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Our Review

Lordy, lordy, lordy, what was cultural icon Bob Dylan thinking? I love Dylan; his gravelly voice has been ripping open the vulnerable underbelly of folk classics for decades. OK, he's eccentric, but that's part of his charm, and I admire artists who take risks. His voice is far removed from "pretty," but that's fine, too; after all, I love the creative genius of Neil Young, and Young's voice quality is also lousy. That's not what their music is all about. Obviously, I'm nuts about holiday music in virtually every form, so you would think that Bob Dylan's Christmas in the Heart would be a slam-dunk success. Instead, it's a mixed bag.

By the way, no matter how you feel about the overall package, Dylan's U.S. royalties are all going to the charity Feeding America. This philanthropic aspect gives the album a nice cachet of Christmas spirit separate from its musicality. And Christmas in the Heart does have its high points, in a playful sort of way.

Armed with an open mind and a sense of humor, this album can be pretty cool. The minimalist in me would prefer to hear just Dylan, his guitar, and his unique croak on holiday chestnuts. That's not what you get here. Instead, many cuts include Andy Williams-esque backup singers, all saccharine sweet, and the juxtaposition with Dylan's dark croak can be unsettling, even jarring. Again, keep your open mind and sense of humor.

My favorite cuts include Do You Hear What I Hear?, The Christmas Blues, and The Christmas Song. These work better for me because they focus on Dylan's rasp without the retro backup singers, and his vocals seems well matched for the arrangements. On the whacky end, his Must Be Santa and Christmas Island provide high-camp fun.

Overall, Bob Dylan is totally sincere and straightforward on this holiday release, his first in a career that has spanned 48 years and 47 offerings. My first time through Christmas in the Heart, I was shaking my head in disbelief. The second time through, however, my expectations were entirely different, and I found myself warming to the material. If you're a devoted Dylan fan, then this is a must-have album for your collection. If you are not a Dylan fan and seek melodic folk stylings, look elsewhere. If you are open to creative possibilities and are curious to hear a bona fide music legend tackle holiday favorites with absolute "heart," then strongly consider giving Bob Dylan's unusual Christmas in the Heart a shot.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

Our Review

At heart, Bob Dylan has always been a traditionalist, whatever his fans might have wished to believe. His debut release, Bob Dylan, was primarily made from traditional folk selections (which featured the ahead-of-its-time Man of Constant Sorrow, among others). In recent years (1992--it seems recent to me, at least), his Good as I Been to You included no original compositions, instead featuring an inspired selection of American traditional songs. So, it should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with his oeuvre that Dylan would eschew irony and cleverness in favor of a down-to-earth approach when he--gasp!--finally released his holiday album. That he chose to mine the schmaltzy, over-produced, chorale-laced easy listening tradition of the 1950s and '60, should not be surprising to long-time listeners, even if it may be a bit dismaying to some.

The first shock, for many, was simply that Dylan would record a Christmas record at all. Christmas records are frowned upon by generations of hipsters. The second shock comes when they hear his pop treatment of Here Comes Santa Claus. And it was truly a shocking moment, a moment of cognitive dissonance that lingers. But after that second shock wore off--maybe 1/3 of the way into the thing--the sound of Christmas in the Heart quickly won me over to its point of view. Not being much of an easy listening fan generally, I have nevertheless been a fan since childhood of The Ray Conniff Singers cheesy, unforgettable We Wish You a Merry Christmas, so I appreciate Dylan's offering for what it is, an homage to Christmas records of yore.

The songs I like best on Christmas in the Heart are the goofy American pop selections: Must Be Santa is just a wonderful Christmas polka, earlier brought to the fore by Brave Combo. I hear his rendition of Must Be Santa (including some rather disturbingly-named new reindeer) and I think "genius!". The spirited Christmas Island features my imaginary friends, Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald, The Ditty Bops, sharing time on lead vocals. (Excellent choice, Zimmy!) Dylan is known for finding stellar musical collaborators, and the inclusion of The Ditties (along with several other nice pop vocalists: Bill Cantos, Randy Crenshaw, Nicole Eva Emery, Walt Harrah, Robert Joyce) throughout Christmas in the Heart gave me a warm feeling about the entire enterprise.

Then, there's Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. I know I use the word exquisite a lot. But it applies here if it ever did. Bob Dylan, in his twilight, is wishing us, you and me, a merry little Christmas. A holiday message to his audience; that's what this is. I didn't notice this one on first pass. But when I slowed down and really listened, Merry Little Christmas is the heart of this Christmas in the Heart. He reminds us, as only Bob Dylan can, of our pending mortaliity. "Someday soon, we may all be together, if the fates allow, until then we'll just have to muddle through somehow. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, now." And I say again, the Ditty Bops, Amanda and Abby, add just the right pop touch for the theme being explored on Heart, but Dylan pulls the whole thing off, both with the brilliance of his stunning, yet warm arrangement, and with his familiar voice. His dexterity as a vocalist shines through once more. What an exquisite arrangement and vocal performance, By Bob Dylan and the Ditty Bops!

And that's not all: you also get The Christmas Blues, a nicely-arranged 12-bar blues number. This is another song I don't hear on just about everyone's Christmas record. Then, in fine vocal form, Dylan's signature vocals show up again on Silver Bells. His gravelly-voiced homage to Mel ("Velvet Fog") Torme's The Christmas Song may be the only ironical touch (if you don't count the Bettie Page cheesecake artwork inside the liner notes. What do you figure is up with that? An old man's joke, I suppose.) And the 600-lb gorilla that Dylan left languishing in its cold lair, Silent Effing Night is nowhere to be heard. Hip, hippie, hurray, I say!

I was dumbstruck, but I recovered. I stand with a fist against all those who smirk at Christmas records generally, and oppose those who would paint Bob Dylan into a box. And, therefore, as something of an undisputed heavyweight authority in this realm, I, your spiritguide, hereby pronounce Bob Dylan's Christmas in the Heart great! It is too soon to tell if this record is among the greatest of the greats, but this is a special record and one that I recommend for everyone.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the artist's Website:

Bob Dylan has released a brand new album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart. All of the artist's U.S. royalties from sales of these recordings will be donated to Feeding America, guaranteeing that more than four million meals will be provided to more than 1.4 million people in need in this country during this year's holiday season. Bob Dylan is also donating all of his future U.S. royalties from this album to Feeding America in perpetuity.

Additionally, the artist is partnering with two international charities to provide meals during the holidays for millions in need in the United Kingdom and the developing world, and will be donating all of his future international royalties from Christmas In The Heart to those organizations in perpetuity.

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"When we reached out to Bob Dylan about becoming involved with our organization, we could never have anticipated that he would so generously donate all royalties from his forthcoming album to our cause," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "This major initiative from such a world renowned artist and cultural icon will directly benefit so many people and have a major impact on spreading awareness of the epidemic of hunger in this country and around the world."

Bob Dylan commented, "It's a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone -- 12 million of those children - often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season."

Christmas In The Heart is the 47th album from Bob Dylan, and follows his worldwide chart-topping Together Through Life, released earlier this year. Songs performed by Dylan on this new album include, "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Winter Wonderland," "Little Drummer Boy" and "Must Be Santa."

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks supports 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit feedingamerica.org.

From the liner notes:

Bob Dylan - vocals, guitar, electric piano, harmonica
Tony Garnier - bass
George Receli - drums, percussion
Donnie Herron - steel guitar, mandolin, violin, trumpet
David Hidalgo - guitar, accordion, mandolin, violin
Phil Upchurch - guitar
Patrick Warren - piano, organ, celeste

Mixed Voice Singers:
Amanda Barrett, Bill Cantos, Randy Crenshaw, Abby DeWald, Nicole Eva Emery, Walt Harrah, Robert Joyce

PRODUCED BY JACK FROST

Bob Dylan

Christmas in the Heart

Artist link

Track List