Track Listing

1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks
4. Washington Square
5. Blue Christmas
6. Christmas Song
7. Hey Santa!
8. Let It Snow
9. Christmas on TV
10. Pretty Paper
11. White Christmas
12. Mele Kalikimaka
13. Brightest Star
14. Last Month of the Year
15. Gotta Be Good
16. Auld Lang Syne

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8053 in Music
• Released on: 2005-10-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Album Description
After earning four gold or platinum albums, singer-songwriter-guitarist Chris Isaak put down his surfboard, turned up the air conditioner and laid down Chris Isaak Christmas, featuring 11 traditional songs (including "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" with Stevie Nicks) and five originals — the lonely-at-Christmas "Washington Square," "Hey Santa!" and "Christmas On TV," the spiritual "Brightest Star" and the maybe-next-year "Gotta Be Good." Chris Isaak Christmas is this season's holiday surprise — a Christmas album that's actually cool.

Amazon.com
There are those who will argue that Chris Isaak's Christmas is worth the sticker price for its rendition of "Blue Christmas" alone, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a pack of listeners to debate them. Isaak has always seemed the second coming of Elvis in surfer shorts, and on that track he so handily conjures the King it's both beautiful and creepy. But to pin this disc's merits on that chestnut alone is to sell it way, way short. There's the duet with Stevie Nicks on "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" to consider (she curtails her diva impulses and lets him steer, and though it's challenging to imagine, their voices weave well); plus the skill with which he incorporates his hula, rockabilly and country leanings (most obviously on "Mele Kalikimaka," but also in instrumentation throughout); plus the five originals he assembled for this disc. So few original carols find an audience and keep them that to pen that many for a 16-track CD seems like yuletide suicide, but those who embrace Isaak's essential quirkiness can be counted on to resuscitate them for years to come. Standouts among the five include "Washington Square" which, as a lament for a faraway loved one, picks up where "Blue Christmas" leaves off, and "Hey Santa," which subs for "Jingle Bell Rock" as this record's reason to rock the night away. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Look out for the Australian version
Never would I though Chris Isaak will release a Christmas album, but hey, never say never! Like Chris said it himself on an Aussie TV interview recently: "....I've always like Christmas music....we did a kinda like a bunch of Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Elvis, that's the kind of records I listened to when I was growing up, so I did a that kind of classics, and I wrote 5 new songs......"

I believe this is the first time Chris has taken on a bigger role musically, producing the entire album without his pals Erik Jacobson and John Shanks on his own label Wicked Game, the result is in fact quite appealing and consistent from track to track. He croons through some Christmas standards such as Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Pretty Paper with full warmth and mellowness, sometimes a tad of melancholy, all in the style of "Isaak" if you know what I mean.

Auld Lang Syne was sung in a very nostalgic mood. The Hawaiian flavored Mele Kalikimaka is short and sweet. Is Gotta Be Good a continuation of Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing?! You've been bad before, so NOW you gotta be good! Love his comic low voice!! The growling tone reminded me of Louis Armstrong.

If you are a big fan of Mr. Isaak, be sure to get a copy of the Australian edition, because it included two bonus tracks: 17. I'll be Home For Christmas & 18.Santa Bring My Baby Back. I'll be Home For Christmas is one of those classics from the War World II era that has been covered by many over the years. In this album, the fuzzy organ and guitar arrangements with Chris's sentimental interpretation of the song is truly moving, it's one of my favorites! There are some traces of Elvis Presley'ish vocal affectations one might have noticed; I find it as a good thing of course, kinda tribute to the King.

Have to mention how cool the album cover looks. The colours are in at the shade of "1960's". The Christmas sprite is sudtlely revealed on the traditional red ornaments hanging on the green pine tree, so simple yet classy. Yeah, it's a nice day, he's driving along the coastline in his vintage blue Chevy Nova, he's smiling, he's happy, it's Christmas! The booklet artworks also showcased another talent/passion of Chris, cartoon drawings, how fun!

Interesting enough, according to Warner Music Australia, the album was actually released on 1st of October, but I couldn't find it in any major record shops (HMV, Sanity, Dick Smith Power House...etc), earlier, eventually I got it from Myer (one of the big local department stores) a few days ago.

I think it's brilliant to have Chris here touring at moment while his new album is being released!

This CD makes a GREAT X'mas gift for 2004!!

Gotta Be Good
This is one of those rare CDs that's as excellent as you hope it'll be when you buy it. With Mr. Isaak, as the song says, it's "Gotta Be Good." And man-oh-man that's sure-nuff a fact.

Thankfully, the tune selection by Mr. Issak is somewhat balanced between those he interprets with his signature vocal chords and those where he plays things straight. I can't really decide which style is preferable, which is leading me to say the 16 songs presented are consistently excellent.

While I really enjoy Christmas music, there normally ain't too much of it that can get me in the mood prior to Thanksgiving. This CD definitely has jump-started the holiday for 2004 for me.

Time will tell, but jolly ol' Chris Isaak might have given us a classic in this early Christmas gift.

Ho-Ho-Ho!

Great album that deserves to become a classic
Although I am a big fan of Chris Isaak, I wasn't excited at the prospect of a Christmas album, as I felt I was a bit "over" Christmas. To be honest, the main reason I bought it was to get his autograph after a concert. However, after 2 listens, he had completely won me over. My "bah, humbug" attitude disappeared, and I remembered how much I loved Christmas songs when I was a kid. Chris does great re-workings of standards, plus adds 5 of his own tracks, which are all good. His voice, as always, is amazing. Highly recommended.