Rod Stewart — 鈥楳erry Christmas, Baby鈥�
After quickly recovering from a state of sugar overload as a result of shamefully consuming all the treats garnered from a bountiful Halloween, it鈥檚 the perfect time to focus on the Christmas season.
Yes, I know Thanksgiving is waiting in the (turkey) wings, but now is the time artists begin releasing new Christmas albums.
Colbie Caillat, Blake Shelton, Richard Marx, Lady Antebellum, Steven Curtis Chapman and Christina Perri are a few of the artists delivering new holiday albums that I鈥檝e got an eye (and an ear) on.
I openly admit after collecting nearly 100 Christmas albums over the last 20 years that I鈥檓 a self-professed Christmas music junkie.
By mid-November, the Christmas decorations go up and the holiday music marathon begins and doesn鈥檛 come to a closing final note until the arrival of New Year鈥檚 Day.
Despite the impressive musical collection, I still get excited when the new releases come out each year.
This year鈥檚 top Christmas pick is Rod Stewart鈥檚 鈥淢erry Christmas, Baby,鈥� Stewart鈥檚 first-ever Christmas album and my top choice to make spirits bright come December.
The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee adds his raspy, well-seasoned voice to holiday classics like 鈥淲hite Christmas,鈥� 鈥淪ilent Night,鈥� 鈥淪anta Claus Is Coming to Town, 鈥淗ave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas鈥� and 鈥淎uld Lang Syne.鈥� The album also includes some noteworthy duet moments.
On 鈥淲inter Wonderland,鈥� Stewart partners with Michael Bubl茅 as both crooners set the seasonal mood by stirring up images of relaxing with a cup of hot chocolate by a cozy fire as snow blankets the ground in a covering of sparkling white. The flamboyant Cee-Lo Green joins Stewart on the title track adding a Motown flavor to the Christmas classic.
鈥淲e Three Kings鈥� has always been a personal favorite of mine, and my enjoyment of it is now heightened as Mary J. Blige infuses her soulfully passionate vocals to this dynamic arrangement. 鈥淲hat Are You Doing New Year鈥檚 Eve?鈥� features a virtual duet with Stewart and Ella Fitzgerald, featuring trumpeter Chris Botti. 鈥淢erry Christmas, Baby鈥� includes one original track in 鈥淩ed-Suited Super Man鈥� composed by Stewart, David and Amy Foster and featuring Trombone Shorty.
Stewart offers a touching cover of the Disney favorite 鈥淲hen You Wish Upon a Star鈥� as a perfect fit to a collection of songs conveying the innocence of childlike faith, hope and joy. With 鈥淟et It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow鈥� quietly playing in my car, it鈥檚 never too early to get in the Christmas spirit.