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Edie Adams

The Edie Adams Christmas Album

Review by Gary Hill

This album is a number of holiday recordings from Edie Adams, some of which also feature her husband Ernie Kovacs. The duo had a television series in the early days of TV, and these recordings come from their TV show. On the one hand, because of the archival origins of these recordings, the sound quality is certainly not idea. Still, in some ways that lends to the old time charm of this recording. It’s an interesting collection that would make a nice addition (or perhaps new family tradition) to holiday celebrations.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

There’s some dialog, like a skit that opens this. Then piano serves as the backdrop for Adams’ delivery of this holiday classic. It’s bouncy and fun.

It's Christmas Time

The same basic arrangement, minus the introductory section, is the motif for this piece. It’s another solid one.

Household / Holiday Blues –

Adams is joined by her husband Ernie Kovacs on this number. It’s kind of boogie woogie blues take and is pretty cool. There’s definitely a playful, perhaps impromptu, element at play here.

The Christmas Song

The arrangement on this holiday classic is a bit more involved. I’ve always loved this tune and I like this version quite a bit.

Silver Bells

Once again, this one has both members of the husband and wife team. It’s another holiday classic that’s pretty special to me, and this is a good rendition.            

Blue Christmas
There is definitely an old fashioned pop music feeling to this number. It’s one of the better tracks on the set.
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

The quirky little introduction has an odd charm, but the main melody is quite bouncy and fun.

I Wonder As I Wander

There’s more of an old-time musical theater element to this number. That doesn’t really work that well for me, but it’s a matter of personal taste.

It's a Marshmallow World

This is quite a short, bouncy little playful holiday number.

White Christmas

Another holiday classic, the arrangement here is very much old-fashioned, but also very effective. That kind of time-honored arrangement works better for holiday music than it does for a lot of musical styles.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Here’s another classic holiday tune. The old time music that serves as the backdrop does a good job of keeping it authentic and the vocal delivery fits in that style.

Christmas in Killarney

With a Celtic element at play, this is a bouncy little holiday number that’s pretty effective. It’s got an interesting instrumental arrangement with a little jig built into it.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Here’s another traditional arrangement of a traditional holiday number. It’s a good rendition of a cut that should be familiar to pretty much everyone.

Winter Wonderland

The performance here is theatrical in nature. That works pretty well for this piece. This is playful, fun and quite tasty. There’s a cool jazzy little bit at the end.

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

Continuing with the same basic musical concepts of the rest of the disc, this cut ends the set in style by focusing on the holiday that comes after Christmas.

 
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