shining through..each song is exuberantly done in tune with all the sounds blending into the next~a very beautifully done version of Away in a Manger..just another example of this artist's variety of Talents~buy it..Merry Christmas and Happy New Year~Peace