The Brian Setzer Orchestra: Boogie Woogie Christmas [Christmas Album Countdown]

Boogie Woogie ChristmasWhile Brian Setzer has gone on to record another album of Christmas tunes (Dig That Crazy Christmas) and release an album of his fantastic live Christmas show (Christmas Comes Alive!), this is the album that started it all.   Boogie Woogie Christmas set Setzer’s rockabilly guitar stylings up against his full big band unit, and put out a rockin’ set of holiday favorites that breathed some life into a lot of overworn chestnuts.  “Jingle Bells” busts out of the gate with some blistering Gretsch guitar, and the album doesn’t let up until the end.

Not that the whole album is uptempo:  Ann-Margaret serves up a smoldering duo with Setzer on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, and the vocal-centered “O Holy Night” is a surprise.  Other lesser-known tracks are the Setzer-penned “So They Say It’s Christmas,” and a cover of Lionel Hampton’s “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus.”  A treat for big band fans is the Orchestra’s featurette of “The Nutcracker Suite,” done to the original Les Brown arrangement.  Overall, it’s a rollicking and fun romp through a fine collection of Christmas tunes.

Keep in mind that at one point, there were a few different versions of this album floating around the different big box retailers with differing “bonus” tracks.  I lucked out in that an import EP had these tracks collected all in one place, with “Luck Be A Lady” as the single that anchored them together.

To accompany this release, Setzer embarked on the first of a handful of holiday tours with the Orchestra.  Having seen this configuration in concert, I can vouch for the high quality throughout.  Setzer’s guitar chops were impeccable, the band was sharp as a tack, and the rockabilly trio configuration (Setzer, Johnny “Spazz” Hatton and Bernie Dresel) brought things down to a smaller scale, yet still tore up the stage.  The mix of tunes was just over half Christmas gems, and the rest were familiar hits from the Brian Setzer and Stray Cats catalogs.  In fact, “Rock This Town” was the segue from the trio back to the full big band.  All I can say is, if this program didn’t put you into the holiday spirit, nothing could!  Want to see for yourself?  Setzer has released one of these concerts on DVD…or better yet, catch the BSO when it next roars through town.  I’ve seen the group four times, and it has never been a letdown.