(Warner Music Canada)
Yes it’s that time of year again when every musician and his uncle deems it necessary to release a Christmas album with the 100th version of time-worn favourites. Fortunately, Toronto’s Blue Rodeo have saved us from that fate, and instead released a 10-track holiday record that is definitely not your Granddad’s holiday record. Instead they feature some interesting covers of tracks like Gordon Lightfoot’s “Song for a Winter’s Night”, Joni Mitchell’s “River” and the Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight”. Then there’s an original Jim Cuddy track; “Home to You This Christmas”, a recycled Greg Keelor track “Glad To Be Alive” and even the two featured standards; “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” are given that distinctive Blue Rodeo touch. Recorded live off the floor in just one week, this album also features cover art originally designed by Keelor’s great uncle Arthur Keelor who was a respected greeting card designer in the 1920’s.
Download “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Glad To Be Alive”.
