Arguably one of the leading soul singers of the current musical era, John Legend pulls out all the stops for this 2018 Christmas album, which he's also supporting with live holiday-themed concerts this year. No doubt that's why this album has 14 tracks, in an era where many artists are constraining new albums to 30-40 minute lengths, the better to squeeze them onto a single vinyl disc. (The vinyl version of this one is a double-disc set.) Raphael Saadiq produces and contributes songwriting to several of the new songs composed for this album. Of the originals, "Bring Me Love" is an obvious single with its classic Motown style, "No Place Like Home" offers a jazzy feel in this ode to staying in for the holiday, "Waiting For Christmas" and "By Christmas Eve" are piano ballads of the kind Legend is known for, "Wrap Me Up in Your Love" has the sound of a 70s funk ballad, and "Merry Merry Christmas" has a fun New Orleans-influenced rhythm. The album kicks off with assistance from Stevie Wonder on his "What Christmas Means to Me," and Esperanza Spaulding duets on a jazzed-up "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Legend gives a full-orchestra funk backing to his version of "Silver Bells," and there's a touch of New Orleans on the "Peanuts" classic "Christmas Time Is Here." "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)" gets a straight Mel Torme-style reading, and Legend pulls two Charles Brown classics, "Merry Christmas Baby" medleyed with "Give Love on Christmas Day," and "Please Come Home For Christmas." There's also a version of Marvin Gaye's seldom-covered "Purple Snowflakes." I like this, although I have a sense of it being just a little too calculated to please, but that's always a factor when you're dealing with the most popular artists.
Leave a comment