There are dozens of Christmas albums I’ve listened to over the years,
most of which I’ve found very enjoyable. One of the very first I
remember clearly is Anne Murray’s Christmas Wishes. I can hear
her Canadian songbird’s warm voice presiding over many a childhood
tree-trimming, with the slight crackle of the record album contributing
to the hazy ambiance. Just recently, I heard it again on CD; the music
was clearer than ever, and I was transported...
1. Winter Wonderland
- Nice country flavor to this one. Anne drops out in the middle for a
rather generic chorus, but the verses are quite enjoyable.
2. Silver Bells
- This was the first song I remember falling in love with, way back
when I was about two years old. I love the brief piano intro, with the
twangy guitars kicking in just before Anne starts singing. Her resonant
vocals bring out all the rich nostalgic flavor of the song, and the
back-up singers are a much more organic part of this track than the
first.
3. Little Drummer Boy - A pretty basic version
of this song about a boy with no possessions presenting a concert to the
baby Jesus. Nice drums, and the fact that the speaker is male doesn’t
detract from Anne’s rendition.
4. I'll Be Home For Christmas
- I like the fact that Anne sings the introductory portion of this
song, which is often omitted but which adds to the wistful flavor.
Guitars are the most prominent instruments, but violins and piano add to
the atmosphere. I could do without the choir toward the end, but it
doesn’t detract from the track.
5. Christmas Wishes - I
like this one because it’s the one nontraditional song on the album,
and it has a very sincere air about it. A simple song that incorporates
both goodwill and romance. “And if I could have three wishes / And if my
first wish came true / There'd be peace on earth / Good will among men /
And love in all that we do.”
6. Joy to the World - A
piano-driven rendition that is one of my favorite versions of this song.
It has a gospel feel to it that is enhanced when the choir joins in
toward the end. The result is dynamic without getting out of control, as
tends to happen with some versions of this song.
7. Away in a Manger
- This is an interesting take on this very simple carol because Anne
sings both of the traditional melodies, using the less common melody for
the first and third verses and the Sunday school version for the second
verse and the repetition of the first.
8. O Holy Night
- This was one of the first versions of this song I ever heard, so I’m
rather partial to it. Like the rest of her album, it’s fairly
understated; you won’t hear her doing oodles of runs, and the harmonies
of the backing chorus add just the right touch to the song’s most
dramatic moments.
9. Go Tell It on the Mountain -
There’s a nice bluesy feel to this track, and I imagine her swaying to
the music as she sings. The lively choir serves as a reminder of this
song’s use as a civil rights anthem.
10. Silent Night -
A guitar accompanies Anne in this respectful rendition of the beloved
carol. Some really lovely harmonies in the second and third verses help
end the album on a note reminiscent of a candlelit Christmas Eve
service, and Anne’s spoken “Merry Christmas” at the end is a nice touch.
Because of this album’s prominence in my own early Christmas
celebrations, I have a great nostalgic attachment to this album, but
even if you lack such associations, for lovers of classy holiday albums,
Anne Murray’s Christmas Wishes is a wish come true.
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