First Listen: Bob Dylan's 'Christmas in the Heart'

Despite some skeptical public reaction to news that Bob Dylan has made a Christmas album -- “Another sign that the end times are near,” a friend wrote in an e-mail linking to the Amazon Web page -- it’s no joke. And judging from half a dozen songs I was able to preview at a listening session Wednesday evening, it is a ton of fun.

“Christmas in the Heart” is due Oct. 13, and Dylan was still finalizing the song selection and sequencing this week, which is one reason a handful of music journalists weren’t able to hear the whole thing. 

But the Currier and Ives-ish cover image is a good clue as to what Dylan is after on this set of traditional carols and recent vintage Christmas chestnuts -- beyond the charity aspect. (All of Dylan’s royalties -- in perpetuity -- will be divvied up among three organizations that help feed the hungry: Feeding America, U.K.-based Crisis and the United Nations’ World Food Program, which made a snarky Reuters story earlier this week about an early-download arrangement between Sony Music and Citibank seem especially misguided.)

Rather than simply a tossed-off session for his kids and grandkids, Dylan seems to be offering up an astute exploration of the roots of holiday music -- Christmas records in particular -- in the same way he has returned in various albums over the years to mine pop music’s foundation in blues, folk, country and gospel.

His version of “Must Be Santa,” with David Hidalgo squeezing reindeer-quick accordion, is directly inspired by the arrangement that Texas rock-polka group Brave Combo created on its 1991 gem of a seasonal album, “It’s Christmas, Man!” Better yet, there's a video on the way, shot here in L.A. Dylan's treatment of “Here Comes Santa Claus” goes straight back to Gene Autry’s 1947 version, with a guitar solo that mirrors the original, melodically and tonally.

He goes back even further with “O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles),” singing the first verse in Hibbing, Minn.-accented Latin. Quattuor astri!

The arrangement of “Christmas Island” splits the difference between the Andrews Sisters-Guy Lombardo rendition from the '40s and pop throwback Leon Redbone’s wonderfully craggy 1987 recording. Taking on Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song,” Dylan’s grizzled voice sounds at times like a vocal cord or two might have been roasting on the open fire alongside those chestnuts.

Choral support on several of the previewed tracks recalls the Ray Conniff Singers, Mitch Miller and other such ensembles whose holiday albums were staples of the '50s and '60s, the soundscapes equally expansive and sonorous, favoring reverb-drenched chimes, xylophones and bells over the tight, fat and bluesy sound of Dylan's recent studio albums.

We can only hope that when the rest of the music surfaces, Dylan takes his cue from Dwight Yoakam and serves up a mariachi treatment of “Silver Bells.”

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: Columba Records

Comments

[Thomas Emma]

I think it's great that Dylan's royalties in perpetuity go to helpful causes. He not only talks the talk but walks the walk as well. Bob Dylan is a genuine American hero!

[Ryan]

Everybody that buys this should also go to

http://www.brave.com/bcstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=35

and buy the Brave Combo Christmas cd that this article references. Amazing Christmas songs and an amazing band!

[Sean Bevington]

Nice to read an objective review of the music on this album, rather than pure opinion about why Dylan decided to do it. I can't wait to hear the finished product!
The album will be released on the 13th of October with a concert at the Hollywood Palladium.
I've got three spare tickets available for true Dylan fans at face value.
email me on seanbev1@hotmail.com if you're interested.
cheers,
Sean

[Doug Terry]

No one ever knows what Dylan is up to, not even Bob himself. I remember the time he appeared on the "We Are the World" video and Stevie Wonder stepped up to remind Dylan of how a particular Dylan song was supposed to go. He accepted a Grammy once by saying , "We really didn't know what we had here..." Then, there is his insistence that most of his songs have to be reinvented, each and every night, on his road shows, while the words they are a'mumbled. The only song have heard him consistently unmumble is "Forever Young".

I can't help but wonder what we might have received from Dylan over the last 20 years or so had he directed his creative energies in a specific direction (home?), rather than working so hard to be so changeling. He gives us mystery to explore rather than visions and words to adore.

[saad]

to be honest, i have NO IDEA why people were skeptical, this sound likes an amazing idea, his "together through life" album displays a voice that would work quite nicely with a christimas album..

[jaded]

I'm in! LOVE that guy.

[Nelson French]

Very cool indeed. I am looking forward to haring this new work and enjoying the Hibbing, MN accented Latin! Keep us on our toes Bob...

[Roy Midkiff]

Thank you Brave Combo for inspiring people with your positive, up-beat vibe. Your music, and the way you play it, needs only to be heard to be loved.

[RJ Money]

Dylan has got better and better with each passing year lately. His albums and his shows prove he has more , not less of everything he has always had. He tours constantly and will be in Hollywood in a couple of weeks - I'll see him then. I saw him in August at a baseball field in Lake Elsinore and that was the 10th or so time I have seen him and it was unforgettable. Cant wait for the new album!

[john c]

See Bob Dylan Live @ the Hollywood Palladium Oct. 13 through 15. Find tickets here, http://www.livenation.com/arti st/bob-dylan-tickets

[thom]

good work randy, told us lots of interesting stuff (bob feeding hungry), in a precise way

scorcese's movie, bob's candidness and the book chronicles brought me back to admiring this guy

how many of us would give a million to have BD in our living room for an evening, but how much more would we know?

he's a mystery inside of a conundrum, yada yada, but we are never going to quite understand or keep up with this guy

it's one of his assets, that

[Bill]

CD arrived today and I think it is absolutely brilliant. Well down on a fabulous take on old Christmas songs and for dontation of all proceeds to charity!