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Rating: "A Christmas Album" contains eleven Christmas songs performed and sung by James Taylor. The album was released at Christmas in 2004. James Taylor's voice is perfect for framing the Christmas magic, and the atmosphere created by this album is truly perfect. It is indeed an album to be listened to exclusively during the Christmas period; it is an excellent soundtrack for Christmas Eve. However, obviously, it loses much of its charm if listened to at any other time of the year.
James Taylor had already shown his passion for Christmas songs, concluding his latest studio album (October Road 2002) with the notes of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". In this album, he goes through so many, some by modifying them (see "Jingle Bells" transformed into a rhythmic blues tune), others by keeping them faithful to tradition (see the wonderful version of "Deck the Halls"). The latter is one of the best tracks on the CD. Also fun is the vocal duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Also particularly noteworthy: "Winter Wonderland", "In the Bleak Midwinter", the moving "Some Children See Him", "Who Comes This Night" (the last two both about the magic of the Santa Claus legend), and the unmissable concluding "Auld Lang Syne" performed here impeccably.
A must to dust off every year before Christmas, to be put back on the shelf on the evening of the 25th.
Tracklist and Lyrics
03 In the Bleak Midwinter (04:18)
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
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