Search - Pam Tillis :: Just in Time for Christmas

This ain't your father's christmas cd

L. Hoh | 03/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this ain't a Christmas cookie cutter disc. nope, way etter then what main stream Nashville has let loose over the past number of years. Sure Ms. Tillis mixes a bit of jazz and blues and other music forms in this, but isn't that --- her ? Ms. Tillis' style comes thru strong, loud and beautiful. The way she blends her vocals with the musical stylings makes this a must have Christmas cd, which you will play every year and not stick in the drawer with the pop favorites of the day. If you are looking for a change in Christmas music, but no so much it turns you away, give this disc a chance. you won't be sorry, i'm not."

Pam wants you to play this as background music

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In her brief but useful liner notes, Pam opines that people don't usually just sit and listen to Christmas albums. (Of course, that may be why people generally prefer Christmas albums that contain plenty of familiar songs.) So Pam set out deliberately to record a Christmas album that would serve as background music for whatever else is happening, but she's hoping that listeners will at some point find themselves humming along as they do whatever other tasks occupy them. However, Pam's song selection (including three originals) makes this album a good listen for those do just want to sit and listen, content to give Pam's music their full attention.



The set opens with Have yourself a merry little Christmas, one of two songs that she says are inspired by Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson, the other being Pretty paper, which Willie wrote and recorded, but which Roy Orbison had an international pop hit with. I'm not sure where the Patsy Cline inspiration comes from specifically, since I don't think she ever recorded any Christmas music; however, Patsy has been a strong influence on other female country singers ever since her heyday, so maybe it's just the style or the mood that provided the inspiration.



The three original songs - Beautiful night, Light of the world, Seasons - are all worth a listen and Pam clearly loves them all, but she says that the one that made her decide that she must record a Christmas album is Beautiful night. Two oldies but goodies (Christmas waltz, What are you doing New Year's Eve) should be familiar, but they don't come around quite as often on Christmas albums as a lot of other songs that Pam either didn't include at all or linked in medleys. Pam included two medleys, one of rocking songs (Jingle bell rock, Rockin` around the Christmas tree) in which her father guests, and one of carols (I wonder as I wander, Away in a manger, Silent night). The album closes with the wistful, romantic ballad, I'll be home for Christmas.



This is an excellent Christmas album that may be too mellow for use as party music, but which you can play at any other time during the festive period.

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