This is the final track on American country singer Brett Eldredge’s 2021 holiday album Mr. Christmas. Entertaintment Focus critic Pip Ellwood-Hughes wrote that Eldredge is “making a convincing case to be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey when it comes to Christmas music” in his review of the album. “Closing track ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ is another standout with Eldredge stripping things back so his voice steals all of the spotlight – and good lord what a voice he has,” Ellwood-Hughes continued.
There is a whole step modulation from F up to G at 2:35.
Surprisingly, this is our first time featuring the classic “Jingle Bell Rock,” originally recorded in 1957 by Bobby Helms. There is some controversy over who wrote the tune; Helms claims that he, not Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe, who are recognized as the composers, deserves credit. Alas, all three are dead now, so we will never know. This cover was performed on the television show Glee, and modulates from D to Eb at 0:57.
“Miraculum,” an arrangement of We Three Kings, is featured on Christian pastor and musician Lincoln Brewster’s 2012 Christmas album Joy To TheWorld. It is the only instrumental track on the record, which reached #6 on the Christian Albums Billboard chart.
The tune begins in Eb minor and glides into Ab minor during the more subdued middle section at 3:15. A sudden return to Eb minor occurs at 4:52
Thanks to MotD contributor Peter McCutcheon for this submission.
“Stable Girl” is featured in Joel & Julia‘s Haunted Holiday Singalong, a variety special which premieres and is available on-demand online tomorrow. “They’ve been awoken from permanent sleep by Santa and they’ve found themselves in a cabin owned by the Christmas Witch,” says the website describing the show. “They find out that the Christmas Witch’s clams have lost their dingle bongle (aka. Christmas Spirit) and they set out on a musical journey to help them get their dingle bongle back.”
The track begins in Ab and modulates up a half step to A at 2:47. Thanks to long-time MotD fan and first-time contributor Leah Pye for this find!
Grammy-nominated and songwriter pianist Jim Brick released a new holiday collection titled A Very Merry Christmas in October, and is currently on a nationwide tour performing selection from the album. “When It Snows,” featuring vocalist Matt Doyle is the opening track; it begins in G and dramatically modulates up a third to B at 2:51.
The Backstreet Boys released their first Christmas album, A Very Backstreet Christmas, in October. The record debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Holiday Album chart and #17 on the Billboard 200 chart. “Silent Night” is the ninth track and features an unorthodox modulation from Eb up to Ab at 1:41
“What Christmas Means to Me,” written by Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, and George Gordy, has been covered by artists ranging from Stevie Wonder to Jessica Simpson to Train. English singer Joss Stone released the tune as her first single for her 2022 Christmas album Merry Christmas, Love. It modulates from C up to Db at 1:50.
American singer Thomas Rhett released his first holiday music, the EP Merry Christmas, Y’all last October. This is the second track, and modulates from D up a half step to Eb at 2:11.
Switchfoot, a Grammy-winning band based in San Diego, CA, have released twelve studio albums. “Hometown Christmas,” which also features the rock band Needtobreathe, is the final track on the group’s first Christmas record, This is Our Christmas Album, which was released last month. The tune begins in C, modulates up to D at 1:59, and returns to C at 2:44.
“…traversing a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz, (Roberta Flack) is the only solo artist to win the Grammy Award Record of the Year for two consecutive years: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face won the 1973 Grammy and Killing Me Softly with His Song won the 1974 Grammy,” (RobertaFlack.com).
“Classically trained on the piano from an early age, Ms. Flack received a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University. Discovered while singing at the Washington, DC nightclub Mr. Henry’s by jazz musician Les McCann, she was immediately signed to Atlantic Records. With a string of hits, including The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Where Is the Love (a duet with former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway), Killing Me Softly With His Song, Feel Like Makin’ Love, The Closer I Get to You, Tonight I Celebrate My Love, and Set the Night to Music, Roberta Flack has inspired countless artists with her musical brilliance and honesty … In 2020, Ms. Flack received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.” Over the past few years, the singer has been affected by ALS disease and is no longer able to perform.
Flack’s 1988 album Oasis features an exhaustive list of heavy-hitting studio musicians; the title track boasts bassist Marcus Miller and alto saxophonist David Sanborn. The tune reached #13 on the Adult Contemporary chart and topped the US Hot R+B/Hiphop chart in early 1989 — rather unusual, given its long run time of more than six minutes. Starting in C major, the track shifts to Ab major for the chorus at 1:13 before reverting to C major for the next verse at 1:34. That pattern continues throughout as the expansive tune grants Sanborn plenty of running room for solos and the extended outro unwinds a African-themed backing vocals feature.
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