Our Review
The excellent Raul Malo is Retro Man on Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites, and it's all good news. Formerly the lead guy and songwriter for country music's Mavericks, Malo goes solo here, and he is a Tony Bennett/Roy Orbison meld, occasionally shot through with a bluesy edge. Very nice pipes!
Let's begin with the title track. I review tons of Christmas releases, and I almost never hear Marshmallow World, a fun golden oldie that Dean Martin once embraced. The second selection is similarly a vintage piece; Boppin' Bobby Vee himself once performed Not So Merry Christmas many moons ago. Malo employs a bit of artful time travel on this release, and his vibrant vocals make the trip very realistic.
For me, Malo's magnificent tenor truly sparkles on the jazzy Jingle Bells, is downright seductive on White Christmas (complete with some Bing Crosby scat-singing and a too-cool bass line), and burns the house down on Santa Claus Is Back in Town. His toreador approach to Silver Bells is fun, albeit a tad unnerving, and his whistled Winter Wonderland close adds a homey touch. Listening to this artist croon is pure entertainment, although the stage show sadly ends after only 34 minutes.
Raul Malo's Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites could be your sweetest treat this season. So grab a marshmallow, a roasting stick, and a prime spot around the blazing hearth--let's make s'mores! Yum!
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)
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From the liner notes:
Produced by Raul Malo, Jay Weaver, Evan York
Arranged by Raul Malo, Jim Hoke
Engineered by Evan York
Mixed by Raul Malo, Evan York
Musicians:
Robert Chevrier: piano, organ, vocals
Jim Hoke: horns, organ, guitars, ukelele, vocals
Tom Lewis: drums, percussion
John McTigue III: drums
Raul Malo: vocals, guitars, percussion, organ, keys
Neil Rosengarden: trumpet
Jay Weaver: upright, tic tac, and Hammond pedal bass, harp, percussion, vocals
Evan York: bells, whistles, and Christmas Cheer
"Feliz Navidad" vocals: Dino Malo, Victor Malo, Carol Malo, Norma Malo, Alexandra Biegel, Nancy Biegel, Angela Dooley
"Feliz Navidad" handclaps: Don Biegel, Brian Thomas, Evan York, Jay Weaver
"Silent Night" background vocals: Angela Dooley
Raul Malo
Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites
Artist link
Label: New Door Records
Length: 34 minutes
Genre: Easy Listening
Release: 2007
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Marshmallow World |
| Not So Merry Christmas |
| Jingle Bells |
| Silent Night |
| White Christmas |
| Santa Claus Is Back in Town |
| I'll Be Home for Christmas |
| Blue Christmas |
| Silver Bells |
| Feliz Navidad |
| Winter Wonderland |