Music review: Eric Clapton – 鈥楬appy Xmas鈥�
With Halloween fast approaching, we all know what it鈥檚 time for. New Christmas music of course!
Thanksgiving is also right around the corner, but it鈥檚 never too early to set the tone for the holiday season as various artists begin to release new Christmas recordings.
Being a self-professed Christmas music junkie with well over 225 Christmas albums accumulated over the last 25 years, I still get excited when the new holiday releases start coming out in October. This year鈥檚 new Christmas release that has me feeling all warm and fuzzy is Eric Clapton鈥檚 鈥淗appy Xmas.鈥�
Clapton鈥檚 first-ever Christmas album contains 14 festive tracks that possess a touch of the blues through Slowhand鈥檚 inspired guitar riffs and well-seasoned voice.
The 73-year-old guitar icon delivers a delightful combination of holiday standards, lesser-known covers and one original number in one entertaining package that is a perfect way to ease into the holidays.
Traditional arrangements 鈥淲hite Christmas鈥� and 鈥淎way in a Manger (Once in Royal David鈥檚 City)鈥� kick off the album and set the holiday mood, followed by the Clapton-penned 鈥淔or Love on Christmas Day.鈥� It鈥檚 a tender heartbreaker about wishing for lost love to return to warm the heart as Clapton sings, 鈥淪now is on the sidewalk, it鈥檚 cold inside my heart.鈥�
鈥淓veryday Will Be Like a Holiday鈥� and 鈥淐hristmas Tears鈥� continue the theme of holding out hope for love to return in order for things to become merry and bright once again.
Don鈥檛 fret. Things do get cheerier on tracks such as 鈥淐hristmas in My Hometown,鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 Christmas鈥� and 鈥淢erry Christmas Baby鈥� with Clapton reflecting on spending Christmas in a familiar place with love ones gathered and memories being made.
Clapton closes out the celebratory set with his signature sound added to soft and soothing versions of 鈥淪ilent Night鈥� and 鈥淗ave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.鈥�
It鈥檚 never too early to get in the Christmas spirit. So sit back and enjoy this comforting effort from Clapton that will put you in the mood and prepare you for those upcoming decorating, shopping, baking and visiting sessions that contribute to the making of sentimental moments that are remembered forever.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.