Amy Grant

Sometimes you do some heavy reading and other times all you want is a Hallmark greeting card. Earlier this year we got the re-issue of Amy Grant’s Lead Me On. That was the heavy reading. Now Amy gives us The Christmas Collection just in time for Christmas – a Hallmark greeting card of an album: not that that’s a bad thing. The Lead Me On re-issue and this holiday compilation are worlds apart, to be sure, and perhaps a fitting measure of the length and breadth of Grant’s career, as she evolved from being a staple of the early Contemporary Christian Music scene, to a bona fide pop star, to a serious artist, and finally to emerge as a genuine American Celebrity: an entertainer who has become, to many average Americans, a familiar and comforting reflection of themselves. It makes sense, then, that Amy has collected the best of her previous Christmas releases, added four new tracks, and put it all together in a nice new package that says, “Merry Christmas,” and says it in a way that’s as warm and familiar as a candy cane in a cup of hot chocolate.

The bulk of the songs on this project are tried-and-tested classics, often presented in the ways we’ve heard them down through the years. The intention is not to present a new slant on these old chestnuts – no pop Christmas or country Christmas – but to embrace their familiarity and the memories they evoke. While other artists strain their musical muscles trying to force a musical round peg into a stylistic square hole, The Christmas Collection gives you the real deal, pure and simple. Yes, on “Sleigh Ride” you hear clip-clops and jingle bells, and Amy Grant letting out a ‘you-hoo!’ What did you expect to hear? A synth solo?

Getting the traditional treatment are “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Count Your Blessings,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” all lushly orchestrated, sentimental, and ready for heavy holiday radio-rotation. On to the more secular trio of songs: “Winter Wonderland” gets a swinging big band treatment reminiscent of Russ Taff’s swing-oriented Christmas project from the days when both artists were label-mates on Myrrh; “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” has the sock-hop pop sound inspired by The Carpenters’ version, and on the first of the new tracks Amy tackles the unique Jack Gold / Marty Paich arrangement of “Jingle Bells” that was popularized by Barbara Streisand.

For those looking for production values the size of the Radio City Music Hall, “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing,” “Joy to the World / For Unto Us a Child is Born,” and “A Mighty Fortress / Angels We Have Heard on High” are festooned with orchestration, brass exclamation points, harp glissandos and ‘Bach trumpets’ declaring the arrival of the newborn King with appropriate fanfare. “Silent Night,” is a hushed, reverent version of the popular carol, with Grant’s clear and unaffected delivery being thankfully free of the excesses that typify so many so-called pop divas these days. The pastoral feeling of the equally reverent “O Come All Ye Faithful,” close to the end of the album, sets the mood of the season about as well as any other song you’ll hear this year.

To remind us that this is still an Amy Grant CD, “Tennessee Christmas” adds a bit of country pop to the proceedings, while “A Christmas to Remember,” the lovely “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song),” and “Grown Up Christmas List” bring a bit of that CCM history into play. Of the two new compositions, “I Need a Silent Night” is a pleasant re-hash of the ‘Christmas is such a busy time – we really have to stop and reflect a bit’ type of song with somewhat predictable lyrics and the unfortunate cliché of including a child’s voice reading the Christmas story from scripture. Ok – so, call me Scrooge. It’s been done.

On the other hand, Amy makes it clear that she’s all grown up now with “Baby, It’s Christmas,” written in tandem with her husband, Vince Gill. Intentionally or not, the song smolders with Amy’s most evocative delivery ever, as she sings about the moments that mom and dad can enjoy after the rush of activity has died down and the kids are asleep. The romantic message is read between the lines in this slow, jazzy track with Gill’s exquisite guitar work helping to set the mood. This fine song has the makings of a standard. It also makes me wish I had a fireplace to sit in front of with my wife…

This isn’t an album about unique arrangements, stunning musicianship or even great singing (Amy has said on many occasions that her back-up singers can out-sing her). Twelve of this generous serving of eighteen tracks are standards, and of the four new songs only two are new compositions, so this album is obviously not about creating something outside the box (in this case the box is wrapped in red and green ribbon). The Christmas Collection is not short on excellent musicianship, production values, and fine performances from everyone involved, but the artists have, for the most part, decided to let the traditional music of the season be the star of the album, which is really another way of saying that this is a project that honors the birth of Christ and the joy that the season brings.

A little corny, but very warm. Enjoy it with the family.

Tagged as: Amy Grant, The Christmas Collection

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