Suzy Bogguss Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Loyal Duchess Records by Scott Snidow

I know that Suzy Bogguss is not the usual fare that Rockzillaworld readers expect to see featured within our pages. Many of you probably relate her to her multiple successes in Nashville, as well as to the "pretty" boy/girl aspect of country music. True that she has been quite successful over the past decade, but her success has been on her own terms and conditions. There have always been copious amounts of traditional elements to her music, lots of fiddles and resonator and arch-top guitar sounds. She was also one of the first in Nashville to recognize the impact the artists of Americana music were making by recording songs by such writers as Tom Russell and Nanci Griffith, and working with the likes of Delbert McClinton and Chet Atkins. It was armed with this knowledge that I opened this CD and plopped it into the player for a quick listen and what I thought would be equally quick consideration. What I heard resounding from the speakers of my stereo was a fine Christmas album, perhaps a little too "traditional" for my unusual and unrefined tastes, but still quite noteworthy. Let me say at the outset that it takes quite an exceptional Christmas album to get my attention, especially when it is in the dime-a-dozen world of country genre Christmas albums. Bogguss succeeded in not only getting my attention with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, but she succeeded in getting me to listen to this CD almost non-stop for over a week now. I am sure that trend will continue straight through the holidays. Part of the success of this particular Christmas offering lies in the fact that Bogguss' heart was really in this project. She confesses that ever since her days with Capitol Records, she has been wanting to put together a Christmas record that has the songs that she personally likes to hear and perform during the holiday season. With her departure from Capitol and the founding of her own Loyal Duchess Records, Bogguss decided that the time was now for the release of this album. So, earlier this year, Bogguss went to work to bring this dream to fruition. Surrounding herself with some of the best musicians and singers in country music, including McClinton, Atkins, and Ricky Skaggs, Bogguss set about to breathe life into the tracks that have become Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. As I stated earlier, this is a pretty traditional album as Christmas albums go. It is the type of album that you will free to play to whoever may be visiting over the holidays. There are tracks contained on this album that are sure to appease Grandma and Grandpa as well as the kiddies. It is a fun, very pleasing album, with Bogguss' very beautiful voice gliding smoothly through the lyrics to such typical numbers as the title track or "Do You Hear What I Hear" and "Winter Wonderland." However, there are a few surprises contained with these tracks. One, and perhaps the most pleasing to my ear, was Bogguss' duet with Delbert McClinton on "Baby Its Cold Outside." There is a sultry playfulness that plays perfectly to Frank Loesser's classic lyrics. It is almost as though this song was written with these two in mind. It becomes their own in this rendition. Another truly surprising gem on this album was the Bogguss penned "Two-Step 'Round the Christmas Tree." This is a really fun modern country Texas two step Christmas tune, sure to find its way on seasonal playlists at dance halls and radio stations all across this great land. And of course, other outstanding moments are to be found in the great guitar work of the late Chet Atkins, who lends his talents on "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and "Mr. Santa," where he is joined by Ricky Skaggs on mandolin. Other very mentionable tracks include Bogguss' versions of "Jingle Bells," a nice little swing number, and the timeless "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," where she has taken artistic license and mischievously added the lyrics to this song that are heard in nearly any schoolyard at this time of year. All in all, Suzy Bogguss has concocted within the tracks of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a very good Christmas album in a genre that has been littered with similar offerings. One that stands out from the usual fare while remaining inside the confines of the "traditional" label. It is a very fun, very playable record that will no doubt fit in nicely to nearly any Christmas collection. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas can be found at all of the usual Internet and walk-in music stores, as well as at www.suzybogguss.com. You can contact Scott Snidow at: scott-at-rockzilla.net

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