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Benjamin M Eaton 3.5 / 5

‘Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails Vol. 1’

Whether you love it or hate it, Christmas is here with all its bells and whistles. Mariah Carey, Barry

White, Peter Kay, Frank Sinatra, Peter bloody-Kay. Christmas music is a far-flung thing; a mixed bag

of acceptably cheesy, and horribly commercial, of childhood classics, and modern abominations.

‘Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails Vol. 1’ is a mixed bag of its own; opening with the big-

band arrangement ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo’ by Billy May which seems to move

from laughable to unbearably fun in the course of one listening. Then there’s Jimmy McGriff’s ‘Santa

Claus is Comin’ To Town / White Christmas’ whose jazzy cover of a classic turns so quickly from

synth crooning to screaming blues guitar solo that it’s hard to reconcile the one part with the other.

The wailing organ in the latter part of the song seems discordant, but then the soulful drums and

saxophone burst into the track and transforms it yet again. It’s frenetic, but these jazzy moments make

the listening worth it.

It’s not all about campy fun and nostalgic covers. Julie London gives as sexy a Christmas gift

as has ever been given with ‘I’d Like You For Christmas’, a husky and effortless tune that seems an

antidote to the semi-enjoyable chaos of Jimmy McGriff. Her signature sensuality belongs on the album

that is nearly delivered, with songs by the likes of Dean Martin, and Nat “King” Cole. Unfortunately,

the track that immediately follows is the unbearable ‘Holiday on Skis’, a horrible staccato of electrical

notes strung into a vaguely festive melody. It’s like a nephew’s shiny-new, talking toy you spend all

Christmas dinner plotting to sabotage.

But in a compilation album of 21 tracks, ranging from Latin to jazz with a few detours on the

way; there were bound to be some down-right bad ones. Just as there are some absolute classics.

Dean Martin is characteristically cool with ‘I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm’, oozing swing,

demanding boozy-finger-clicking. ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?’ by Nancy Wilson is a

phenomenal slow-dance waiting-to-happen. It embodies all the Christmas party naughtiness

imaginable with her soulful voice and bluesy piano licks.

‘Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails’ is a package deal that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

That’s why every cool classic is matched by an oddball cover. Because Christmas shouldn’t really be

that serious: for every box of lingerie there’s a box of socks.

‘Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails Vol 1’ is out now via Capitol Records