Christmas CD – ApologetiX
This CD made me laugh, as was intended. With parodies of such songs as “Micah Number 5,” “Hotel Can’t Afford Ya,” and several other popular ditties, this CD may not sound very Christmasy, but it gets the message out in a very amusing way! This was only produced in limited numbers, but maybe you will be lucky enough to track one down for the classic rock lover in your family.
“It’s a Wonderful Christmas”Word Distribution
Leading Christian retail supplier, Word Distribution, recently launched the “It’s a Wonderful Christmas” promotion featuring new holiday releases and Christmas favorites in video and music formats.
Highlighted in “It’s a Wonderful Christmas” are new releases including: Tis the Reason DVD and VHS featuring Toonacious’ Lenny and Sid; new holiday album A Michael English Christmas; BeBe Winan’s My Christmas Prayer; iworship Christmas and others. Additionally, in conjunction with its “Family Entertainment Headquarters” promotion, Word Distribution is introducing the holiday movie classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, on DVD and VHS through CBA retail.
“It’s a Wonderful Christmas” additionally features Word Distribution’s best-selling music titles at a $13.98 value, including Amy Grant’s A Christmas To Remember; Jaci Valesquez’ Christmas and Nicole C. Mullen’s Christmas In Black & White, among others. The promotion includes many catalog titles of Christmas favorites priced at $9.98-$11.98, including: Ray Boltz’ A Christmas Album; Selah’s Rose of Bethlehem; Christmas With the Imperials; First Call’s Evening in December; Sandi Patty’s O Holy Night and many more. Also returning for the holiday season are the blockbuster releases from VeggieTales, The Star of Christmas and The Toy that Saved Christmas, available on both DVD and VHS.
Christmas – The Katinas
Special copies of the Katinas Roots include a 4-song limited edition Christmas CD. The Katinas Christmas is a must have for any fan of tight-knit harmonies and uptempo treatments of traditional holiday favorites. It includes “Let It Snow,” “Mary Did You Know,” “Joy to the Word,” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The Katinas Roots is great but make sure you get it with The Katinas Christmas!
Christmas Is All in the Heart – Steven Curtis Chapman
This Hallmark exclusive CD features Steven Curtis Chapman singing twelve Christmas favorites including “Silen Night,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and “Home for Christmas” all sung to pleasant arrangements that showcase Chapman’s voice. Interspersed with Christmas favorites are Chapman’s own “Christmas Is All in the Heart” and “This Baby.” If you are a fan of SC2, you will definitely love this project. If you enjoy traditional Christmas classics, this will be a nice choice in you CD player.
The Christmas Guest – Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith released The Christmas Guest, his third album on Sparrow Records, on September 30th. Produced by country music icon Marty Stuart, The Christmas Guest offers Andy’s unique take on the holiday with a collection of short story readings and songs that conjure the warmest memories of holidays gone by. As a small child, Griffith was captivated with a French Christmas story he heard on the radio called ‘The Juggler’. He fell in love with the story and for nearly seventy years has held it close to his heart, hoping one day to record the story himself. ‘The Juggler’ was the spark that put The Christmas Guest in motion, and indeed made a life-long dream come true for Andy Griffith. In addition to ‘The Juggler’ and three other moving spoken-word selections, all recorded with lush orchestrated undertones, The Christmas Guest features several Christmas carols with gorgeous bluegrass arrangements, courtesy of Stuart.
Go Tell It on the Mountain – The Blind Boys of Alabama
Chordant will distribute The Blind Boys of Alabama’s first Christmas album, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” (Real World, Sept. 16). The project’s featured guests include Aaron Neville, Robert Randolph, and Chrissie Hynde.
Christmas Worship – John Tesh
This fall John Tesh will re-release his “Christmas Worship,” CD, with a special edition DVD, “Christmas in Positano,” filmed live from the Amalfi coast in Italy. PBS will be airing “Christmas In Positano” nationally starting on Thanksgiving, and continuing throughout December.
I will be reviewing more projects throughout the holidays as they arrive on my desk and I have time. Please keep checking back for more Christmas music news and reviews! Coming soon: Apologetix Christmas parodies and “Christmas Time” from Chapter 6.
