| Christmas Island | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1988 | |||
| Studio | Manhattan Recording Company | |||
| Genre | Jazz, Christmas music [1] | |||
| Length | 30:19 | |||
| Label | August [2] Private Music [3] | |||
| Producer | Beryl Handler, Leon Redbone | |||
| Leon Redbone chronology | ||||
| ||||
Christmas Island is an album by the musician Leon Redbone. [4] [5] It was released in 1988, with a rerelease the following year. [6] [7]
The title track has been mentioned in many works of fiction. [8] [9] [10]
The album was recorded in three days. [11] Redbone picked songs that he thought would appeal to listeners who didn't usually enjoy Christmas music. [12] He duetted with Dr. John on "Frosty the Snowman". [6] "Winter Wonderland" contains a dobro solo. [13] "Christmas Ball Blues" is a version of the song made popular by Bessie Smith. [14]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [15] |
| Robert Christgau | B+ [16] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [17] |
| MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide |  [18] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [7] |
Robert Christgau wrote: "Beyond sacred schlock-by-association and rock and roll gifts, Christmas is a pop holiday that plays best in the background, which suits Redbone's forgettable old-timey lassitude." [16] The Philadelphia Inquirer concluded that, "with a deep, wavery delivery, the growl-voiced blues-folkie comes across as a kind of Crosby on Quaaludes." [19] The St. Petersburg Times stated that Redbone's "trademark laconic style puts an entirely new spin on these tunes." [20]
The Washington Post determined that "after a while the effortless renditions start sounding too similar." [21] The Los Angeles Times deemed the album "sultry, desert-island swing." [13] The Orlando Sentinel noted the "bittersweet" atmosphere, writing that the songs are "exceptional, true-to-the-original versions." [7] The Toronto Sun opined that Redbone's "cornball style is tailor-made for traditional hokum." [22]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "White Christmas" | Irving Berlin | 2:22 |
| 2. | "Winter Wonderland" | Felix Bernard, Dick Smith | 2:33 |
| 3. | "Frosty the Snowman" | Steve Nelson, Jack Rollins | 1:58 |
| 4. | "Blue Christmas" | Bill Hayes, Jay Johnson | 2:27 |
| 5. | "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays" | Robert Allen, Al Stillman | 2:36 |
| 6. | "Toyland" | Victor Herbert, Glen MacDonough | 2:37 |
| 7. | "Christmas Island" | Lyle Moraine | 3:39 |
| 8. | "That Old Christmas Moon" | Terry Waldo | 3:03 |
| 9. | "I'll Be Home for Christmas" | Kim Gannon, Walter Kent | 2:40 |
| 10. | "Let It Snow" | Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne | 2:39 |
| 11. | "Christmas Ball Blues" | Traditional | 3:05 |
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