Customer Reviews

Uncorked

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A great, groovy, well-produced and really good-natured set of original roots-blues holiday tunes... Acoustic roots showman Dan Hicks and a bunch of his Bay Area buddies cruise through their fourth album of madcap holiday novelty songs... and it may be their best one yet! The album kicks off with the off-color "Santa Lost A Ho" then zips through a series of similarly silly, likeable novelty tunes. The players are cherry-picked from the ranks of overly-talented Northern California musicians -- mostly fellows whose names you wouldn't recognize, though roots divas Maria Muldaur and Angela Strehli drop in for a duet on "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" and Norton Buffalo resurfaces for "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" (don't play this song for your kids: they'll only get ideas!) Overall, this is a really fun album... If you want a little break from the saccharine blechiness that passes for yuletide cheer, then this is a disc that may make your holidays fun again...!)

Peopled and fueled by the people that make the music behind many of your fave front persons, this highly skewed Christmas set is a hoot. Recording together again in the first time in forever, this bunch of fun by some of the greatest names from 70's blues, rock and pop will blow you away because it's done outside the system with an attitude to match. With a songbag that pulls from many outlaw quandrants (like the Marx Bros.), there's nothing here that adults won't find a great break from "Deck the Halls". Let the good times roll.
-10/14/02

Anybody with a sense of humor that also appreciates good swing-style jazz or jump-blues will play this CD all year, and not just during the Christmas season. There is enough musical talent assembled to fill out a 6 CD box set, with mainstays of Dan Hicks, Paul Rogers, Austin de Lone, Tim Eschliman, and several others. Also includes guests Norton Buffalo and Maria Muldaur. The CD itself is artfully printed, just like the jewelcase cover, and there are decent liner notes for a change (thanks Globe Records).

The 12 jumping tracks include (original songs noted by writer):

1. Santa Lost a Ho (Paul Rogers)
2. Santa's Workshop (Dan Hicks)
3. Hey Santa (Austin de Lone)
4. Ain't That Cold (Tim Eschliman)
5. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
6. These Christmas Blues (Dan Hicks)
7. Plant a Santa (Paul Rogers)
8. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
9. Lonesome Reindeer Blues
10. Don't They Know It's Christmas? (Tim Eschliman)
11. Santa, You Got What It Takes
12. Silent Night

Suprisingly, lots of spirit and soul in that last track. And not a dud amongst the 12. If you are buying for a gift, make sure to get one for yourself...

Paul Rogers is one of the most under appreciated songwriters of our time. The music he has written over the years for Those Darn Accordions, The Christmas Jug Band and others contain lyrics that can bring you to tears and lyrics that cause a belly laugh. "Santa Lost A Ho" isn't one of his best, however he finally has written a song that has made him a few bucks.

As for The Christmas Jug Band, they are a hoot. We liked their music so much a group of us got together last year and brought them to little Seaside Oregon for a holiday show. Buy their CDs, go see their shows. They breathe a little fresh air into a time of year that in some areas has become mundane.

If you are looking for light hearted comical christmas tunes this is what you have been looking for. Not parodies, but original and humerous Christmas songs. True to the "Jug Band" style these are hilarious songs for the whole family to enjoy. Also would make a great stocking stuffer for music fans or a Holiday gift for friends with a Holiday sense of humor.

I've always liked everything Dan Hicks has done and this is no exception.
This is a really great band, they definitely know their chops, and the music selection is positively wonderful.
So if you're like me and really hate most standard Christmas music--if you buy this you won't be disappointed.

I heard the lead-off track 3 yeas ago, "Santa lost a Ho," and I knew I was going to get this CD. I should have bought it then! All the songs are excellent. Great song writing and musicians.