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Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols arranged as Traditional Rock Songs
Frank Lee Sprague
Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols arranged as Traditional Rock Songs
Genre: Christian & Gospel
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

Peek in the stocking or rummage under the tree for a spectacularly fab package of Christmas cheer. Joy to the world! The always hard working and dedicated Frank Lee Sprague returns with his latest yuletide classic, Merry...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Frank Lee Sprague
Title: Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols arranged as Traditional Rock Songs
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Wichita Falls Records
Release Date: 11/10/2007
Genre: Christian & Gospel
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 634479665332

Synopsis

Product Description
Peek in the stocking or rummage under the tree for a spectacularly fab package of Christmas cheer. Joy to the world! The always hard working and dedicated Frank Lee Sprague returns with his latest yuletide classic, Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols Arranged as Traditional Rock Songs! What do some of the most cherished Christmas carols of all time have in common with rock n roll? Only a year after his highly regarded Merry Merseybeat Christmas, Frank Lee Sprague went back into the recording studio aiming to find out. What emerged was a song selection both spiritual and playful, a celebratory homage to some of Frank s favorite music and musical styles. Listen closely for snatches of familiar songs, from Thank You Girl by the Beatles, to Mr. Tambourine Man as done by the Byrds, from Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis, to Love Reign O er Me by the Who.The album opens with the lovely and timeless Jesu Joy of Man s Desiring, by Johann Sebastian Bach, ingeniously rearranged as an instrumental in the style of the Ventures. There are several other instrumental standouts here, including an intense, pounding God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen in which Frank manages to quote from Dick Dale s Miserlou, and the Chantays Pipeline, while ending with the brooding coda from Bobby Fuller s The Chase. Noted for his mastery of British Invasion styles, Frank pays tribute to the Liverpool beat of the Swinging Bluejeans on Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, the intricate harmonies of the Hollies on Away in a Manger, and even takes us for a romp with the Beatles via the Hard Day s Night style O Christmas Tree. Jingle Bells will never quite sound the same once you hear Frank s frantically rocking reinvention of Jingle Bells as a piano pumping Jerry Lee Lewis stomper straight out of Sun Records. O Come All Ye Faithful captures some ringing Byrdsian 12 string electric guitar magic along with a chorus straight out of Turn Turn Turn. Special guest Randy Fuller of the Bobby Fuller Four joins Frank for a rollicking Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, arranged to sound like Bobby Fuller s 1966 hit version of Buddy Holly s Love s Made a Fool of You. Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols Arranged as Traditional Rock Songs! closes with a surf instrumental interpretation of Handel s The Messiah. This remarkable version is a stunning example of Frank s ability to pay respectful tribute to a familiar melody, while creating a fresh and original arrangement. The Messiah quotes from Mr. Moto by the Belairs, and demonstrates once again Frank s fluid, brilliant lead guitar playing. Frank Lee Sprague loves Christmas. Frank Lee Sprague loves rock n roll. Merry Christmas, Traditional Carols Arranged as Traditional Rock Songs! is a delicious and delectable taste of both untie the ribbon, rip open the paper and please open this package first. Known for his unparalleled ability to synthesize authentic rock n roll styles into his own West Texas imprint, Frank Lee Sprague s work has wowed reviewers in Rolling Stone, Playboy, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and many other magazines and newspapers. He has appeared on CBS nationwide television and National Public Radio, and performed live around the world, including several successful tours of Japan. Over the last few years, this charismatic songwriter and musician has recorded and released the critically acclaimed albums, Merseybeat, Cavern, Merry Merseybeat Christmas and Fulton Avenue, while also revered by fans for his long-time work as leader of the fabulous rock n roll duo, the Sprague Brothers.
 

CD Reviews

A Rockin' Christmas for All!
Fred Burwell | Beloit, WI USA | 11/24/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm always excited when a new Frank Lee Sprague album comes out, be it one of his own or as leader of the talented Sprague Brothers. He plays and sings with conviction and passion all too rare these days. And you can be certain you'll hear true rock 'n' roll, the way it ought to be. Just in time for the holidays last year he brought us his fabulous Merry Merseybeat Christmas. Santa Frank hasn't forgotten the good kids this year, either. He's back with an amazing album of traditional Christmas songs done in a variety of rock 'n' roll styles, from his beloved Merseybeat to rockabilly and surf among others. Whatever Frank tackles sounds as authentic and pure as you can find. My personal favorites include the absolutely astounding "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," which takes its cues from at least three famous surf instrumentals, but sounds as if it was always meant to be played this way. Ditto the instrumental "The First Noel," Frank's loving interpretation of Handel's "Messiah," and the beautiful "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." I love the bouncing Hollies-like "Away in a Manger," which also tips a nod to the Everly Brothers. Beatles fans will no doubt appreciate how "Thank You Girl" morphs into "Silent Night!" I can never get enough of the chiming 12 string guitars of vintage Byrds and on his new album, Frank treats us to a Byrdsian "O Come all ye Faithful." Why didn't Roger McGuinn think of that? Well, at least Frank Lee Sprague did! I'm sure, too, that Sam Phillips at Sun Records would have moved fast to sign Frank Lee Sprague had he heard his festive piano-pounding "Jingle Bells." Frank has always had an affinity for fellow West Texans Buddy Holly and Bobby Fuller and it shows by his completely capturing that magical sound on his version of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," which according to the liner notes features Randy Fuller on harmony vocals. No Sprague album is complete without a bevy of bonus tracks, from the Moody Blues-like "We Three Kings" to some hidden gems. I'm eager to see what the ever prolific Frank Lee Sprague (and fellow Sprague Brother Chris) gifts us with in 2008. Meanwhile, I'll be celebrating Christmas with his delightful new album."
This will make this the best Christmas ever!
Linda | Las Vegas, NV | 11/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"All these classic Christmas carols are exceptionally well done! This makes the best Christmas album in my library. The whole family loves it, young and old! Really uplifting! Very, very highly recommended!"