93 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!
Buy A Very Special Christmas 3 here (Amazon GB)
Read all my A Very Special Christmas anniversary retrospectives here
The thing that made the A Very Special Christmas compilations very special indeed was that (by volume 3) they only happened every five years. A good Christmas album is for life so the gap inbetween the collections (which raised funds for the Special Olympics) let the music breathe for several seasons before additional festive fare came along. Whilst the first two compilations focused on getting major pop acts to record singles (Whitney Houston, Madonna, Eurythmics, Debbie Gibson and Wilson Phillips all appeared previously), Vol 3 bought together the modern rock stars of the mid-90s. This definitely reflected the trends of the US charts (it was either this or a hip-hop/R&B collection and I was OK with either) and got me listening to acts who weren't my normal go to soundtrack. Here's a look at some of the highlights on a compilation full of them...
- Smashing Pumpkins ~ Christmastime: a surprisingly delicate and charming seasonal ballad pitches the Pumpkins in a whole new (fairy)light. Written by Billy Corgan, this was a largely piano driven instrumental with hushed, reverent textured vocals which conveyed the magic of the holidays. With those cascading scales of keyboard, it was like snowflakes falling from your stereo - utterly enchanting and not at all what was expected (which made it all the more delightful).
- Rev Run & The Christmas All Stars ~ Santa Baby: the all stars included the likes of Snoop Dog, Salt 'n' Pepa, Puff Daddy, Mase, Onyx and Keith Murray on this rap version of the Eartha Kitt classic (except all the verses are new raps with only the chorus bearing any semblance to the original). Worked pretty darn well - I mean, I was team Salt'n'Pepa but the whole production (by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean) felt chart bound to me (had it been given half a chance)
- No Doubt ~ Oi To The World: for me, No Doubt was the biggest draw here, their first new music since their juggernaut Tragic Kindgom album and this pogo-punky cover of The Vandals standard was an energetic blast of festive energy that would keep you hopped on until New Year's Day. Not the most Christmassy of songs on the album, yet it fitted in with the vibe of the album and Gwen Stefani proved to be quite the story teller (who would go on to deliver her own holiday album 20 years later)...
- Sheryl Crow - Blue Christmas: this lo-fi chiming take on the morose standard gives new insight thanks to that music box instrumental and Sheryl's winsome vocal. Electric guitar is added in the second verse as well as a shuffling beat which seems to represent the onlaught of the season in a menacing way. Transforms into a bluesy guitar sing-along which is perhaps the most cathartic way you can get yourself through if you are not having the most tickety boo Yuletide ever...
- Blues Traveller ~ Christmas: this was the first time I heard of Blues Traveller and this new song made me one smitten kitten. Their insightful lyrics, ability to infuse the music with traditional elements of Christmas songs whilst delivering their sceptical view of the most wonderful time of year. Their storytelling ability was most engrossing with a lush score that lingered in your head long after your doubts about the magic of the holidays had disappated.
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