Now that Charles Brown is gone, it's up to B.B. King to uphold the blues for Christmas. If this first collection of holiday music is any indication, he deserves his own igloo in the North Pole. Self-produced with his touri... more »ng band in New Orleans during a spring heat wave, A Christmas Celebration of Hope finds King overcoming both the heat and Yuletide music clichés, turning out an inspired and rollicking album that is lit from within by King's generous spirit and gracious heart. Like others before him, King dipped into the blues and R&B holiday canon, but instead of just recycling well-worn classics, he plucked gems like "Blues Decorations" and "Backdoor Santa" out of obscurity and polished them to a high gloss. When King does cover standards, like "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas," he imbues them with his own earthy personality and sleek, restrained playing. King also includes two originals in this surprise package: "Celebration," which he first released in 1960, and the new instrumental, "Christmas Love." This record not only will make Christmas merrier for the listener, it will also help people suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes, as King has donated the proceeds to the City of Hope, the world-renowned biomedical research and treatment center. --Jaan Uhelszki« less
Now that Charles Brown is gone, it's up to B.B. King to uphold the blues for Christmas. If this first collection of holiday music is any indication, he deserves his own igloo in the North Pole. Self-produced with his touring band in New Orleans during a spring heat wave, A Christmas Celebration of Hope finds King overcoming both the heat and Yuletide music clichés, turning out an inspired and rollicking album that is lit from within by King's generous spirit and gracious heart. Like others before him, King dipped into the blues and R&B holiday canon, but instead of just recycling well-worn classics, he plucked gems like "Blues Decorations" and "Backdoor Santa" out of obscurity and polished them to a high gloss. When King does cover standards, like "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas," he imbues them with his own earthy personality and sleek, restrained playing. King also includes two originals in this surprise package: "Celebration," which he first released in 1960, and the new instrumental, "Christmas Love." This record not only will make Christmas merrier for the listener, it will also help people suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes, as King has donated the proceeds to the City of Hope, the world-renowned biomedical research and treatment center. --Jaan Uhelszki
Not really being a blues fan, I ordered this CD for a friend; however I listened to it and really enjoyed it. This CD put me right in the middle of a smoke filled lounge listening to the sounds of Christmas. Its starts with a bang and delivers a wonderful sounds on all songs; The musicians here are true masters of their craft.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Erinn J. from LA SALLE, IL Reviewed on 11/29/2009...
An Amazing Cd!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
At long last and well worth the wait!!
Charles E. Jones Jr. | RAWLINGS, VIRGINIA USA | 11/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What can I say? It's been a long time comin' but this is one
of the best holiday albums that I have ever heard. There isn't
a bad track on this great cd and many of the songs are
wonderful new tunes for the holiday season. The backup band
could not be better. The piano, the horns, all of the band
is crystal clear and just beautiful. B.B. and his trademark
Gibson electric guitar, Lucille have never sounded better in my opinion and I'm a long-time fan of the man.
Buy this great cd and Happy Holidays!!!!"
I know what I like.
Charles E. Jones Jr. | 11/14/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'll preface this review by saying I am not a professional cd reviewer. I am a B.B. King fan from away back and this latest Christmas CD is a welcome addition to my Holiday favorites. It is excellent not only just for listening; but, also provides good background party music. It has a great feel for getting with your mood. Thanks for bringing out some good new songs along with my favorite oldies."
The Christmas album I've been waiting for all these years!
bluemamma | San Luis Obispo, CA USA | 12/06/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've only had this CD for a week and it is already one of my favorites. When you think about it, it is amazing that B.B. King hasn't done a Christmas album before this. It was just meant to be. That big, warm, strong voice is the aural equivalent of a blazing fire. It was made for homey, comfortable Christmas songs. At the same time, even past seventy, he's got a sexy edge that makes a song like Clarence Carter's Back Door Santa at least as hot as the original. For me, the highlight is Merry Christmas Baby, a song that just about every blues or r&b singer of the past forty years has recorded (some of them brilliantly). This version would stand up to any of them, and wins my vote as the best ever, and, honestly, is among the toughest, hottest, most soul-drenched things I have ever heard B.B. King do. It there is such a thing as justice, this album is destined to become a classic."
A very good R & B Christmas CD
Neal C. Reynolds | Indianapolis, Indiana | 11/01/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is not your typical Christmassy Christmas CD. It's definitely blue tinged, a blues Christmas, if you will. There aren't many familiar songs here, and what ones there are such as "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" are nice and fresh arrangements. As for "Auld Lang Syne", well, how many ways are there to play that song? However, the highlights for me were the great bluesy interpretation of "Please Come Home For Christmas", the playful "Back Door Santa", and the very sentimental rendition of
"Christmas In Heaven". This is different for B. B. King. There is a more subtle power here than in much of his work, and this will likely put you in a contemplative mood. The blue mood permeates, but isn't depressing. There is, I believe, an attitude of hope expressed here although it's being expressed mostly from a very blue mood. One must remember that this record is to help AIDS victims, and this kind of expression seems very appropriate.If it were not a Christmas record, I would probably rate it five stars, but because it is and yet doesn't express the Christmas spirit as openly as some records, I consider it a four star CD, but a very strong four stars."
A Christmas Celebration of Hope
Norma | Michigan | 12/31/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love old style blues and B.B. King did a great job on this CD!"