A Nelson Family Christmas, Nelson (UMG)

I'd almost forgotten about the blond proto-pop-hair-band composed of twins descended from Ozzie & Harriet and Rick Nelson until I was made aware of this 2022 Christmas album. Maybe they're fresher in your mind. The producers of this album didn't want anybody to forget the lineage, as the playlist includes vintage performances of Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra on "Jingle Bells" and Ricky Nelson repeating "Jingle Bells" and adding "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)." Then Nelson themselves give "Jingle Bells" a third airing, just to underline what's going on here. No question this is a pop move, but its particular flavor of pop-rock is fine and won't offend any grannies in the audience. Their rockabilly-flavored "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" are actually kind of cool, "Joy To the World" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" would fit in with modern adult contemporary radio, and Carnie and Wendy Wilson guest on a non-Donny Hathaway "This Christmas." The ukulele-laden "Mele Kalikimaka" is a fine change of pace, "White Christmas," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Away in a Manger" get a pop-folk treatment, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" takes us on a bluegrass ride, and their versions of "Silent Night," "Blue Christmas" and "Holly Jolly Christmas" are pretty much standard arrangements. Well-performed pop music for your holiday background music needs. Should add that the brothers did a more countrified Christmas album, This Christmas, back in 2015, which I probably passed on for that reason.