New music for the holiday season (Pt 11) - from Bob Malone

This collection originally came out in 2018, but totally out of my radar… It’s ‘new to me’ in 2021 so I’m gonna include it as number eleven in my “12 Faves of Christmas” list!

Bob Malone has a gravely, barroom kind of voice (think Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan & the like) that adds a certain amount of expressiveness to any song he delivers. Now, he puts all that magic into The Christmas Collection, his very own holiday release!

Malone’s version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” was recorded and released all the way back in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2018 that it reached the ears of a world-wide audience as the featured theme in the trailers for that Universal/Illumination animated release of The Grinch. That amazing rendition is included here & it’s sure to bring a smile to even the most-grumpiest of faces. Stand-out tracks include his original tune “Sad on Christmas,” it’s the most magically sad piano ballad you’ll ever hear. His take on “Please Come Home for Christmas” satisfies as well. I also like the new life he breathes into the Joni Mitchell classic “River.” Just amazing

The album, with is comprised of half holiday classics (done with a twist), and half originals is poignant, heartwarming and somewhat darkly humorous. If you’re not the biggest fan of ‘traditional’ Christmas music, this may very well be exactly what you’ve been looking for!

Here’s a taste: