CHRISTMAS SOUNDS: The Staples Singers; Pam Tillis
Local musician and writer Michael Lipton is joining the New Sounds blog. His short reviews will focus on albums by regional artists and artists appearing in the area.
Artist: The Staple Singers (www.concordmusicgroup.com)
Album: “The 25th Day of December” (Riverside)
Out of print for a ridiculous 45 years, the Staple Singers’ Christmas collection should be in rotation with holiday perennials by Esquivel, the Beach Boys, James Brown and NRBQ. Steeped in gospel, the Staples’ trademark sound also evokes the early days of the ’60s civil rights movement when the tack was nonviolence. And, indeed, Pops Staple has one of the most angelic voices ever recorded. Together with progeny Mavis, Yvonne and Pervis, they made up one of the finest (and grooviest) vocal combos ever.
“The Last Month of the Year” opens with an old-style, gospel call-and-response. The groove — built on Pops’ signature guitar sound, Maceo Woods’ churchy organ and drummer Al Duncan’s propelling beat on brushes — is damn near irresistible. Ditto with “The Savior is Born.” Elsewhere, they transform the normally upbeat “Go Tell It On the Mountain” into a mournful, minor-keyed lament while “Joy to the World” would be right at home in a country church (white or black).
But this collection isn’t about the usual Christmas fare (except perhaps the deep, tremoloed version of “Silent Night”). It’s songs like “No Room at the Inn” and the swaying soul of “There Was a Star” that capture the real essence of the holidays. On second thought, no matter what holiday it is, Pops’ “Holy Unto the Lord” will make you thankful you’re alive.
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Artist: Pam Tillis (www.pamtillis.com)
Album: “Just in Time for Christmas” (Stellar Cat)
At another end of the Christmas spectrum is country singer Pam Tillis’ first holiday release. That Tillis, a fine singer who has sold more than 6 million records, felt the need to start her own label to escape Nashville’s fickle confines is a statement in itself. However, her “Just in Time for Christmas” is not the work of an upstart but a classic singer who appreciates tradition and has mixed old and new with great care.
With nary a pretension, she takes on classics like “Have Yourself a Merry Lil’ Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock” (part of a medley recorded with her father Mel), Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” with ease. Meanwhile, as she says in her liner notes, she hopes that new songs like “Beautiful Night” and “Seasons” will “fall as easy on the ear as soft, morning snow.” And they do, partially because of the musicianship (notably Bob Patin’s Floyd Cramer-styled piano and Tommy White’s steel work) and the tunes — but mostly because great voices are never out of style.
— By Michael Lipton
