TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS CD
A CONTEMPORARY CELTIC CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

“Christmas time is here sending everyone from radio programmers to party hosts scurrying to dusty CD shelves in search of songs that will rock, sway or soothe some Yuletide occasion. So put on your Santa hats, break out the mistletoe, mix up your eggnog. Whatever mood you’re in, we have it all here for you and I promise you one thing, Together For Christmas will be the glue that binds your holiday party, dinner or romantic moment together.

Together For Christmas has arrived in one magnificent, eclectic bundle, showcasing the many sides of Celtic Music. Celtic Rock is represented with the first tune, “Christmas Day” by The Elders, along with Kyf Brewer of Barleyjuice singing his original “Whiskey for Christmas” and The Wild Colonial Bhoys “Santa, See You Tonight”. You have the traditional sounds of Cherish The Ladies with their take on a “Deck the Halls” medley; the holiday classic “Silent Night” sung by The Celtic Tenors and ace singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey performing, “Oh Holy Night”.

The voices of Irish women are well represented here with the neo-operatic Emma Kate Tobia covering the song “Walking in the Air,” from the movie “The Snowman” to the ethereal Ashley Davis tune “Nollaig Moon”.

There are standouts along the way, future classics like John Munnelly’s “Happy Christmas”, Garret Wall’s band Track Dogs performing “What Christmas Was Meant to Be” and The High Kings with their version of the song, “Driving Home for Christmas.”

You even have a sparkling rendition of “Fairytale of New York” – our generation’s, “White Christmas” – performed by Emma Kate Tobia and George Murphy. Dave Browne’s Temple Bar Band pulls no punches on their cover of the Pretenders “2000 Miles”.

There’s even a dollop of politics thrown in courtesy of yours truly. I can’t even remember why I recorded John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War is Over) – probably to protest the Iraq invasion. Well, thankfully, that war is history, but the song and its treatment add a little something different to a Christmas collection. Oh, and lest I forget, snap your fingers to that Celtic Jazz princess, Tara O’Grady with “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

"Turn up the volume! Kick out those December jams! A very merry Celtic Christmas and joy to the world.”

Larry Kirwan, Black 47