A Classic Christmas
Label: Curb Records
Release Date: October 10th 2006 (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- The Christmas Song
- Winter Wonderland
- White Christmas
- I’ll Be Home For Christmas
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- Ave Maria
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- O Holy Night
- Silent Night
- It’s The Messiah
Initial thoughts: Wynonna Judd has been in and around the music industry for a long, long time. In her early years in the music industry, she was one part of the mother-daughter music duo The Judds- the group were prevalent and prominent in the 1980s, and delivered singles and songs like ‘Love Will Build A Bridge’, ‘Grandpa (Tell Me About The Old Days)’, ‘Rockin’ With The Rhythm of the Rain’, ‘Love is Alive’ and ‘Mama He’s Crazy’, to name a few. Since the early 1990s, Wynonna has been undertaking and creating music as a solo artist, with herself delivering standout hits like ‘Heaven Help My Heart’, ‘To Be Loved By You’, ‘No One Else On Earth’ and ‘Tell Me Why’. This holiday/Christmas album landed into Wynonna’s discography in 2006, and features 10 carols/holiday songs, plus one original, ‘It’s The Messiah’.
Reason to listen: Hmmmm…if you’re a Wyonna supporter? If you’re a big, big, avid fan of The Judds? Maybe The Judds (or even Wynonna herself) isn’t really my own demographic or even niche, and while I do still objectively appreciate Wynonna’s music, I haven’t felt connected to a lot of Wynonna’s music as compared to other artists like Martina McBride or Faith Hill. This album is good as a once-through, but if I’m being honest, it’s not as ‘groundbreaking’ or even ‘wow’ compared to albums from artists like Sugerland (Green & Gold), Sara Evans (At Christmas) or even Faith Hill (Joy To The World).
Reason to buy: Only buy ‘It’s The Messiah’ and listen to the rest on Spotify at your leisure or as you see fit? Is that an option?
Reason to skip: For me personally, Wynonna’s music can be an acquired taste, and her popularity over the years hasn’t been much, compared to other standout country artists around a similar time as well. This album is fine, but I probably won’t seek out the album and hear it again, any time soon.
No. of carols/holiday songs: 9
No. of originals/covers: 1 – It’s The Messiah
No. of obscure songs: None
No of guest artists: None
Does it have heart?: Maybe. Dunno. Haven’t really heard much of Wynonna’s other original material to figure it out. But where these songs stand on their own, I think it has heart. I hope and pray so. Songs like ‘O Holy Night’, ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’, ‘Ave Maria’ and the original song ‘It’s The Messiah’ are the most enthusiastic, entertaining, and engaging out of the lot.
Does it have a Christmas-y atmosphere?: Kind of…it’s more symphonic than anything else. Hardly any bells or shakers (only on ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘White Christmas’). For me (but it could be ok for other people), it felt as though there was a tad too much string instruments on these songs as a whole.
Uniqueness?: Not really. It seems your run-of-the-mill Christmas album from an artist whose prominence was from the 1990s and the 2000s. Standout songs like ‘O Holy Night’ and the originally written song, but not really much else.
Christmas message: Half and half. The first 6 songs are holiday themed, while the remaining 5 are more biblical in nature. I have a strong hunch that Wynonna is a Christian (she did duet with Natalie Grant on Natalie’s 2005 song ‘Bring It All Together’), but I can never be too certain.
Closing thoughts: It’s a well-rounded album, that is a must for any Wynonna fan, or any fan of The Judds. Otherwise, be sure to check out Wynonna’s originally recorded song for this album (‘It’s the Messiah’) and then move on to the next Christmas album…perhaps an album by Sugarland (Green & Gold)?
3 songs to listen to: O Holy Night, It’s The Messiah, O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Yes/no; why/why not?: Me personally…I wouldn’t buy it. It’s not that captivating compared to many; many other holiday/Christmas albums unveiled during the 2000s decade. I’d probably only even stream it if I want to listen to a Christmas album in the background and I’m ok with me not listening to all the words.