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Aaron Neville - Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas (1993)

Logic would dictate that if Aaron Neville can't make it a soulful Christmas, nobody can. Neville's one of the only mere mortals who can actually deliver on the old saw about having a voice so sweet he could sing the phone book. Problem is that Neville, who is notorious for making the wrong career choices, probably would sing the phone book if someone signed the check. Consequently, even though he includes the typical standards on Soulful Christmas, they still ring true with his magical voice. "Such a Night" and "Louisiana Christmas Day," however, stand out with soul and are required additions to any funky holiday party mix.

Aaron Neville's voice is at times reverent, mellow, thoughtful, soulful, dreamy, and downright fun. This CD has both traditional religious carols as well as fun seasonal songs.

Although Aaron Neville is often compared to singer Sam Cooke in terms of sheer vocal refinement, he has a voice and style uniquely his own.

Tracks

01. Please Come Home For Christmas

02. O Holy Night

03. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting Roasting On An Open Fire)

04. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

05. White Christmas

06. Such A Night

07. O Little Town Of Bethlehem

08. Silent Night

09. Louisiana Christmas Day

10. The Star Carol

11. The Bells Of St. Mary's

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Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas

A&M Records , 1993 Produced by Steve Lindsey

Aaron Neville had wanted to record a Christmas album virtually from the time he first heard Nat King Cole's classic, "The Christmas Song". But he had to wait nearly a half-century to see his dream come true. For Neville and for fans of Christmas music alike, it was worth the wait. Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas, which A&M will release on October 5, is likely to become a Christmas classic in its own left.

Neville's album combines the dreamy romanticism of classic Christmas albums by Cole and Johnny Mathis with some highly individual touches, including the frisky, Cajun-flavored "Louisiana Christmas Day" (written by Jim Cox, who plays keyboards on the album).

"You can't get too far away from the traditional sound," says Neville. "If you do, it takes away some of the spirit. The secret is to just put your signature on it; put your heart and soul into it to make it yours."

Steve Lindsey, who produced the album, says his goal was to make an album that encapsulates all the different aspects of Neville's musical personality. "I wanted to make an album that would embody all the styles he could really nail, from Nat Cole and Johnny Mathis to Charles Brown and classic R&B and doo-wop records. He's equally at home in all these areas. The album is Aaron paying homage to all these influences and to a time of the year that holds special meaning for him."

Before recording the album in New Orleans, Neville and Lindsey sifted through scores of Christmas recordings, by artists ranging from the Drifters and Charles Brown to Bing Crosby and Jo Stafford. "With a great singer like Aaron, who can do just about anything, there was a lot to pick from," says Lindsey, who also supervised Neville's current album, The Grand Tour, which has gone gold.

Lindsey had another goal in mind. "I wanted to make a classic Christmas album that would live for the next 50 years. I didn't want to make a trendy album. I didn't want any synthesizers or drum machines."

Much of the album was cut live, with Neville's lead vocals being cut simultaneously with the rhythm section and the orchestra. "It's always better that way," says Lindsey. "You can ear the whole arrangement and everybody inspires each other."

The album features a full string section on many of the tracks. "I love strings," Neville says, "Stings have fascinated me since the Nat King Cole days. I remember back in school going on a field tip to the symphony, and how it affected me. While recording with them, my voice felt like another one of the instruments."

One of the most distinctive cuts on the album is a sly, playful version of "Such A Night," a 1954 R&B hit by the Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter. The song is cleverly counterpointed with the monologue from "The Night Before Christmas." Lindsey says the track grew out of goofing around in the studio.

Another highlight is Neville's dreamy reading of "The Christmas Song." "At first I didn't want to do it," Lindsey admits, "because Nat Cole's version has never been topped. I knew if we were going to do it, we had to have a different arrangement and still keep it traditional. And I love it. I'd put it left up there with Nat's version, because as a singer, Aaron is left up there."

Other highlights include a bluesy version of Charles Brown's "Please Come Home For Christmas" (a hit for the Eagles in 1978), a spry "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," an ethereal "Silent Night" and a hushed and reverent "O Holy Night."

Lindsey is already looking for to his next album project with Neville. "He's a producer's dream," Lindsey says. "As long as you've got a great song, he'll give you a great interpretation."

In his thank-yous on the album, Neville credits the late Bill Graham, his long-time manager. "He was a big fan of the Neville Brothers from years ago," Neville says. "We signed with him and he made a lot of things happen for us. He was a real special man. If there was a concert on the moon, Bill Graham would be the one to do it."

Though Neville has long been one of the most admired singers in the business, his career didn't go into high gear until 1989. That was the year he was featured on four tracks on Linda Ronstadt's double-platinum album, Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind. Among the tracks were a pair of Grammy-winning hit singles, "Don't Know Much" and "All My Life." Also in 1989, the Neville Brothers returned to A&M to record their most successful album to date, YELLOW MOON. The album remained on the national sales charts for nearly six months. In addition to winning two Grammys, Neville was voted top make singer in the Rolling Stone critics' poll in both 1989 and 1990.

In 1991, Neville had landed a Gold album of his own, WARM YOUR HEART. The album spawned a top 10 hit, "Everybody Plays The Fool." His most recent album, THE GRAND TOUR, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. At press time, the single "Don't Take Away My Heaven," had reached the top spot on Billboard's A/C charts, and the title track was bulleting up the Billboard country charts, a first for Neville.

Season's Greetings.

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