Maverick Magazine – the new voice of country music
issue 77 • December 2008
NEW RELEASES
Michelle Wright
A Wright Christmas
Savannah Music - 8124-2
What a superb album to unwrap
and play this Christmas.
Is it really that time of year already! Fantastic, as I love Christmas and I love all the Christmas songs. Being a youngster during the 1970's I was lucky enough to have all the glam-rock acts like Mud, Slade, Wizzard, T-Rex plus other acts like Greg Lake bringing out their Christmas singles. That was when it was a big thing to get the Christmas no. 1 hit, but after a little flurry in the early 1980's not many acts seem to bother so much now-except for country acts that is, as there is always a bevy of albums being released in time for the season of good will.
As Christmas albums go this is one of the better ones by a long way, as Michelle Wright has a gorgeous voice, and she is helped with some wonderfully orchestrated musical backing.
A lot of favourites are included, the heavenly carol Silent Night with Michelle's angelic voice accompanied by John Willis on guitar and mandolin and a lovely string arrangement from Jimmy Nichols. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas has her smooth and tender vocals supported sweetly by some silky piano from Gordon Mote. There are also terrific covers of Joy To The World, Little Drummer Boy, Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, O Come All Ye Faithful, and the Irving Berlin standard White Christmas. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer gets a slightly bluesy makeover that grows on you, and there is also a great fun tune I Know Santa's Been Here from the pen of Patricia Conroy with some fine fiddle from Larry Franklin. The slightly rockier Go Tell It On The Mountain works very well with the addition of a horn arrangement from Nichols and rock 'n' roll piano from Catherine Styron Marx, and Jingle Bell Rock is just pure fun. This is my ideal Christmas album. DK.
maverick | DECEMBER 2008
(Printed with permission of Maverick Magazine and
David Knowles, December 2008)
