Saturday, December 08, 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007
Christmas Rock Albums
Jimi Hendrix
This five song maxi-single wasn't intended as a Christmas record. It is the result of Hendrix and the Band of Gypsies fooling around as they rehearsed for concerts at Filmore East during the 1969 holiday season. This won't be the first CD you run for when it's time to cue up the holiday music, but it is definitely worth having for its historical and entertainment value.
This five song maxi-single wasn't intended as a Christmas record. It is the result of Hendrix and the Band of Gypsies fooling around as they rehearsed for concerts at Filmore East during the 1969 holiday season. This won't be the first CD you run for when it's time to cue up the holiday music, but it is definitely worth having for its historical and entertainment value.
Moody Blues
The Moodies' orchestral backup is well suited to the sounds of the season. Songs range from traditional (White Christmas) to original (Don't Need a Reindeer) to a cover of John Lennon/Yoko Ono's Happy Xmas (War Is Over).
The Moodies' orchestral backup is well suited to the sounds of the season. Songs range from traditional (White Christmas) to original (Don't Need a Reindeer) to a cover of John Lennon/Yoko Ono's Happy Xmas (War Is Over).
Steve Lukather
This 10-track compilation also features Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Steve Vai, and Edgar Winter lending their rock guitar virtuosity -- and on some tracks, their voices -- to traditional Christmas carols.
This 10-track compilation also features Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Steve Vai, and Edgar Winter lending their rock guitar virtuosity -- and on some tracks, their voices -- to traditional Christmas carols.
Ritchie Blackmore: ex-lead guitarist for Deep Purple and Rainbow.
Candice Night: ex-backup vocalist for Deep Purple and Rainbow
Blackmore's Night: progressive/folk rock band featuring Night as lead vocalist and lyricist, and Blackmore on anything with strings.
Blackmore and Night have been living together since 1991, engaged since 1994, and making music together as Blackmore's Night since 1997. Their holiday music blends rock and Renaissance.
The Ventures
Christmas on a surf board? Well, not really, but done with the Ventures' signature slide guitars, prominent percussion, and lots of reverb. Arrangements of traditional carols are pretty faithful to the orginals, with a liberal amount of 60s Surf Rock flavoring.
Various Artists
This is THE electric guitar holiday album: Jeff Beck, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Richie Sambora, and Steve Morse (among others) turn in some innovative and sometimes surprising arrangements of traditional Christmas carols.
This is THE electric guitar holiday album: Jeff Beck, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Richie Sambora, and Steve Morse (among others) turn in some innovative and sometimes surprising arrangements of traditional Christmas carols.
Various Artists
Elton John, Bob Seger, The Moody Blues, Elvin Bishop, and Chuck Berry are examples of the eclectic mix of artists represented on this CD. There is a method to the madness -- it is a well rounded sampling of virtually every Classic Rock sub-genre.
Elton John, Bob Seger, The Moody Blues, Elvin Bishop, and Chuck Berry are examples of the eclectic mix of artists represented on this CD. There is a method to the madness -- it is a well rounded sampling of virtually every Classic Rock sub-genre.
Various Artists
Artists that didn't release Christmas albums did occasionally record holiday singles that wound up on compilations like this one. Styx, R.E.O. Speedwagon, Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and Joe Walsh (Eagles) are among the rockers who tip a hat to the holiday season in this collection.
Artists that didn't release Christmas albums did occasionally record holiday singles that wound up on compilations like this one. Styx, R.E.O. Speedwagon, Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and Joe Walsh (Eagles) are among the rockers who tip a hat to the holiday season in this collection.
Various Artists
Another compilation, this one with a roster that includes Queen, The Kinks, Billy Squier, and Cheech & Chong. This album isn't exactly mellow, but it has a softer edge than you might expect given the artist roster.
Lynyrd SkynyrdAnother compilation, this one with a roster that includes Queen, The Kinks, Billy Squier, and Cheech & Chong. This album isn't exactly mellow, but it has a softer edge than you might expect given the artist roster.
There's plenty of typical Skynyrd here -- Run Run Rudolph and Skynyrd Family but there are also a couple of suprises, like the sensitive, acoustic instrumental treatments of Greensleeves and Classical Christmas.
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