Track Listing

1. Winter Weather
2. Indian Giver
3. Johnny Ace Christmas
4. My Evergreen
5. Sleigh Ride
6. I'm Coming Home for Christmas
7. Carolina Christmas
8. Gift of the Magi
9. Hot Christmas
10. Hanging up My Stockings

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31641 in Music
• Released on: 1998-10-06
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Christmas Caravan finds the Zippers showing off not only their command of early jazz styles but also some deep blues roots ("Indian Giver") and an appreciation for cowboy music ("I'm Coming Home for Christmas"). Singer Katherine Whalen shines on a typically saucy rendition of "Winter Weather" and a number that would fit right in on Bummed Out Christmas: "A Johnny Ace Christmas," which memorializes the R&B singer killed in a December 24, 1954, backstage Russian roulette game. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Christmas! Zipper-style!
Let me start by saying that you cannot judge this CD after just one listen. It takes several listens to get the full effect of this album. Now, then, let me talk about each track:

1. Winter Weather - This CD starts off with Katherine Whalen singing one of two Christmas classics (the other being "Sleigh Ride"). Not bad, but the other tracks are much better.

2. Indian Giver - Very funny oldies-style tune with special guest Santa Claus giving lead singer Jim Mathus his "Christmas present".

3. A Johnny Ace Christmas - Katherine Whalen's soothing voice tells the story of Johnny, a singer who joins in a card game on Christmas Eve and pulls out an ace.

4. My Evergreen - Tom Maxwell's tribute to the "darling evergreen". Lovely tune.

5. Sleigh Ride - One of the best tracks on the album. Get on your feet and dance for this swingin' instrumental rendition of the classic Christmas tune. The CD insert even includes lyrics so you can sing along.

6. I'm Coming Home for Christmas - Sad song about a man who longs to be with his family for Christmas. Katherine Whalen sings backup on the chorus. Relaxing tune.

7. Carolina Christmas - The shortest track on the album, but it's still a great song. This swingin' song makes you want to dance all the way to Carolina (if you're not already there)!

8. Gift of the Magi - The Zippers turn the classic fable by North Carolina author O. Henry into a song with Jim and Katherine buying gifts for each other this Christmas. Pretty nice song.

9. Hot Christmas - Another swingin' instrumental, this song'll make you wanna shout "Hot Christmas!" along with the band!

10. Hanging Up My Stockings - Originally written by Chris Phillips (the drummer's) grandfather, Chester Church, and then rearranged by Jim Mathus, this is the most bizarre (but also the best) track on the album. Wait and listen for the original version a little while after this track.

In short, if you're a fan of the Zippers, get this album! Or if you just want something different to listen to this Christmas, try these guys (and girl)! They're sure to brighten your holiday!

Give it a chance
The unsuspecting listener might be disappointed in this album at first... I know I was, last Christmas. But this time around, the album had built some memories, and I now thoroughly enjoy it. I especially like 'A Carolina Christmas', 'Gift of the Maji', and 'Sleigh Ride' (which is a plus for all you jazz trumpets out there).

Squirrel Ride
The Squirrel Nut Zippers offer up a unique Christmas album. They play acoustic instruments mostly in a hot jazz style, although some of the songs veer into traditional country territory. It's nice that 7 of the 10 songs here are Zippers originals, because who needs another version of "White Christmas", really? "A Johnny Ace Christmas" is the best of the originals, it's about the singer who died playing Russian Roulette on Christmas Eve in 1954. There are also three songs here that were not written by the Zippers. "Winter Weather" is a nice version of a song that hasn't been recorded too many times. "Sleigh Ride" is a swinging instrumental. Which brings us to "Hanging Up My Stockings". This song has a copyright of 1952, but this appears to be the first time it has actually been professionally recorded. I don't know this for certain, but it seems that somebody found an ancient demo of this song from the 50s, and the Zippers became the first group to record it. In fact, the original scratchy songwriter's demo is included as an unlisted bonus track at the end of the album. I would recommend this CD to anybody who is looking for something a little different in Christmas music.