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
 

 
 

Holiday Music Stocking Stuffers for 2021

A trio of delightful musical interludes for the holidays courtesy The TWANGTOWN PARAMOURS, NINETEEN HAND HORSE and TAYLOR RAE. We need a little Christmas, right this very minute.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Again the Heart With Rapture Glows

The NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN'S CHOIR summons the solemnity and joy of the Christmas season in CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK, a work of inestimable beauty
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Deck The Hall’

It's really titled 'DECK THE HALL' (singular) and dates to 16th century Wales. Behold the story behind the song and versions by NAT KING COLE, THE ROCHES, JAMES TAYLOR and MITCH MILLER
by David McGee
 

 

 

Christmas Stocking Stuffers 2022

DARYL MOSLEY offers a rustic 'An Old-Fashioned Christmas' and gospel artists ANTHONY FAULKNER and THE WARDLAW BROTHERS bring forth uplifting Yule messages.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Christmas, Close to Home, Hearth and Heart

In his songs about home, hearth and heart, RICK LANG evokes a down-home Christmas celebration, with the help of some talented musicians who took his songs to unexpected places.
by David McGee
 

 

 

In All Weathers, Glad Tidings

The Persuasions were just not any group of a cappella practitioners--they were the best, solid in every way, with lead singer Jerry Lawson standing out as one of the great singers of his time. The group's Christmas album, like...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Tell It On the Mountain, Indeed

Gospel, jazz and Classical merge spectacularly on JOHN PAUL MCGEE's A GOSPEJAZZICAL CHRISTMAS
by David McGee
 

 

 

Robert Hugill’s Classical Christmas Evergreens

ROBERT HUGILL'S CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS is a collection of must-read reviews of Classical Yuletide fare, from choral works to small vocal ensembles, as appraised by Mr. Hugill in Deep Roots from 2013 to the present day. All to make...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Big Brass Ones for Christmas

On its fifth holiday album, CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE, CANADIAN BRASS honors the music of animated Yule favorites and the arrangements of LUTHER HENDERSON and BRANDON RIDENOUR.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Christmas Song, Like No Other Christmas Song

NAT KING COLE. 'The Christmas Song.' End of story, right? Not quite. There's more where that came from.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Heart of the Matter

Pop, soul and doo-wop come together on 23-year-old CHRIS RUGGIERO's first Christmas album. Underneath Ruggiero's impressive voice is something else: pure, unadulterated heart.
by David McGee