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Our Review

Hospice care at Christmas time? Death is a most natural part of our life cycle, just as natural as birth, and just as natural as greeting the crisp December air on Christmas morning or kissing a loved one under the mistletoe. Life is full of special moments, and death is a defining moment in that miraculous continuum.

Holiday Heart is "A HOSPICE Awareness & Benefit Project," a benefit in support of the Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center serving New Jersey, providing hospice care for those who wait for those final moments that life offers and support for grieving family members. It is a grand cause and one that meshes naturally with the spirit that drives the holidays.

This 2-CD endeavor contains 44 seasonal songs reflecting 44 talented artists, an incredibly rich and diverse mix of pop, folk, country, and gentle rock. The performers are exciting independent artists of various sorts, and most songs are originals. The mood is consistently upbeat, but not raucous. The whole project hangs together very well; over 2-1/2 hours of enriching entertainment of the holiday sort!

With a collection this size, it is difficult to know where to start--the album is crowded with crown jewels by lesser-known musicians. What a find! Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith's "Maybe This Christmas" is a well-written, emotive gem that is simple, sweetly-executed, and memorable long after it ended. Jon Caspi's raspy "Eight Days" is self-described American rock, telling the story of a Chanukkah "miracle" road trip. Jolynn Daniel's wistful "Doesn't Feel Like Christmas (Without You)" is a melancholy marvel, and Last Train Home's "Home for Christmas" is a very cool alt-country-rock tale about the girlfriend who got away. Prof. Louie & the Crowmatix do a terrific turn with the Chambers School Choral Ensemble on "Holiday Time Is Here." John Twist's jaded "Scrooge in Black and White" has some of the best lyrics I've heard in quite a while, and Lizanne Knott's "Merry Christmas" exudes a totally different tone and an embraceable message. Professor & Maryann's "Ten Tubas" is a lovely lyrical ditty, Kevin Briody's richly-rewarding vocal on his creatively-conceived "Walnuts & Rice" had me from the first note, and Nina Mankin's "Red Blue Yellow Green" covers Christmas colors and more with simple panache. There is something for almost everyone!

Holiday Heart is the ideal offering for those longing for something more original this holiday season. These generous albums will endlessly fascinate your guests and keep them guessing at your next seasonal gathering. And you benefit a worthy cause, to boot! Enjoy!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Each disc of this 2-CD, 44-song collection was crafted to tell an emotional story. One follows the ebb and flow of romance during the holidays. The other disc traces the path from the excitement of the coming celebrations to the feeling of "enough is enough," then concludes with hoping that the true meaning of the holidays keeps all year. Musically, the songs come from many traditions: lo-fi, folk, rock, power-pop and singer-songwriter.

Every day I see nurses, social workers, chaplains, home health aids, doctors and volunteers support "victims" of personal tragedies, as families confront the reality of a loved-one at the end-stage of a life-threatening illness.

I marvel at how they trust themselves to be the right person at the right time, adjusting to each unique situation.

Nothing, however, is more awe-inspiring and spiritually beautiful than when a family and their community come together to journey along with the last steps of one of their own.

This collection is dedicated to everyone who puts themselves in a position to help another because, as I see it, that's the point of riding this cycle.
--Spiro Ballas, Volunteer Records & Volunteer Coordinator for Saint Barnabas Hospice & Palliative Care Center (NJ)

From the Web site:

HOSPICE is the medical care of patients at the end stages of ALL life-ending diseases, not just cancer. Hospice not only cares for the patient, but their loved-ones, too, supporting everyone during this unsettling time for the family. Surviving members are even followed for 13 months after the patient's death with bereavement support. An interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and volunteers works together to provide palliative care, where the focus is on comfort, easing physical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual pain.

Statistics sadly reveal that most people don't avail themselves to this medically driven service. There are many reasons for this, but mainly, it's because people are still, after 25+ years from its inception, unaware of the benefits of hospice support.

Projects like "Ho Ho Ho Spice" and "Holiday Heart" are means to educate people. Through these collections' liner-notes, website and press, information about hospice will be disseminated.

Those who do use hospice are not making themselves available early enough in the disease process to truly maximize the full benefits possible. And, because of the outdated reimbursement structure established in the early 80's, most hospices have been hit hard financially due to this shortening of the average length of stay. The quick of it is, is that fundraising has become even more important for all hospices, making projects like "Holiday Heart" and "Ho Ho Ho Spice" necessary.

To get even more details about hospice, go to: www.nhpco.org

And if you live in New Jersey, in Essex, Monmouth, Morris and Union counties, please go to Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center's website: www.saintbarnabas.com/hospitals/hospice

SAINT BARNABAS HOSPICE and Palliative Care Center

VOLUNTEER RECORDS This is an independent effort, facilitated by me, SPIRO BALLAS. Currently, I'm a Volunteer Coordinator for Saint Barnabas Hospice and Pallaitve Care Center. However, prior to that, from 1987 to 1994, I produced a music tabloid, called "The Splatter Effect," which was available free at clubs and record stores in the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia area.

This project allows me to bridge both experiences. I'm glad you've come to share it.

Many have supported this effort, giving what they can in the form of discounts and free services. I can't thank enough each one of you who have contributed--the bands, manufacturer, Scott Hull, the publications who gave advertising discounts (just to name a few)--you all have my grateful appreciation. THANK YOU!

I hope to continue this series of releases, but have no hard plans for a third. However, if you have appropriate material, I welcome you to submit it. Hearing how artists approach a similar theme in so many different ways is one reason why I initiated this effort. Send material to: Volunteer Records, PO Box 381, Pennington, NJ 08534.

Various Artists

Holiday Heart
(2 CDs)

Artist site

Track List

Track List, Volume 2