Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11712 in Music
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Get ready for a red-hot Christmas collection, taking some classic holiday tunes and revving 'em into the 21st century in Rockin' big band style. Setzer and his multi-platinum 16-piece orchestra have recorded what is destined to become an all-time favorite for the holiday season. Warner Bros. 2002.

Amazon.com
Borrowing arrangements and influences from Lionel Hampton, Al Hirt, Les Brown, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and even Kay Starr, Setzer's holiday disc is like a vintage car, custom-made to delight his longtime jitterbugging audience. The focal point of this hard-driving '40s retro-chic creation, however, is the bandleader's fiery guitar. As a player, Setzer is even more versatile now than during his rockabilly days fronting the Stray Cats. Granted, he'd be the first to admit that no one can top Elvis Presley on "Blue Christmas" or "Santa Claus Is Back in Town." Nevertheless, Setzer's solos on both could lead one to fantasize about how far into the stratosphere the King might've taken those songs if Setzer had been around to play guitar for him. Elvis's Viva Las Vegas costar Ann-Margret shows up to duet on "Baby, It's Cold Outside," and Setzer finally gets to release a rendition of his own "So They Say It's Christmas," covered by Lou Rawls on the Jingle All the Way soundtrack. To paraphrase another holiday hipster, it's awfully close to Coolsville. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Merry Swingin Christmas!
BSO fans will definitely not be disappointed with this album. I mean, "Oh what fun it is to ride in a '57 Chevrolet"? How can you go wrong? :) And if you are not already a BSO fan and you're just looking for a fun holiday album, you'll enjoy it as well. He does stay traditional with some tracks like "O Holy Night," and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and they sound fantastic, too. They bring out that smooth, crooner side of his voice. I think a wide range of people will really enjoy this CD.

Destined To Become A Christmas Classic!
Brian Setzer and his orchestra never sounded better than they do on this Christmas album. Traditional tunes like "Jingle Bells," "Winter Wonderland" and "Sleigh Ride" sound reinvigorated with their big band arrangements. They really rock, with Brian's scorching guitar and expressive vocals leading the way. Brian's versions of "Blue Christmas" and "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" rival the original versions. That's saying quite a lot, since the originals were done by Elvis. Ann-Margret's vocals on "Baby It's Cold Outside" could melt a blizzard, and mesh perfectly with Brian's voice. The centerpiece of the album is the instrumental "Nutcracker Suite." Over seven minutes, the Tchaikovsky Christmas classic is performed in a big band style. This reinvention is nothing short of amazing. The one song Brian Setzer wrote, "So They Say It's Christmas," is a moving ballad which slows the tempo down for the big finale. Brian's reverential versions of "O Holy Night" and "The Amens" would bring a tear to a glass eye. Whether you like sacred or secular Christmas songs, there's something for everybody in this album. I give it my highest recommendation.

This cd swings!
This is the best Christmas cd I have heard in a while. It is worth the price just to hear BSO's take on the Nutcracker Suite. Everyone at your Christmas party will be up and dancing if you play this one!