RICHARD MARX – Christmas Spirit [Target Deluxe Edition] (2012)

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Christmas time is coming closer and we do have a very beautiful holiday album in the pipeline for 2012.

I’m a sucker for good Christmas albums, and I’m also a sucker for RICHARD MARX. Great voice, great songwriter, he’s written some of the greatest rock&pop / aor songs of all time. Everyone should at least own one of his greatest hits compilations.

“Christmas Spirit” is the first Marx Christmas full album (there was an EP last year), and includes original tracks written for the occasion.

The album is named after one of the album’s original Marx-penned songs (together with AOR master Fee Waybill). And it’s a really good one.

In fact, “Christmas Spirit” is one of my favorite songs on the album. It’s upbeat and with Marx’s trademark style. It could be a future contemporary Christmas classic in my opinion.

The second original track, “Christmas Mornings” – this time co-written with movie soundtrack genius Dave Grusin – sounds like a classic Richard Marx ballad, lead by a beautiful melody.

The rest of the album is full of holiday standards which are sometimes played traditionally and sometimes not.

“I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day” becomes even more of a haunting ballad in the hands of Richard Marx. “Little Drummer Boy” is another song that has received a soft rock/pop makeover.

Other traditionals such as “The Christmas Song”, “White Christmas”, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” are played pretty faithfully but still done with Marx’s polished style.

I don’t mind hearing traditional Christmas songs played straight. For me, it has more to do with who is singing the song and it’s great hearing Richard Marx put his stamp on these timeless classics.

When I found out Richard Marx was releasing a Christmas album, I knew I had to check this out.

There are some artists that toss out a holiday album as a cheap & lazy way to cash-in on the holiday cheer of an unsuspecting public but that’s not what we get with “Christmas Spirit”. This Target Exclusive Edition includes four bonus tracks well worth of picking up.

With its warm production and elegant arrangements this recording is a new holiday classic that is sure to get a lot more play in my house around the holidays as the years go on.

Merry Christmas, with good music in your stereo.

01. The Christmas Song

02. Christmas Spirit

03. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

04. Let There Be Peace On Earth (duet with K. Loggins)

05. O Come All Ye Faithful

06. Little Drummer Boy

07. O Holy Night

08. What Child Is This

09. Silent Night (duet with S. Watkins)

10. Christmas Mornings

11. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (duet with S. Niemietz)

12. White Christmas

13. Alleluia

14. Blue Christmas [Target Bonus Track]

15. Silver Bells [Target Bonus Track]

16. Jingle Bell Rock [Target Bonus Track]

17. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [Target Bonus]

Richard Marx – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Backing Vocals

Jerry McPherson – Guitar

Matt Scannell – Guitar

Mark Hill – Bass

Steve Brewster – Drums

Will Sayles – Drums

Michael Omartian – Piano

Jason Webb – Piano

Kenny Loggins – Lead Vocals (“Let There Be Peace On Earth”)

Sara Watkins – Lead Vocals (“Silent Night”)

Sara Niemitz – Lead Vocals (“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”)

BUY IT !

www.target.com/p/richard-marx-christmas-spirit-only-at-target/-/A-14272385