Christmas In The Heart

Rating

Album: Christmas In The Heart
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Here Comes Santa Claus	More Info...	0:02
2)	Do You Hear What I Hear?	More Info...	0:03
3)	Winter Wonderland	More Info...	0:02
4)	Hark the Herald Angels Sing	More Info...	0:02
5)	I'll Be Home for Christmas	More Info...	0:03
6)	Little Drummer Boy	More Info...	0:03
7)	The Christmas Blues	More Info...	0:03
8)	O' Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)	More Info...	0:02
9)	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	More Info...	0:04
10)	Must Be Santa	More Info...	0:02
11)	Silver Bells	More Info...	0:02
12)	The First Noel	More Info...	0:02
13)	Christmas Island	More Info...	0:02
14)	The Christmas Song	More Info...	0:04
15)	O' Little Town of Bethlehem	More Info...	0:02

Album: Christmas In The Heart
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Here Comes Santa Claus	More Info...	0:02
2)	Do You Hear What I Hear?	More Info...	0:03
3)	Winter Wonderland	More Info...	0:02
4)	Hark the Herald Angels Sing	More Info...	0:02
5)	I'll Be Home for Christmas	More Info...	0:03
6)	Little Drummer Boy	More Info...	0:03
7)	The Christmas Blues	More Info...	0:03
8)	O' Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)	More Info...	0:02
9)	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	More Info...	0:04
10)	Must Be Santa	More Info...	0:02
11)	Silver Bells	More Info...	0:02
12)	The First Noel	More Info...	0:02
13)	Christmas Island	More Info...	0:02
14)	The Christmas Song	More Info...	0:04
15)	O' Little Town of Bethlehem	More Info...	0:02

Performer Notes

Personnel: Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar, harmonica, electric piano); Robert Joyce, Walt Harrah, Randy Crenshaw, Abby DeWald, Amanda Barrett (vocals); David Hidalgo (guitar, mandolin, violin, accordion); Phil Upchurch (guitar); Donnie Herron (steel guitar, mandolin, violin, trumpet); Patrick Warren (piano, celesta, organ); George Recile (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: David Bianco.
After the initial shock fades, the existence of CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART seems perhaps inevitable. After all, the thing Bob Dylan loves most of all are songs that are handed down from generation to generation, songs that are part of the American fabric, songs so common they never seem to have been written. These are the songs Dylan chooses to sing on CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART, a cheerfully old-fashioned holiday album from its Norman Rockwell-esque cover to its joyous backing vocals. Apart from the breakneck "Must Be Santa," which barrelhouses like a barroom, Dylan doesn't really reinterpret these songs as much as simply play them with his crackerjack road band, dropping in a little flair -- restoring "we'll have to muddle through somehow" to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," singing the opening of "O Come All Ye Faithful" in its original Latin -- but never pushing tunes in unexpected directions. Many would argue having Dylan croon these carols is unexpected enough and, true, there are times his gravelly rumble is a bit pronounced, but nothing here feels forced, it all feels rather fun, provided you're on the same wavelength as latter-day Bob, where the sound and swing of the band is as important as the song, where there's an undeniable nostalgic undertow to all the proceedings. And, of course, there's no better time for celebratory sound, swing, and nostalgia than the holidays, which may be why CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART is a bit of a left-field delight.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.80) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Dylan's singing is often nimble and clear -- he goes high in 'The First Noel' without a hint of gravel."

Billboard (p.28) - "[This record] contains a breadth of styles that reminds one of Dylan's satellite radio show as his albums."

Pitchfork (Website) - "CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART is a surreal and occasionally rousing collection of gooey holiday ballads, complete with animatronic backing vocals and Nashville-smooth arrangements."