From Jethro Tull to Twisted Sister, Bob Dylan to Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Beach Boys to Eric Clapton, every rocker seems to think they owe their fans a Christmas album. Even Bad Religion (religion bad, Christmas good? How does that figure?) Brian Setzer, though, has taken it to another level. Since he left The Stray Cats behind, he's been on a mission to resurrect the golden age of big bands, swing, and rockabilly. Who better, then, than him to play those old chestnuts familiar from Elvis and the Rat Pack? He channels the spirit of the King with aplomb on “Blue Christmas” and “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”, embellishing them with his own trademark reverb-drenched guitar solos, while Elvis' erstwhile costar Ann-Margret adds authenticity by providing playful guest vocals on "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Previously, side one has opened with probably the most cliché Christmas tune, "Jingle Bells". Setzer manages to make it sound interesting by giving it a rockabilly twist ("Oh what fun it is to ride in a '57 Chevrolet"), while "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" is pure R&B, Winter Wonderland" is jazzy and "The Nutcracker Suite" is an ambitious swing/classical crossover - he'd return to this idea on 2007's Wolfgang's Big Night Out. Side two keeps up with impeccably played and tightly arranged big band versions of yuletide classics "(Everybody's Waitin' for) The Man with the Bag" and "Sleigh Ride", a Stray Cats-style rocking "Run Rudolph Run", country-ish "Cactus Christmas" (is it an original? I wasn't previously familiar with it), and ballad "So They Say It's Christmas". The album closes with two earnestly spiritual songs "O Holy Night" and "The Amens", utilizing a very churchy choir. All in all, Setzer manages to retain everything we all love about those old seasonal favorites, while making subtle changes that breath new life to them. His ebullience is infectious, and the album makes for a delightfully fun listening experience that is sure to put you in celebratory mood for the holidays. The album was originally released on CD only, but for the vinyl lovers there's a beautiful reissue from 2019 in Christmas tree-green-colored vinyl and gatefold cover. Of course I bought it, and every December it makes repeated trips to my turntable. Three more Christmas-themed albums followed: Dig That Crazy Christmas (2005), Rockin' Rudolph (2015), and the live Christmas Comes Alive (2010), plus a compilation and a couple of live DVDs: Brian Setzer Orchestra Live: Christmas Extravaganza (2005) and Christmas Rocks! (2018). I haven't heard/seen them all, but everything I've heard seems to be in the same spirit. All guaranteed fun, but there's no beating the original, so this is the one to start your Brian Setzer Christmas collection with!
**** for Jingle Bells, Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, Santa Claus Is Back in Town, Run Rudolph Run
*** for Winter Wonderland, Blue Christmas, Baby, It's Cold Outside, The Nutcracker Suite, (Everybody's Waitin' for) The Man with the Bag, Sleigh Ride, Cactus Christmas, So They Say It's Christmas
** for O Holy Night, The Amens
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