Disclaimer :  First, I must say that this CD is a reissue of The New Christy Minstrels’ Christmas album, Merry Christmas! from 1963 and comes from a terrific 2 LP on 1 CD set from Collectors’ Choice Music.  Collectors’ Choice Music is a reissue label known for their top-notch reissues of older albums, and this one is no exception.  Collectors’ Choice Music has combined both The New Christy Minstrels’ Christmas albums onto one CD.  The other is their 1966 Christmas album, Christmas With The Christies.

For the purpose of this blog and because it allows me to review each album in detail, I will only be reviewing the first Christmas album, Merry Christmas!

The New Christy Minstrels were right on the heels of The Kingston Trio in 1962 when they released their first LP.  They were instrumental in bringing Folk Revival music back into popularity.  They also helped launch the careers of Gene Clark, Kim Carnes, Barry McGuire and Kenny Rogers.

Randy Sparks was a Folk Revival singer in the late 1950s and put together a small group with his wife and another friend.  Over the next year, the group grew to 14 members, and The New Christy Minstrels were formed.

Their first album, released in 1962, was a Top Twenty album on Billboard and won the Grammy Award that year for Best Choral Group.  The group’s fame was further advanced when they were chosen to be on Andy Williams’ new variety show starting in the fall of 1962.

More critically acclaimed albums followed, and The New Christy Minstrels were in high demand.  The original ensemble that was featured on the Andy Williams Show stayed together for around three years.  After that, The New Christy Minstrels became a revolving door of up-and-coming Folk Revival artists.  Many who joined after 1965, stayed a while and then went on to solo careers of their own.

The New Christy Minstrels’ peak years were between 1962 and 1965.  And it was during that period that this LP was recorded.  The New Christy Minstrels are still around today, and back to being led by their original developer, Randy Sparks, who had left in 1965 to pursue other musical interests.  At their largest, The New Christy Minstrels contained 14 members.  At the time of this album’s release, they were down to 10.

Collectors’ Choice Music has done a terrific job with this CD set.  Each album includes the original songs in the original track order.  Merry Christmas! contains one bonus track, and Christmas With The Christies features three bonus tracks.  (Look for a review of The New Christy Minstrels 1966 Christmas album Christmas With The Christies in this blog’s future).

The artwork on the reissue has a large picture of The New Christy Minstrels, circa 1963.  Most members are holding the instruments they each play.  In the center of the group, Barry McGuire is seated and dressed looking every bit like Santa Claus.  The name of this 2 LP on 1 CD reissue is Christmas With The New Christy Minstrels : Complete! and is featured at the top of the CD cover.  All is superimposed over a dark green background.  At the bottom of the front cover are the original album covers.  The original album cover for this album is on the left side.  The Collectors’ Choice Music logo appears between the album covers.

The original album cover shows all 10 members in a large sleigh with three bench seats.  Once again, some members are holding Folk instruments.  All are dressed casually and sporting big smiles and waving their hands.  The band name appears at the top and the album title appears below the group’s name.  Below is a list of the 12 songs on the album.  It’s a great festive Christmas album cover.

The back of the CD features the same dark green background as found on the front.  Each original album cover is displayed at the top with this CD’s title in between the covers.  Below is a numerical track listing.  Each album is listed separately with the original album title above the track listing.  The list is divided longitudinally by a red line.  At the bottom of the back of the CD are typical copywrite notices.

The good stuff is inside.  The CD cover comes out and opens as a 10-page stapled booklet.  The first page is an exact copy of the back of the original album.  It features the group name and the album title, Merry Christmas! in large letters near the top of the page.  Above the title is an endorsement of the stereophonic techniques Columbia used to record the album.  Below the album title is a track listing with arranger credits.  Side one is on the left, and side two on the right.  Below is a brief description of the recording of the album.  The image is large enough that I can read all the text. At the bottom of the back of the original album is a numerical track listing that features time signatures.  Unfortunately, nowhere in the CD liner notes is the message from the back of the album included.

The 2^nd page features an exact copy of the back of the other Christmas album.  (That will be described in the review of that album).

The rest of the booklet is dedicated to notes that describe in detail the recording of each album.  There are four pages dedicated to the recording of Merry Christmas! and there are 3 ½ pages dedicated to the recording of Christmas With The Christies.  Included in each narrative is a list of the musicians that were present during the recording of the album and a quick biography of each member.

The bottom half of the last page features a small poem, originally written in French, with the translation beside it.

The back of the CD cover is a close copy of the artwork on the back of the CD, minus the pictures of the original albums.  In addition to the numerical track listing, as on the back of the CD, writer credits are given for each song.  That is very helpful because most of the songs are original Christmas songs, mostly written by Randy Sparks with the help of other band members, or songs based on traditional Folk tunes with new lyrics.  Also included in the artwork on the back of the CD cover, and not found on the back of the CD, is a small sepia photograph of The New Christy Minstrels.

There are Christmas albums and then there are Christmas albums that are not like any other Christmas albums.  This is one of those ‘other’ Christmas albums.

First, it is performed by a 9-member Folk Revival group using traditional Folk instruments, so there are no grandiose string or brass arrangements present.  All the songs are acoustic in nature.  Randy Sparks’ initial goal of forming The New Christy Minstrels was to create a group that combined the Folk Revival sound of The Kingston Trio and the Choral voices of the Norman Luboff Choir.  The 9 voices of The Christies (as their fans called them), are used very effectively on all songs, producing sometimes syncopated, but always layered, harmonies.

Second, with the type of Folk material The New Christy Minstrels are working with, there are no mentions of Frosty or Rudolph; there is one song that speaks of Santa Claus.  Folk Revival music traditionally relies on very old songs, some going back to the 13^th century.

Third, because all the songs are either original Folk Christmas songs, or are based on existing Folk melodies, none of these songs will be familiar to most listeners.  Because of the type of group The New Christy Minstrels are, the subject matter of most of the songs is religious in nature.

The album begins with Beautiful City, a Folk song based on Twelve Gates To The City.  The song opens with a banjo, and all the Christies sing in unison.  It is a rousing arrangement that sets a fast pace.  It is a group effort rejoicing the city of Bethlehem now that the King of Kings has been born in Bethlehem.

The 2^nd song is Tell It On The Mountain.  It is the familiar traditional Spiritual song from the south but the lyrics have been expanded and changed slightly.  The Christies provide multi-layered harmonies against a rousing melody.  Barry McGuire provides the bass voice that resonates throughout the song.

One Star is a perfect example of what The New Christy Minstrels were all about.  It is a light acoustic guitar arrangement that features Gayle Caldwell and Barry Kane delivering infectious lyrics.  All The New Christy Minstrels have a line or two featured.  It is a Folk song that praises the ominous Star of Bethlehem.

The 4^th song, Christmas Wishes, is another light acoustic guitar melody.  Randy Sparks handles the lead vocals.  The lyrics tell of a man, that if he had the opportunity this Christmas, he would ask for three wishes and what those wishes would be.  It is probably my favorite song on here and it is included in my Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings.

The next song, The Shepherd Boy, is the only instance of a celeste being used that I can hear.  It is used effectively to provide light accompaniment of bells to an otherwise endearing song.  Clarence Trent, the bass player, provides the lead vocals that describe a lonely shepherd boy that has nothing to give to the new baby Jesus except his love and devotion.

The 6^th song, Sing Hosanna, Hallelujah, returns us to a more rousing, festive, Folk Christmas.  All the Christies join in the vocals.  The song is based on the traditional Folk song, Greenland Whale Fisheries.  The tempo continues to pick up while the banjo drives the melody.  Towards the end, the tempo drops to half while the Christies continue the harmonies.  It has an even softer, somber finish.

The Folk tradition continues with the 7^th song, Sing Along With Santa.  It is a multi-layered vocal ensemble of all the Christies.  It features a banjo driven, very fast paced melody.  It is directed to children and is the most secular Christmas song on the album.  Nonetheless, it is a fun song.

It’ll Be A Merry Christmas opens with sleigh bells and acoustic guitar.  The song is based on the Folk song, She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round The Mountain.  The new lyrics are absolutely terrific.  Whoever rewrote the lyrics (Randy Sparks?), did a great job of creating unique Christmas lyrics to the familiar melody.  As with all the songs, all the Christies get involved for a rousting vocal performance.

The mood becomes more somber with Tell Me.  Gayle Caldwell tells the story of a child asking her to tell him about the night of Jesus’ birth.  It references Luke 2:8-14, which should be familiar to many as it is the speech Linus gives in A Charlie Brown Christmas.  After the narration, all The New Christy Minstrels return to declare the rest of the vocals reverently.

The pace softens yet again with a soft, acoustic rendition of A Christmas World.  It features Jackie Miller Davidson and Art Podell sharing the lead vocals.

In the 11^th song, Parson Brown (Our Christmas Dinner), Art Podell tells the story of a poor family whose father stole a sheep from the local parson.  It is a mostly spoken word narrative that tells a comical story of a boy that outwits the parson out of a pocket watch and a half crown.  It is a unique song that must be heard to be appreciated.

The last song on the original album is Christmas Trees.  It is a group effort that describes all the different trees that are used to make traditional Christmas decorations.  It is unusual for this album in that the arrangement features Barry Kane on violin that takes center stage.  The light female voices trade off with the tenors to produce an endearing Christmas wish.

This CD reissue contains a bonus track that was recorded before the album was recorded but it wasn’t included on the album because it was recorded for a special promotional album.  The song is a medley of three traditional European carols, Snow In The Streets / Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine / Wassail, Wassail.  Each song features its own arrangement, and the lead singers change as the songs do.  Once again, it is a Christies group effort.  The Folk sound is well presented on the last song, Wassail, Wassail.

I have spoken many times in this review about how great The New Christy Minstrels were in 1963.  The were not the first popular Folk Revival group to make it big, that distinction belongs to The Kingston Trio.  But The New Christy Minstrels were probably the best.  Because they numbered up to 10 members at one time, and all were accomplished musicians and singers, they were able to produce complex harmonies and arrangements.

There is not a bad song on here.  Acoustic guitars, banjos and mandolas come together to make a wonderful, Folk-based Christmas album.  Tenors, altos, sopranos and baritones all sing together to provide terrific, layered harmonies.  I was so tempted to say that two or three songs were the best songs on the album, but every time I listen to this CD, I realize how great all the songs are.  I couldn’t pick a favorite if I had to.  I need to consider adding more songs from this album into my Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings.

As I said earlier, unless you are a die-hard Christies fan, none of these songs will be familiar.  If you like to collect unique Christmas albums recorded during the Classic Christmas Music Era, I highly recommend you seek this CD out.  Once again, the CD this album comes from is produced by Collectors’ Choice Music and is titled Christmas With The New Christy Minstrels : Complete! and contains both of their Christmas albums and four bonus tracks.  Christmas CDs don’t get better that this.

I give this CD :

*****