BEST BETTS: The Christmas Edition

12/11/2007 Stephen L. Betts I have a birthday that is very close to Christmas, so I always have plenty of reason to celebrate this time of year. But in addition to Christmas and birthday gifts (and the dreaded combo “Christmas/birthday gift” – inevitably wrapped in Christmas paper, but I know you mean well!), I always unwrap and enjoy a few new, or at least unfamiliar, Christmas tunes during the holiday season. I have amassed a collection this year of more than 5,000 Christmas songs (in all musical genres) that I am listening to practically around the clock. That should keep me from having to hear “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” ever again … all the more reason to celebrate! Virtually every country artist of the past 30-40 years has recorded at least one Christmas tune, and many have put together entire albums of seasonal favorites. But rather than recommending albums to you this time, or specifically focusing on what’s new for this year, what I’ve come up with is a list of my all-time favorite Christmas songs by country, Americana, and bluegrass artists, from which I hope you’ll pick and choose a few of your own favorites to create your own holiday-themed CD (or MP3 playlist) There should be something for every mood here, from reverent and sweet to cynical and bitter, from traditional to unconventional. In no particular order, here are some of my favorites: “Our Savior Is Born,” Steve Wariner (Christmas Memories, 1990) From one of the most gorgeous albums of the past 20 years, this is simply one of the most beautiful Christmas tunes ever. “Christmas Past,” Mike Ireland (Learning How to Live, 1998) Sample lyric: “The ornaments you let me keep are not enough to fill a tree.” Ouch! Quite possibly the most agonizing Christmas song on record, which makes me love it even more! And who doesn’t dig a little glockenspiel during the holiday? Just ask Bruce Springsteen. “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Shania Twain (1998) A modern holiday tune (co-written and first recorded by Mariah Carey) that will no doubt become an enduring classic. Shania performed it on the Today Show in December 1998. Her spirited performance is, naturally, available on YouTube. You'll want to skip Katie Couric's awkward, inane intro. (Flash Object)      “Aspenglow,” John Denver (Rocky Mountain Christmas, 1975) John Denver’s 1975 album Rocky Mountain Christmas (and the 1998 CD reissue with bonus tracks) was no doubt an influential record for a generation of young, aspiring country singers. It remains one of the most inviting, warmed-by-the-fire albums for the season, and this tender track is a real standout.  “My Mom and Santa Claus,” George Jones (Hillbilly Holiday, 1989) One of the more – pardon the pun - “twisted” tracks from the weirdly wonderful Rhino compilation Hillbilly Holiday. Instead of spying on Mommy kissing Santa – George watches while they do “The Twist.” This essential holiday disc also features obscure country Christmas tunes from Loretta Lynn (“To Heck with Ole Santa Claus”), Ernest Tubb (“I’ll Be Walkin’ the Floor This Christmas”) and Hank Snow (“Reindeer Boogie”), among others. “Every Christmas,” Gary Morris (Every Christmas, 1990) How about something for those of us of more advanced in years? This title track from Gary Morris’ 1990 Christmas disc is simply sweet and romantic, if a little old-fashioned, and just barely qualifying as a country record. No matter, it’s a heartwarming holiday ballad. Good luck finding the out-of-print CD at a bargain price, however.  “Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella,” Chris Thile (Tinsel Tunes, 1996) An enchanting instrumental version of one of my all-time favorites. Future Nickel Creek member Chris Thile was still a teenager when he contributed this track to the exceptional 1996 Sugar Hill compilation, Tinsel Tunes, which also features the sublime, intoxicating Robert Earl Keen classic, “Merry Christmas from the Family.” “Hard Candy Christmas,” Dolly Parton (Once Upon a Christmas, 1990) It’s hard to believe Dolly didn’t write this one. Penned by Carol Hall for her stage musical Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, this version is a Dolly solo track found on a number of Dolly compilations, and included on a reissued version of her Christmas album with Kenny Rogers. Inspired by the movie version of the song (which included several singers each taking a solo), by trying to express a sense of hopefulness in a time of personal turmoil, what Dolly does with the song is magical – but that should hardly be a surprise.   “Let It Be Christmas,” Alan Jackson (Let It Be Christmas, 2002) The title track from Alan Jackson’s second holiday collection is sweet and inspiring, and as timeless as any of the Christmas classics written or recorded in the past 40 years. “Light of the Stable,” Emmylou Harris (Light of the Stable, 1979) The title track from what is quite possibly the best country Christmas album of all time is two-and-a-half minutes of pure, heavenly bliss. It’s also from one of the best records Emmylou Harris ever made, and as such, worth enjoying all year long. “Once Upon a December,” Deana Carter (Anastasia, 1997) From the animated 1997 film Anastasia, comes this mesmerizing waltz tune painting a glorious picture of Christmases past. One listen and you’re swept up in the swirling beauty of its pretty melody and Deana’s yearning vocal. “The Angels Cried,” Alan Jackson and Alison Krauss (Honky Tonk Christmas, 1993) And the angel (also known as Alison Krauss) sings with Alan Jackson on this hauntingly beautiful ballad from Alan’s first Christmas collection, another of the best modern country Christmas discs of all time.   “Silver Bells,” The Judds (Christmas Time with the Judds, 1987) Sure, you’ve heard lots of versions of this perennial favorite, but until you’ve heard those splendid Judd harmonies, and Wynonna’s mournful “soon it will be Christmas Day,” on this 1987 version, you don’t quite get why, as the song’s opening line says, “Christmas makes you feel emotional.” “The Gift,” Garth Brooks (Beyond the Season, 1992) The little drummer boy is now “a poor orphaned girl named Maria,” with no gift to offer during the Christmas Eve service but an injured little bird in a cage. I listen to this song dozens of times throughout the holidays, and every single time Garth gets to the line “Maria felt blessed just to listen…” I start to well up a little bit. There, it just happened again, and the song’s not even playing. Keep the Kleenex handy, that’s all I’m saying.   PLUS… Here are three of my favorite holiday-themed tunes which might be hard (if not impossible) to track down. But I just had to include them: “Winter Wonderland,” Sherrié Austin Seemingly only available as a bonus track on the German version of her terrific 2001 album Followin’ a Feelin’ (and good luck tracking that down!), Sherrié’s version of the classic Christmas party tune seriously rocks. You’ll definitely want to “frolic and play the Eskimo way” once you’ve heard this peppy little number.  “Little Christmas Town,” Don Henry A little backstory on how I first heard this song and why it hit me like a ton of fruitcakes: Songwriter Don Henry (“Where’ve You Been”) played a local benefit show and included the lovely ballad I’d never heard, which opens with the line “Bedford Falls on a mantelpiece, on a cotton fleece of white” – a reference to a store-bought Christmas village inspired by the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life. Guess which incredibly sentimental website editor has that very village set up in his house every Christmas ...  “I Always Start to Cry Around December,” Iris DeMent Don’t bother looking too hard for this one – you’re not likely to find it (and I can’t really reveal how I happen to have it!), but for fans of the magnificent Iris DeMent, this wrenching tune is one of her best unreleased gems. In spite of wonderful memories and festive surroundings, Iris finds herself struggling with sadness. Who can’t relate to that? Here’s hoping she’ll dust it off for a record in the future. One last word: the goal with some of my choices here is to introduce you to songs (and perhaps artists) with which you may not be familiar, so many of the more obvious (but worthwhile) holiday offerings may not be represented in this list. That’s where you come in! I want to know which of your favorite seasonal tunes aren’t on my list. And I’m always on the hunt for something new and different, so the more obscure the better! Write to me at stevebetts@countryhound.com – and have a magical, musical holiday.