Tony Cummings digs through mounds of yuletide recordings to find the gems among the dross
Continued from page 1

1986
CARMAN -
"Bethlehem"
From the album 'A Long Time Ago. . .In The Land
Called Bethlehem', Benson
It must be admitted that
Carman is something of a Marmite artist. But love him or loathe him,
few can deny that his ability to weave powerful narrative and
theatrical drama into biblical themes, such as on this track, is
unique in CCM.

1987
FIRST CALL with
TANYA GOODMAN - "It All Began In Bethlehem"
From the album 'An
Evening In December Vol 2', Dayspring
The live 'An
Evening In December' album catapulted First Call (then Marty McCall,
Bonnie Keen and Mel Tunney) from session work anonymity to CCM
stardom. Like its predecessor, Vol 2 displayed stunning acapella
harmonies and with the country tones of Southern gospel's Tanya adding
to the appeal.

1988
BEBE & CECE
WINANS - "Silent Night Holy Night"
From the various artists
album 'Christmas', Sparrow
There have been so many
lachrymose recordings of this much loved carol that this soulful
reading by the Detroit brother and sister seemed positively
revolutionary when it first came out. A slinky soul production put to
a German hymn shouldn't really work. . . but it does.

1989
MICHAEL W SMITH -
"Lux Venit"
From the album 'Christmas', Reunion
The CCM star's first Christmas project and his first dalliance with
classical music produced some stunning tracks, none more so than this
song, written by Smith, Amy Grant and Bev Darnall. A boys choir and
the Nashville Festival Orchestra add majesty to a beautiful song with
the Latin lyrics of the chorus giving it a transcendent atmosphere.

1990
PHIL DRISCOLL - "A
Star Is Born"
From the album 'The Spirit Of Christmas',
Dayspring
Imagine how Otis Redding and the Memphis
Horns would have sounded if they had ever recorded a Christmas song.
An original penned by Phil, his blue eyed soul voice brings out all
the soul power of an exceptional Stax-style pastiche. An unheralded
classic.

1991
LUMEN CHRISTI - "A
King Is Born"
From the single "A King Is Born",
Independent
This Midlands-based gospel group were
extremely short-lived though their ranks contained two much
experienced singers in Bobby Woods and Maxine Simpson (of the Majestic
Singers). This catchy song, penned by Woods, was an unsuccessful stab
at the pop charts.

1992
AMY GRANT -
"Breath Of Heaven"
From the album 'Home For Christmas',
Myrrh
There have always been plenty of recordings of
Chris Eaton's "Breath Of Heaven" down the years but this version from
Amy even outdoes Sir Cliff. A haunting arrangement and a moving vocal
on one of the best post war Christmas songs. Nashville CCM has seldom
sounded better.

1993
CHRIS LIZOTTE -
"Angels We Have Heard On High"
From the album 'Blues For The
Child', Frontline
An intriguing release indeed,
producer Lanny Cordola brought together a fine bunch of musos, none
more so than the hugely underrated blue eyed soul man Chris Lizotte.
Here he breathes gutsy passion into the traditional French/English
carol.

1994
DC TALK - "We
Three Kings"
From the album 'Joyful Christmas',
Forefront/Columbia
An extraordinary mix of mainstream
(Nancy Wilson, Peabo Bryson) and Christian (Eddie DeGarmo,
Commissioned) singers on this various artists project but it was dc
Talk with this clever rearrangement of the old yuletide chestnut that
caught the ear.

1995
JARS OF CLAY -
"Drummer Boy"
From the EP 'Drummer Boy', Essential
Many will only know Bing Crosby's rendition of this sentimental saga
of the drummer boy destined to play his drums for the infant Jesus but
this haunting rendition with Dan Haseltine singing with passion and
poignancy is the only version you will need to hear.

1996
RALPH VAN MANEN -
"Mary Did You Know?"
From the album 'Angels On The Wing',
Ecovata
For our money "Mary Did You Know?', written in
1991 by comedian Mark Lowry and harmonica virtuoso Buddy Greene, is
the finest Christmas pop song of the post-war years and this
magnificent version by Dutch CCM talent Ralph is the definitive
version.

1997
REBECCA ST JAMES -
"Silent Night"
From the album 'Christmas', Forefront
Let's be candid, this German carol, beautiful though it is, has
become one of the most over recorded songs in record history but here,
thanks to some soaringl y emotive singing from Rebecca and a riveting
production from Tedd T, it sounds completely fresh.

1998
JIM BAILEY - "Joy
To The World"
From the album 'The Stonkin' Christmas Mix',
Kingsway Music
10 square children's Christmas albums are
as scarce as hen's teeth but here, thanks to Mark Edwards' pumping
programming, Britain's talented children's minister brought dancefloor
rhythms to the proceedings. Handel will never sound the same again.

1999
VIVA VOCE - "God
Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
From the various artists album 'Happy
Christmas Vol 2', BEC Recordings
A brilliant
arrangement utilising a coy girl vocal interspersed with blasts of
savage rock riff make this one of the cleverest rock makeovers of a
carol ever undertaken. Portland, Oregon's mainstream band Viva Voce
are still going and this track occasionally turns up on Cross Rhythms
Radio as a much loved yuletide oldie.
Christmas is one of my many, if not top time of the year. Everyone has their own compiled favorite Christmas songs that they continue year after year.
While Tony's list includes some of my favorites, to include UK's Sheila Walsh 1983 ccm hit "Star Song" & top cross over artist Amy Grant, "Home For Chrismas" from 1992, & Jars of Clay "Drummer Boy". There are so so many I never tire, like the Beach Boys from 1964, Carpenters "Merry Christmas Darling", Nat King Cole "The Christmas Song", Evie "C'mon Ring Those Bells". I cannot forget the Jet's 1986 and the 70's classic from the Partridge Family "My Christmas Card To You", the whole album is great.
Thanks Tony for bringing back some great memories.
GOD Bless! -Don