Everybody Knows It's Christmas, Chris Isaak (Sun)

Everybody knows "Wicked Game," Chris's biggest hit that not only comes over supermarket sound systems but movie soundtracks as well as radio. He previously released a holiday album in 2004 but he's back again in 2022 with this one. For those not familiar, Chris came along as an Americana/rockabilly artist and if you remember that Sun Records, Chris's new label, is where we got Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, then you know just what to expect here. Chris went the extra mile here, penning eight of the 13 tunes on this new album. The covers include a sauntering "Winter Wonderland," faithful takes on "Jingle Bell Rock," "Run Rudolph Run," and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and a big ballad version of "O Holy Night" closes the album. The originals favor gentle, countrified ballads like "Holiday Blues," "I Believe in Santa Claus," and "Wrapping Presents For Myself," but there's also the novelty "Dogs Love Christmas Too," the country polkas "Everybody Knows It's Christmas" and "Help Me Baby Jesus," the swingy "Christmas Comes But Once a Year," and the rockabilly tune that was tapped as the collection's single, "Almost Christmas." Worthwhile even if you already have his previous holiday albums. Just noticed while posting this that there's a live holiday album by Chris in his discography, too, with guest appearances by Brian McKnight, Michael Buble, and Stevie Nicks.