Wednesday, 28 October 2020

Terri Clark - It's Christmas... Cheers!


58 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy-stream It's Christmas...Cheers! here (external link)
Stream It's Christmas...Cheers! here (Spotify)

When I was younger, the musical choices of my mother introduced me to the joys of country music at Christmas time (mainly via Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers' 1984 Christmas album). As I grew up, developed my own tastes and made my own purchases, those influences never left me. Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Brett Eldredge and many more now line the shelves of my festive CD collection. There is a delightful, story telling nature that comes naturally to country music and singer-songwriter Terri Clark is one of the finest purveyors of her craft and her inaugural seasonal set comes nearly 20 years into her career. It's Christmas...Cheers! features a variety of standards, all immersed in vibrant country accompaniments and Terri's own engaging vocal style. It's a bright shining light in a dark year that will help lift spirits and be a favourite for many years to come...

Terri's Christmas sing-along starts with a lilting take on Winter Wonderland; a fusion of fiddle, percussion and guitar blend together like tinsel on the tree to craft a toe-tapping rhythm for Terri to paint a vivid picture with this timeless classic. She is an engaging raconteur who tells this story with verve. This convivial vibe continues Jingle Bells; the off kilter instrumental sets a peppy pace which makes sure this is one exhilarating sleigh ride that gets the party going. If the violin solo and twinkling tambourine make you want to kick up your heels then you absolutely won't be alone. Terri slows it down on The Christmas Song, accompanied by resonant piano that really accentuates her gorgeous, intuitive voice. She really savours every word and the listener gets the sense that she is loving every moment - a sentiment that is entirely contagious. 

I'll Be Home For Christmas is usually a melancholic musing that pits hope against inevitability. By keeping the pace a little more upbeat, Terri keeps the song more of a cheery affair which makes it seem that Terri has accepted that Christmas doesn't always happen as you hope so you just make the best of it. Perhaps she'll indulge in a little Cowboy Christmas instead. Joined by Ricky Scaggs, it is the first of several country-music-legends-unite collaborations and it is a doozy. Their vocals combine like honey into hot chocolate (or coke into Jack Daniels) as they tell this poignant story. Its a heartwarming ballad that ends side A of a traditional vinyl release. Side B begins with Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow and Dierks Bentley pops along for the ride. This romantic romp is a feel good hootenanny and, much like I'll Be Home For Christmas, has instrumental breaks that are a giddy thrill and accentuate the lyrics perfectly.  

Vince Gill sings Silent Night with Terri and it feels like a few tracks of blissful storytelling. The relaxed percussion gives the classic carol a lullaby feel and those supremely reverent and earnest vocals make you feel like this is the most tuneful singalong round the fireplace you've ever been privileged enough to join. Similarly, Up On The Housetop, ensures the children are fully involved and has a cheeky kick to both the score and the way Terri sings the song. You're never too old to shimmy your shoulders along to this song. The lower register of the fiddle tells Old Saint Nick's nocturnal escapades brilliantly. Then The Oak Ridge Boys come a carol singing with Silver Bells. Their splendiferous harmonies make it feel like you are on the sound stage of a sumptuous 1950s Hollywood movie as snow sprinkles from the rafters. Finally, Away In A Manger, uses both melodies of the song and closes the album with a masterclass of how to make every moment of a song count without belting it to the rafters. Pam Tillis and Suzy Bogguss weave their voices with Terri to make a heartwarming finale. 

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