Merry Christmas from Jackie Wilson

Last time I reviewed Elvis, this time I'm doing the guy who Elvis called the Black Elvis. With that being said, this is Jackie Wilson's sole Christmas album from 1963. Now unlike the James Brown Christmas this is all covers, and while I love Jackie, I don't know if this'll hold up. I have heard a song or two from the album here or there, but front to back... That's a whole different story. Let's delve into my second of four, possibly five, Christmas review(s). Note: of the 12 tracks here 5 are in common with the Sinatra Christmas. The album was conducted by two guys, Dick Jacobs (1-3, 6, 8, 9) and Alan Lorber (4, 5, 7, 10-12)

1. Silent Night: Ah we meet once again.This is a very chill version, that I think honestly works well. There is a white noise in the version I hear, but if that was cut it'd be perfect. The bells really work in this arrangement, and I honestly think this is what helps a bit. Or at least adds to it for me. I love the organ and the chorus sound great. I also like that guitar you hear towards the ending. The arrangement is great, though I wish I could hear all of the instruments. Strings might have helped.
2. White Christmas: I think I've grown to find humor in this track. Probably because of Uncle Bernie's Farm, but this rendition isn't half bad. I like that organ, and the swells in the track take up a lot of the white noise that was in the last track. I feel like his vocals were recorded over the track, there is a distance, but the piano sounds good when you hear it.
3. O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël): This is a standard version of the song. But the vocals are great and you feel Jackie singing in it.This isn't the These Arms of Mine. I do kind of wish they went into a gospel feeling though, like. "Oh night de------ vine!" he holds the "ine" and the backing section turns to a gospel choir type song like The Jefferson Theme. You know what I mean? I think it'd be a nice touch.
4. The First Noel: I also think this is a standard arrangement. Nothing to crazy here, but there is something endearing about the monologue. I mean, I don't know, I like his delivery. And he gives a solid vocal performance.
5. Deck the Halls:  I don't know how this will go over, honestly I was a bit nervous. Not that I doubt him, but you never know. And if I'm being honest, this is too light. Also it just doesn't feel like Jackie fits. I kind of can say this when you turn a rock song into a soul song and don't do it properly. You know, if you go on a covers website, look up your favorite soul/jazz artist and they do a cover of a Beatles or folk tune and the arrangement doesn't work. You end up with a sort of "this is...... kinda good? right?" feeling. Billy Paul's Magic Carpet Ride for example.
6. Silver Bells: I never cared for this sing. It is kind if stupid if I'm being honest. This has this sort of Felice Navi Dad feeling to it in the response to the "ring a ling" lyrics. This isn't a terrible version, but I don't think it really works perfect. Like it has it's short comings I guess. But I also don't like this song either in general. So that could also affect my outlook.
7. Joy to the World: You know this song, and nothing new is here. I like the guitar strumming you can hear, and I like the timpani and the backing vocals. The triangle is nice too. I wonder if his vocals weren't meant for this song. Like I feel like this is a bit of a nightmare, but like it's not his fault.
8. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear: So this track, while not done particularly crazy or different or even new... Works. How you say? Jackie has a great voice and he just oozes charisma. I do actually like this, and it works quite well. The tremolo strings actually work very well and I think he sounds like he fits on this track.
9. Adeste Fideles: Sinatra, did it first. Honestly, I like the church feeling of this song. I just feel the vocals need to be much larger, he sounds like he is in front of the mic and everyone else is in the other room singing into the same mic. There aren't enough swells and it isn't powerful enough for me to feel anything really. The second verse should get larger and add other things, and the way he says "given" sounds weird. I do like this rendition, I just feel it's to bare. But I like it well. And that last note sung, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Kind of indecisive.
10. I'll Be Home for Christmas: Fuck this song, but whatever. This has a nice shuffle feeling to it, but the damning thing about that is I wanna hear solos. It's almost like a sequence, for me. Not that it is one, but how it takes you from one thing to another.
11. O Little Town of Bethlehem: This is just okay, this doesn't do much for me. It's nice, but I've heard it before I guess. Like nothing that new is added. It's not that compelling.
12. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen: Hey, guess what. Next we have one Jimmy Smith who plays a fucking killer version of this track. Like in the next review, not on this track. I do like the harpsichord, it's a nice addition. But I wanna make a suggestion, instead of the bells why not add timpani or a percussion instrument that is a bit more eastern.

Overall I have to give this album a 6/10. There is a sort of soul-jazz feeling through out, like I'd heard on Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith and so on. It's very hard to breathe new life in these songs, especially now. While this isn't mind blowing, I gotta say it's more enjoyable than most other albums that cover this music. Well at parts at least. His voice also helps the album a lot. Don't get me wrong, but there are moments I felt, this is a Ain't that Good News Christmas nightmare isn't this. I guess I think the biggest disappointment was two things. He's great, so I can't imagine him not making at least a 7 or 8. Second, I feel like this soul jazz/vocal jazz christmas thing would work phenomenal. I guess it sound be revisited another day maybe. Also I wanna have a shout out to "Awaken, My Love!". I can't believe how much I'm digging this thing.

In The Wee Small Hours - Frank Sinatra

 A lot has changed in the five short years since I started this blog. A lot in terms of everything. Hell a lot has change in the last fucking year, but I feel like this is the prefect time to review this. Me and my girlfriend recently broke up, and while it wasn't that long of a relationship I felt something I'd never felt before. And yes, I was up a lot of last night thinking about her, so naturally this is the album I should use to cope. I don't think any album could be more perfect to fit, or review, my real life situation and mindset. So this is the ninth studio album by one Frank Sinatra. It was produced by Voyle Gilmore and arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. The album itself was released in April 1955, and was recorded February 8th to March 4th the same year (with the exception of 1 track from March 1st, 1954). This whole concept fascinates me, is that the themes include lost love, loneliness, night-life, and what not. When I think of night I think of going out, getting fresh air, and thinking. In fact there were many a night, I would go out and just breathe the air after everyone is asleep. This album cover, and themes on the lp, almost fit my imagination to a T of the feeling of it. I already reviewed The Voice Of from 1946, his debut, and now as mentioned earlier with a more mature view on life why not pick arguably his most mature album. I should note I also did his Christmas album a few months ago.

1. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning: By far the best song ever written for Frank. Hell it is one of the best songs ever written period; and damn, what a tone setter. This song reminds me of the closer to The White Album. That track is called Good Night. It's track 30 and has Ringo as it's singer. And for the record Frank kills this song, in the compliment way. I mean this is probably the theme song for anyone who ponders and stays up late to just think and observe... Alone. 
2. Mood Indigo: This is a Duke cover originally on his Masterpieces album from 1954. Not my favorite but consistently good overall. This song is has a nice jazzy feeling to it, which should kinda of be given since it's a Ellington tune. But it's funny, maybe because of where I am, but I really like this song significantly more than I did.
3. Glad to Be Unhappy: This is a Rodger-Hartz piece. This is very pretty, and I really like the little touches here and there of guitar and piano and maybe xylophone or chimes. They work together very well and oddly enough this track makes me smile. Maybe it's because
4. I Get Along Without You Very Well: I really like the strings on this track, and the lyrics on this. I am not as in love with maybe the performance of the vocals, but I still like this song. I wish maybe someone with a bit of a larger range should have sang this, but I still get the point of the song and feel what it's to feel.
5. Deep In A Dream: This also is another track that I can picture someone just walking down a street in an old movies talking about the lost of someone. I like the swells and it isn't as grand as I'd like, but I still like this thing. The instrumentation really feels. I bring forward a bit of a tear.
6. I See Your Face Before Me: This song, while having someone what predictable rhyme scheme, it doesn't bother me. The arrangement is pretty solid and it's lyrics also have a nice touch to them I guess.
7. Can't We Be Friends?: This song stings. I really like the introduction before the song starts, and then when It actually starts I like the delicate feeling Nelson Riddle did here. I actually wanted to listen to over version of this song because I saw potential in the track for being amazing. Kay Swift and Paul James did a really good job, but the songs best part is it's lyrics.
8. When Your Lover Has Gone: At this point the feeling sort of feels like it's been felt, that's not bad though. I like the swells and almost wish this could end the album. It's a satisfying song none the less and really fits about right after the last track. The fucking swells goddamn Nelson.
9. What Is This Thing Called Love?: The intro to this track reminds me of Carless Whispers. The only thing is that this is much better. The woodwinds on this track are very audible and make this track extremely unique here. While all the songs are good this track is great. I also love how later on the strings play the, for lack of better word, "motif" or the "theme" of the song. If I could be half the lyricist that Porter was, I'd be pretty happy.
10. Last Night When We Were Young: This song is pretty sonically similar to the rest of the record and I can't really say stands out to much. I love the orchestra hit towards the ending of the song.
11. I'll Be Around: I can't really pick the music out as being anything too different, other than maybe not having strings and having a prominent drums beat. I feel like this might be better without lyrics.
12. Ill Wind: I like the introduction to this and it kinds picks up the pace of the last two songs. I mean they weren't bad but they weren't mind blowing.This feels far engaging than the last few tracks.
13. It Never Entered My Mind: This, and the following tracks, feature a reappearance of Rodger-Hartz. The song it's self is fine, it just yeah starts to tread similar water as other songs.
14. Dancing on the Ceiling: This isn't Lionel's song. I really like the guitar in this track A guy named George Van Eps plays a 7-Strings Guitar here and damn it's beautiful. This is also more emotive of Frank than some others. Though again, maybe cut song tracks.
15. I'll Never Be the Same: I like the flutes on this track and like the feeling, but wish they would have saved this for ending you know. Change the pace then return to form. After a break up you never are the same again. Honestly though, this would have been a fitting final benediction.
16. This Love of Mine: Frank is credited as the lyricist on this track. And there is something about this that made me cry, so I guess this is a fine ending. But I still wish this and the last were switched. Because then it's like he came full circle over the night rather than still wondering.

Overall I have to give this classic a 7.8/10. The lyrics on this are great, and I can't describe how poignant a listen this is at night time, when you're in the mood to think about all you're choices or you have just pondered your relationships in life. I mean there the first few listens I really couldn't pick out any tracks that were mind blowers, with the exception of maybe number one. This album has turned into one of my favorite records ever, thought there is parts that could have been cut. The only problem is that it is kinda long. I could also nit pick and say that it's made up of tracks already written, and only one features writing from Frank. But the thing is, if I did that I'd be missing the point of the album and the point is to me at least to ponder and helps me ponder. And it's the perfect album, for where I am right now. Next up Low.

Christmas Songs by Sinatra

This is first Sinatra Christmas album. While I kind of know what to expect from this review, I decided........ why not, it's Christmas. I mean, I don't imagine I would have much to say, but I want to get another done for this week and need two more this month. So why not do an easy quick one. If you can see the cover the orchestra was directed by Axel Stordahl. This was originally released as a 78 and a 10'' Lp. There is a novelty I find in old 78 quality recordings.

1. White Christmas: This has a very warm feeling, though his voice is not as warm. I think the strings and atmosphere is the key. I am not digging Frank's vocals so much. I'd love to hear this instrumental. It's a very Christmas song. I picture those old cartoons from Disney you were shown by your parents and grandparents. I love the horns and how it feels sort of epic. This is a great closer, but it also is a nice intro.
2. Jingle Bells: This instrumental is nice, and it's a relatively faithful cover. Nothing about it shout original or different.
3. Silent Night, Holy Night: Another Christmas classic, not as touching as I want it to be, but it still is. The arrangement here isn't an nice as on White Chrismas but this is the type of song that I feel should bring you to tears as Ave Maria in Fantasia does... and while I feel emotions it's nothing that would bring me to tears. Or even without any visuals, Feed The Birds.
4. Adeste Fidles: Ah O Come All Ye Faithful, and this introduction is starting to feel like the epic I want. While it doesn't reach the level I want, it was promising. I don't think this has the type of power I was hoping for. Like power in terms of epicness and reach instead of guitar metal overdrive. 
5. O Little Town of Bethlehem: This is probably the best song here so far. Now would I listen to this in the future, probably not, but I do like the horns and strings here. I wish they were through the song though. Although maybe because it was in mono they may not have had a choice.
6. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear: I do actually like this song, this version if fine, but I like this song.
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: I don't care for this song alone, so imagine my surprise when I had to sit through two songs I didn't like. Although that violin in the beginning did get my hopes up a bit. 
8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town: Even Bruce can't save this song. I think it's kind of stupid in my opinion. Big band couldn't even save this, though Frank is singing this best, and most appealing here.

Overall I have to give this album a 5/10. It's a pretty standard Christmas record. There isn't much more to say than that. It wasn't boring, but it wasn't mind blowing or the emotional journey In The Wee Small Hours is. At the end of the day it's a so so record, so I gave it a 5. I feel this was before he was himself, before he had that personality that made him Frank.