It may never rain, let alone snow, in Southern California, yet they have Yuletide there, and Albert Hammond is well aware of this fact, so the locale’s climate didn’t prevent him from adding “Under The Christmas Tree” to 1989’s “Best Of Me” on which the veteran fashioned fresh versions of his perennials. However, Albert has never found the seasonal albums fad too alluring – until now, that is, as November 8th will be the day when Hammond’s new platter hits the shelves, simply titled “Christmas” and featuring both traditional carols and more progressive cuts.
So if umpteenth reshaping of “Silent Night” and “White Christmas” may seem redundant even for his fans, the singer-songwriter’s handling of George Michael and John Lennon evergreens must be interesting – as should be the 80-year-old’s treatment of BONEY M’s piece that opens the record and the addition of “The Hokey Pokey” to “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and other details which sprinkle this offering.
Christmas
1. Mary’s Boy Child
2. O Come, All Ye Faithful
3. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
4. Last Christmas
5. Jingle Bells
6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
8. Here Comes Santa Claus
9. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
10. Under The Christmas Tree
11. Driving Home For Christmas
12. Blue Christmas
13. I Wish You A Merry Christmas
14. White Christmas
15. Silent Night
