Not being one for all the Christian hoo-haa that goes with the end of the year retail blitz, I found Leon Redbone's "Christmas Island" CD about 10 years ago, and it's the only holiday music I can tolerate anymore.
There are no references to Jesus, Bethlehem, virgin pregnancies; the words "savior" and "holy" are not found on any of the tracks. This CD is worth the price of admission for that alone, but the music is pretty darned good, too.
Redbone delivers his arrangements of "Frosty the Snowman", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Walkin' In A Winter Wonderland", "Blue Christmas", and of course, "Christmas Island" in perfect ragtime, with help from the likes of Dr. John.
Redbone's voice is perfect for these songs, and he knows his genre well enough to present the material in classic form.
I've owned a few holiday albums over the years, but this is the only one from my collection that tempts me to listen to holiday tunes in July.
