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Our Review

Putumayo is such a great label, pulling fascinating flavors of music from around the world! Its 2009 holiday release is A Family Christmas and, as one might suspect, it's a colorful, family-friendly affair.

This compilation does what any fine compilation should do: it delivers a well-executed mish-mash of diverse holiday delights, beginning with Johnny Bregar's finger-snappin' Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, a fun & folky effort. This is light-hearted music that is child-centric without leaving the adults in the lurch. Leon Redbone's affable Let It Snow provides a warm embrace, and Sam Bush's excellent guitar licks on Sleigh Ride made me long for a December ride down a snowy trail.

I immediately recognized a few cuts as old friends from prior releases, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of the full package. And some tracks were exciting revelations; Kate Rusby's fabulous voice gives perhaps my all-time favorite rendition of Here We Come A-Wassailing, a song that usually does not make me stand up and cheer. Brave Combo's rollicking Jolly Old St. Nick is another memorable trip.

As always, Putumayo has constructed a top-quality album, although its pleasures disappear too promptly (33 minutes!). Sweet and sassy, A Family Christmas should put smiles on all your relatives' faces this holiday season, even grumpy Aunt Barb.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the liner notes:
Light up the season with festive Christmas songs for the whole family!

Various Artists

Putumayo Presents - A Family Christmas

Artist link

Track List