Christmas in the Heart Bob Dylan

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Vinyl LP - Bonus CD

  • Release Date: 11/23/2009
  • Sales Rank: 6,267
  • Label: SONY
  • UPC: 886975732319
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CD - Special Edition$18.69

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About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

After the initial shock fades, the existence of Christmas in the Heart seems perhaps inevitable. After all, the thing Bob Dylan loves most of all are songs that are handed down from generation to generation, songs that are part of the American fabric, songs so common they never seem to have been written. These are the songs Dylan chooses to sing on Christmas in the Heart, a cheerfully old-fashioned holiday album from its Norman Rockwell-esque cover to its joyous backing vocals. Apart from the breakneck "Must Be Santa," which barrelhouses like a barroom, Dylan doesn't really reinterpret these songs as much as simply play them with his crackerjack road band, dropping in a little flair -- restoring "we'll have to muddle through somehow" to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," singing the opening of "O Come All Ye Faithful" in its original Latin -- but never pushing tunes in unexpected directions. Many would argue having Dylan croon these carols is unexpected enough and, true, there are times his gravelly rumble is a bit pronounced, but nothing here feels forced, it all feels rather fun, provided you're on the same wavelength as latter-day Bob, where the sound and swing of the band is as important as the song, where there's an undeniable nostalgic undertow to all the proceedings. And, of course, there's no better time for celebratory sound, swing, and nostalgia than the holidays, which may be why Christmas in the Heart is a bit of a left-field delight. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide



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Customer Reviews

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  • Ratings: 7Reviews: 1

Re-born Again Bob?by Dusty_Keg

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October 24, 2009: This sounds vocally at times like a cross between Tom Waits, Chris Gaffney, and Captain Beefheart. Yet, never as good as this triumvirate individually.

"Christmas In The Heart" is a charming gift from an American icon whose heart is in the right place. After all, profits are going to charity.

It sort of works on material which is light and upbeat such as "Christmas Island". However, I cannot hear this song without being drawn to hear Leon Redbone's version.

Let's be thankful that "O Holy Night" wasn't attempted. This seems like a project that would have been best suited for Bob if attempted during his "Nashville Skyline" period. Remember, that really was Bob Dylan crooning "Lay Lady Lay" back then.

Given the current voice Bob has to work with, I would have gone with arrangements sporting a New Orleans, Muscle Shoals, and/or Bluegrass flair. Remember how good the instrumental backing was on "Slow Train Coming" and "Blood On The Tracks"?

Recommended for the more than casual and completist Dylan fan.

This review was written about the CD edition.