The Real Christmas Miracle

JASON RINGENBERG may have taken to farming but he hasn't left his rock 'n' roll years behind him. He's back with a Yuletide gem outfitted with flourishes of punk and straight ahead rock 'n' roll that recalls his glory years fro...
by David McGee
 

 
 

All in All, A Most Wonderful Time

A tasty selection of tracks from three of ANDY WILLIAMS's eight Yuletide albums, including several superb tracks with arranger-conductor-producer ROBERT MERSEY.
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Half-Century+ of Classic Animated ‘Rudolph’

On Dec. 6, 1964 NBC premiered an animated version of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER with BURL IVES as host. It drew a 50 share and was an instant holiday classic. From a 50 share to 50+ years as a holiday staple, we pay tribute...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That String!

Canada's THE SULTANS OF STRING and their guests put a new spin on the spirit of the season, but it's is still the spirit we’ve known for bringing good tidings of great joy. Dig the best Christmas album of the 2017 Yuletide se...
by David McGee
 

 

 

A Soul Ever More Grateful For What It Knows Of Love

An updated review of a holiday classic: B.B. KING's A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION OF HOPE. Indeed it is.
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Yuletide Evergreen Grows Here

LISA BIALES's first holiday album may become essential to keeping Christmas well in our time ahead. Hearing is believing.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Cuddle Time

This delectable five-song missive--an unassuming but undeniably moving seasonal communiqué--is an affecting followup to Ms. Smith's 2007 Christmas gem, My Holiday.
by David McGee
 

 
 

What Christmas Is As We Grow Older

From CHARLES DICKENS's twopenny weekly, Household Words, a 1951 meditation, 'What Christmas Means as We Grow Older,' an optimistic paean written the same year the author's father and daughter died.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Greatest Gift

A solo acoustic guitar masterpiece, DAVID WOOD's A CHRISTMAS GIFT captures the true spirit of the season as few Yuletide efforts ever have. Originally recorded for family and friends, it's a gift to the world now..
by David McGee
 

 
 

Home is Where the Heart Is

On HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, vocalist JAN DALEY offers a little something for all tastes here, ranging from an opportunity to luxuriate in seasonal romance even as the program gently reminds listeners of why we’re here in the firs...
by David McGee
 

 

 

From The Inkwell: An Animated Christmas

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, THE SNOWMAN, MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL reviewed
by David McGee
 

 
 

Pt. 2: ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ and The Dickens Connection

Ever wonder what is the Christmas carol of Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'? Evidence points to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' as the carol in question. We make our case herein.
by David McGee