DISClaimer Single Reviews: Brenda Lee Wears Her ‘Queen Of Christmas’ Crown

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Brenda Lee. Photo: Alexa King Stone

Happy holidays from DISClaimer.

I have your Nashville Christmas playlist right here and ready to go. Do not miss the offerings by Brandy Clark, Randall King, Jon Pardi and Eric Paslay. 

Despite the abundance of quality, there is no question about who the Queen of Christmas is this year. A Disc of the Day award to Brenda Lee for her update on a timeless tune. 

MATT CASTILLO / “Christmas Without Her”
Writers: Matt Castillo/Jason Allen; Producers: Matt Castillo/Aaron Eshuis; Label: MC
– It’s heartache honky-tonk, but with a witty, light-hearted tone. He asks Santa to bring his baby back while the band rampages and twangs behind him. 

JON PARDI / “Beer For Santa”
Writers: John Thomas Hardy/Matt McKinney/Kyle Clark; Producers: Jon Pardi/Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Two-step into Christmas morning with this hillbilly romp. Pardi’s not leaving milk and cookies out for Saint Nick this year. He knows the big guy needs a brew break.

DARIN & BROOKE ALDRIDGE / “Little Saint Nick”
Writers: Brian Wilson/Mike Love; Producer: none listed; Label: Billy Blue Records
– Ear opening. The bluegrass duo takes The Beach Boys classic out for an acoustic spin with snappy fiddle, mandolin and guitar work, and all those lovely stacked vocal harmonies in place. Highly recommended. 

WYNONNA / “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”
Writer: A.J. Phipps; Producer: Cactus Moser; Label: ANTI- Records
– Originated in 1954 by the Opry’s John Daniel Quartet and popularized by Emmylou Harris in 1980, this acoustic gem has become a perennial country Christmas favorite. Wy’s bluesy lead vocal dominates, and I wish the contrapuntal background vocals were mixed louder. 

RANDALL KING / “Silent Night”
Writers: Franz Xaver Gruber/Joseph Mohr; Producers: Randall King/Jared Conrad; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– This magnificent, stone-country baritone can make you feel warm and toasty even on the coldest holiday evenings. Guitars strum and steel sighs as he gently croons this timeless carol. Beautifully done. 

BRANDY CLARK / “My Favorite Christmas”
Writers: Brandy Clark/Shane McAnally; Producer: Jordan Hamlin; Label: Warner Records
– Wistful, melancholy and dreamy, this languidly, lovely performance deserves to take its place among the great “blue Christmas” songs that are always so touching. Also check out her equally affecting treatment of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” A soft reminder that the holidays can bring sad, bittersweet nostalgia to some. Clark co-wrote it with her Shucked collaborator Shane McAnally. They both earned a Grammy Award nomination for the Broadway hit.

ERIC PASLAY / “Run Rudolph Run”
Writers: Marvin Lee Brodie/Johnny Marks/Chuck Berry; Producer: Austin Moody; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Need some rock & rolling Christmas cheer? Step right up: Paslay takes this Chuck Berry classic at a bracing, brisk pace. You’ll be bopping around the room in no time. 

BRENDA LEE / “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree (Remix)”
Writer: Johnny Marks; Producer: Owen Bradley: Label: MCA Nashville
– Thumpy electronic drumming pounds away as Lee and the Nashville A-Team’s original track echoes in the background. This new remix is packaged with her (superior) 1958 rockabilly version on a new holiday EP. This year, the song made the Music City legend the oldest person in history to have a No. 1 Billboard pop hit. Lee’s 79th birthday was on Monday (Dec. 11). What a double celebration. Rock on, Little Miss Dynamite.

CHRIS JANSON / “Holiday Road”
Writer: Lindsey Buckingham; Producers: Chris Janson/Julian Raymond/Scott Borchetta/Jimmy Harnen; Label: BMLG Records
– Christmas music doesn’t get much more rocking than this frenetic bopper. Joyous sounding. 

T. GRAHAM BROWN / “Santa’s Got His Baby Something Good”
Writers: Billy Lawson/Cyril Rawson/Cyril Robinson/Monroe Hill; Producer: none listed; Label: TGB
– How about an old-school blues track for Christmas? Mr. Brown lays down a dandy one with this drawling, down-home, sexy retro ditty. 

BREI CARTER / “Old Fashion Christmas”
Writers: Aly Cutter/David Norris/Corey Lee Barker; Producers: Brei Carter/Jason Wyatt; Label: Brown Lee Entertainment/The Orchard
– Carter’s Twinkling Tales of Christmas album contains this enchanting, minor-key ballad. The key changes are tricky, but she floats through them with ease. Jazzy, late-night, closing-time listening.

UNCLE KRACKER / “Frosty The Snowman”
Writers: Steve Nelson/Jack Rollins; Producer: none listed; Label: UK
– Frosty gets a western-swing arrangement that comes with built-in smiles. Super enjoyable.

SCOTTY McCREERY / “Feel Like The Holidays”
Writers: Frank Rogers/Monty Criswell/Derek George/Bobby Hamrick/Jeremy Bussey; Producers: Frank Rogers/Derek Wells/Aaron Eshuis; Label: Triple Tigers
– I recommend that you start your seasonal playlist with this mellow, jazzy performance. It sets the anticipation mood perfectly. The new Opry inductee delivers it in a friendly, relaxed tone while muted horns punctuate softly in the background.

Robert K Oermann
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