Rock'n'roll Christmas music
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 12/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Shakin' Stevens (or Shaky, as he is sometimes known) established an excellent reputation as a rock'n'roll revivalist in the eighties, during which decade he had many big UK hits. Some of these hits were covers of fifties hits - they included Blue Christmas, which made number two in the UK charts. Others were original songs including Merry Christmas everyone, which made it to UK number one in 1987. (Note - never confuse this with Slade's 1973 song, Merry Christmas everybody.) In 1991, with the hits drying up, Shaky was encouraged to record a Christmas album and this was been re-released in 2005 after being out of print for many years and following the success of a new hits compilation released earlier in 2005. So if you've got the original, you won't need this.
Understandably, the two big eighties hits are included although these tracks (unlike the rest of the album) have been frequently re-issued on Christmas compilations down the years and will no doubt appear on many more. If you enjoy those hits, you will surely enjoy the rest of this album. Two old chestnuts are given fresh renditions. I prefer Shaky's version of Silent night (taken slightly faster than normal) to his version of White Christmas, but both are very enjoyable. The other eight songs are all originals though one (I'll be home this Christmas) sounds like it could be a sequel to another old chestnut (I'll be home for Christmas) but in this song, he is finally coming home and not just dreaming about it. There are many other fine songs here beginning and ending with up-tempo rockers. The closing track (So long Christmas) is appropriate, as Shaky looks forward to the New Year.
There have been many revivalist acts down the years and while none of them can ever recapture the spirit of the originals completely, Shaky is among the best rock'n'roll revivalists I've heard, mixing excellent covers with original songs that sound as if they could have been written in the fifties.
If you enjoy fifties rock'n'roll, you ought to enjoy listening to Shakin' Stevens. Give this Christmas album a listen."
Although Xmas CD, best authentic Rock & Roll record ever!
Ronald Van Scherpenzeel | Madrid, Spain | 11/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First I bought Shakin' Stevens CD Collection and gave it 5 stars
naming him the best R&R revival artist of the past 25 years. Two weeks
ago I got the Shakin' Stevens DVD collection which holds the 25 songs
of the cd collection plus some 7 or 8 more songs divided into bonus
songs and bonus Xmas songs. When I clicked the first Xmas bonus song
called "The best Xmas of them all" I almost fainted but then jumped up
because I was watching and listening to the best recorded Rock & Roll
song ever! The music, the style of singing, the back-up vocals with
all kinds of doo-wahs, the guitar and piano solos, Shaky's dancing; it
was the essence of the real good old 50's Rock & Roll with the modern
surrounding sound techniques. I immediatley searched for the CD this
song was on and it happened to be a 1991 recording from Shakin Stevens
which was relaunched last year. I received it yesterday and listend to
it last night. The tremendous surprise came with all the rest of the 11 songs.
There are 5 more songs like the mentioned "Best Christmas..."
plus some wonderful ballads plus his #1 song Merry Xmas everyone plus
his unbeatable version of Elvis' Blue Christmas plus his bluesy "Merry
Xmas Pretty Baby" and a totally different approach towards to classic
standars like White Christmas and Silent Night which are of course
beautiful tunes but often too dull. Shaky turns them into authentic
Rock n Roll songs with up tempo versions. The last song of this
incredible CD "So Long Christmas" is the best ending possible. It sounds
like Sweet Little Sixteen, not the tune but the style, and is full of
splendid piano solos. A special mentioning of the back up vocals
present on all 12 songs and the musicians behind Shakin Stevens. It is
not Rock and Roll at its best, it is the best Rock and Roll CD available.
It is dedicated to Christmas but I will listen to it all year long.
For all of you who dig Rock and Roll, this is a MUST and please get it.
I know what I am saying, I have been buying Rock and Roll records since the late 50's."
Good old Christmas rock and roll
W. Riley | Salt Lake City | 11/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're looking for great rock and roll Christmas albums, this is definitely one for your collection. Shakin' Stevens has hand picked a dozen songs that make a smooth flowing blend of upbeat Christmas music with a twist of old time rock and roll. He wrote some himself, and others were written by people he has worked with before. The musicians are good, and the feeling is upbeat. I highly recommend this one."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1