One has to wonder if the producers of the film "Love Actually" had a copy of the title song from this collection in hand when they devised the plot point about the rock singer and his Christmas comeback attempt. Because that title song is by Randy Bachman, and it's a straight lift of his Bachman-Turner Overdrive 1974 megahit "Takin' Care of Business." This is even better than "Christmas is All Around" from the movie since the songwriter himself is involved. Even though this album would be worth it for this single cut, the Canadians who compiled this disc pulled together a great collection of seldom-heard power-pop holiday performances, making it worth the trek across the world's longest unprotected border to pick it up. Most of the tunes date from 2000 or 2001, but there's a smattering of stuff from the 90s, 80s and even one originally done in 1979 ("It's Christmas" by Bob Segarini, a solid rocker with the "All My Loving" strum). Once you get your jollies from Bachman's remake, the Carpet Frogs kick up the volume with their "Christmas Would Not Be Christmas (Without You)," then they return backing Greg Godovitz on a slightly mellower "Christmas All Over the World." Tom Hooper's "Christmas Kiss" is a bouncy acoustic romp with a little George Harrison slide guitar. The Kings do "This Christmas," a performance loosely derived from Crosby, Stills and Nash with a verse that hearkens back to "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." "Hear Us Now" by Moving Targetz is a bass-heavy rocker full of ensemble singing. Maureen Leeson gets the only female influence onto this collection with the ballad "A Song for Christmas" and Joel-Steven does the gospel-rock ballad thing on "All I Want for Christmas (Is Peace on Earth)." Lots of good stuff here. Near as I can tell, this is out of print, so the cover links you to 3rd parties on Amazon. I got my copy from the label's website, but the label seems to be inactive except for a two-volume encyclopedia of Canadian rock it's selling.
Takin' Care of Christmas, various artists (Bullseye Canada)
One has to wonder if the producers of the film "Love Actually" had a copy of the title song from this collection in hand when they devised the plot point about the rock singer and his Christmas comeback attempt. Because that title song is by Randy Bachman, and it's a straight lift of his Bachman-Turner Overdrive 1974 megahit "Takin' Care of Business." This is even better than "Christmas is All Around" from the movie since the songwriter himself is involved. Even though this album would be worth it for this single cut, the Canadians who compiled this disc pulled together a great collection of seldom-heard power-pop holiday performances, making it worth the trek across the world's longest unprotected border to pick it up. Most of the tunes date from 2000 or 2001, but there's a smattering of stuff from the 90s, 80s and even one originally done in 1979 ("It's Christmas" by Bob Segarini, a solid rocker with the "All My Loving" strum). Once you get your jollies from Bachman's remake, the Carpet Frogs kick up the volume with their "Christmas Would Not Be Christmas (Without You)," then they return backing Greg Godovitz on a slightly mellower "Christmas All Over the World." Tom Hooper's "Christmas Kiss" is a bouncy acoustic romp with a little George Harrison slide guitar. The Kings do "This Christmas," a performance loosely derived from Crosby, Stills and Nash with a verse that hearkens back to "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." "Hear Us Now" by Moving Targetz is a bass-heavy rocker full of ensemble singing. Maureen Leeson gets the only female influence onto this collection with the ballad "A Song for Christmas" and Joel-Steven does the gospel-rock ballad thing on "All I Want for Christmas (Is Peace on Earth)." Lots of good stuff here. Near as I can tell, this is out of print, so the cover links you to 3rd parties on Amazon. I got my copy from the label's website, but the label seems to be inactive except for a two-volume encyclopedia of Canadian rock it's selling.
No TrackBacks
TrackBack URL: http://www.mistletunes.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1327
Leave a comment