Barbra Streisand - A Christmas Album

Just when you think you've got me all figured out, i go and tell you i love Barbra Streisand's A Christmas Album. That's a half truth, i love side a. Side b is meh.

Side b is Babs' first christmas album. She was sick and pregnant in London, but the studio and personnel were already booked, so they just bashed it all together in 3 days or something and waited until the next year. It was worth it.

Side b is a boring christmas album by Barbra Streisand and Ray Ellis. Side a though, that's a Barbra Streisand and Marty Paich album that happens to contain christmas songs.

Everybody put down their version of Jingle Bells, but gave no actual reason why it was supposedly so bad. That's because they simply didn't understand it. It's Barbra Streisand. Remember how i gave Joyous Christmas a pass? Remember how i gave Uriah Heep's pathetic attempt at prog rock a pass? These things are all exactly what they are supposed to be.

Sure, if you gave me the choice between a Babs album and field recordings of motocross races 80% of the time i'd choose the latter, but i've heard enough broadway vocalists in training to recognize the real deal when i hear it. Barbra is phenomenal. You might hate her accent, or not find her attractive, but personality wise she's off the charts. You're supposed to experience the shock, then laugh and say "that was fantastic" just like with Blood, Sweat & Tears. This is theater, and the absurdity of a Jewish superstar making a secular christmas album without actually insulting anyone is a big part of the appeal.

Her singing is immaculate, and Mr. Marty knew exactly how to arrange an orchestra behind her.  The happy/sad tug-of-war that is christmas is on full display, but she's so good at understatement that she doesn't need to nail a baby to a tree or put on moth-ball scented lingerie like some barbaras with too many As in their name. She can just give a tinge of giggle or darken her tone to give you the exact emotional context of a lyric.

The secret ingredient, of course, is Marty Paich. As many times as i've mentioned him, it's obvious that everything he touched turned out pretty good in my book.

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