Christmas in the Heart - Bob Dylan

Christmas in the Heart

Bob Dylan

Columbia Records  88697 57323 1

2009

This was my go-to record this Christmas.  When it first came out I wondered if it was some kind of put-on.  However Dylan has demonstrated his admiration for pop standards and songcraft repeatedly over the past couple of decades so I'm pretty sure he is sincere.  Anyway whatever his intentions might have been, he delivers big time.  This is among my favorite Christmas albums of all time.  It is a perfect mix of religious and secular Christmas classics featuring pleasing arrangements that are mostly faithful to the traditional interpretations.  Admittedly time has not been kind to Dylan's voice which was pretty rough to start with, but I've learned to embrace his gravelly crooning and on this record it is particularly warm and engaging.  It gives freshness to songs I've heard too many times.  "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Winter Wonderland" are delivered with a conviction that I find mind boggling.  They sound great.  Even when a song challenges Dylan's range as with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "O' Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)" (Dylan sings the first verse in Latin!), "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (whoever thought Dylan would be covering Judy Garland!), "The First Noel" and "O' Little Town of Bethlehem" I still find the results charming particularly when his background singers help smooth some of Dylan's rough edges.  Songs that often annoy me like "Must Be Santa," "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "Little Drummer Boy" are enjoyable to me when Dylan croaks them out in his raspy voice.  The former is especially fun since Dylan gives it a high tempo raucous Cajun/Tejano flavored interpretation that is extremely dynamic.  It is one of my favorite tracks.  I also really like his piano driven "Silver Bells" which is full of feeling.  Much to my surprise, his version of "The Christmas Song" is also one of my favorites.  It features a wonderful low key arrangement and Dylan's vocal is utterly convincing.  It is almost good enough to make me forget about Nat "King" Cole.  His performance of that other Christmas chestnut "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is nearly as good.  Like any good Christmas album there are a couple of more obscure Christmas songs among the familiar classics.  "Christmas Island" was recorded by the Andrews Sisters back in the 1940s.  It is very appealing with a tropical arrangement and stellar support from the background singers.  The other unusual track is the brilliant "The Christmas Blues" which Dean Martin recorded in the 1950s.  The song is right in Dylan's wheelhouse and he doesn't miss.  It really sends me.  Martin might have the prettier version but Dylan's is more heartfelt.  I think that's the secret to this record.  I have lots of Christmas records by people who sing more beautifully than Dylan but hardly any of them approach him in sincerity and commitment.  I feel like Dylan really loves these songs and treats them with respect and affection.  On top of all that Dylan donated his royalties for this record to charities.  It was a real Christmas gift to all of us.  Recommended to Christmas fans who dig Tom Waits.