Hey! Merry Christmas! (Mono Mundo Recordings)
The Mavericks
Released in 2018
DownBeat Four-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kENw09AzNWrPu-gie8MXikAW9vOShbt-E
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4wRbRwg3HFYT1cYQKjxRBz?si=gIk0z-lbSEOpTHfuvCI6DQ
About:
Genre-defying, Grammy Award-winning band The Mavericks have announced the November 2nd release of their first-ever holiday album, Hey! Merry Christmas!. Always a group to forge their own path, The Mavericks wrote eight original songs for Hey! Merry Christmas! featuring the group’s distinctive blend of rockabilly Latino, folk, swing, blues, jazz and more. The new songs inject a fresh style and sound into the holiday season while seamlessly fitting into any rotation of Christmas classics. The new collection includes The Mavericks’ renditions of two yuletide favorites “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and “Happy Holiday”.
Led by the incomparable vocals of Raul Malo, drummer Paul Deakin, guitarist Eddie Perez and keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden, The Mavericks will embark on their 30th Anniversary in 2019, but not before establishing some new holiday music traditions. From the rollicking opening tracks “Christmas Time Is Coming ‘Round” and “Santa Does” to the gorgeous, jazzy ballad “Christmas For Me Is You” to the sultry blues of “Santa Wants To Take You For A Ride” The Mavericks help redefine what the sounds of Christmas can be.
2017 was a pivotal year for the beloved band as they also redefined their business. After years on major labels, with great success, The Mavericks chose to go out on their own and founded their independent label Mono Mundo Recordings. That decision was validated when their first independent album, 2017’s critically acclaimed Brand New Day, received two Grammy Nominations for BEST AMERICANA ALBUM and BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG (“I Wish You Well”). The group brought their one-of-a-kind live show out on the road in full force, packing venues here and abroad with loyal fans while bringing in new generations who continue to discover the celebrated group.
Hey! Merry Christmas! was produced by Niko Bolas and Raul Malo and features longtime auxiliary multi-instrumentalists The Fantastic Five — Max Abrams (sax), Julio Diaz (trumpet), Ed Friedland (bass), Michael Guerra (accordion/percussion) and Lorenzo Molina Ruiz (trumpet).
The Mavericks music has no boundaries and their audience, more than ever, has no limitations regarding age, race or gender. What they create is something that is universal, accessible, and most important, unites us. After almost three decades, The Mavericks continue to be a relevant and vital musical force that is needed more now than ever. No better time to unite than during the holiday season.
Track Listing:
1. Christmas Time Is (Coming ‘Round Again) 03:24
2. Santa Does 02:42
3. I Have Wanted You (For Christmas) 02:32
4. Christmas for Me (Is You) 03:39
5. Santa Wants to Take You for a Ride 04:27
6. It’s Christmas Without You 02:39
7. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 02:34
8. Hey! Merry Christmas! 03:16
9. One More Christmas 02:35
10. Happy Holiday 03:34
Personnel:
Raul Malo: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, Mellotron, percussion, background vocals
Paul Deakin: vibraphone, glockenspiel, drums, tubular bells, percussion
Eddie Perez: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
Jerry Dale McFadden: piano, organ, Mellotron, glockenspiel, background vocals
and
Max Abrams: saxophone, background vocals
Julio Diaz: trumpet, percussion
Ed Friedland: upright bass, electric bass, background vocals
Michael Guerra: acoustic guitar, accordion, percussion, background vocals
Lorenzo Molina Ruiz: trumpet, percussion, background vocals
Jeff Coffin: saxophone
Alfreda McCrary, Ann McCrary, Tabitha Fair, Regina McCrary, Etta Britt, Tiffany Turner: background vocals
Recorded at Blackbird Studios, Nashville
Produced by Raul Malo and Niko Bolas
Engineers: Sean R. Badum, Nick Bolas
Mixing: Nick Bolas
Mastering: Richard Dodd
Art Direction: Jerry Dale McFadden
Artwork: Rik Catlow
Graphic Design: Kevin Dresser
Review:
One of the don’t-miss releases of 2018 is Hey! Merry Christmas! by The Mavericks. A limitless supply of infectious Yuletide spirit informs the smooth, superb lead vocals of Raul Malo and his eclectic Americana band, which is based in Nashville. Malo has a gift for composing melodious, high-quality songs, none better than “Christmas Time Is (Coming ’Round Again),” an unstoppable rush of sublime 1960s-flavored pop. With multiple spins, even a couple of songs that initially sound slightly over-groomed in their emotion will reveal unforced charm. Disparate elements animate the Mavericks’ compelling sound: Tex-Mex, country twang, Roy Orbison, ’50s r&b, jazz, Elvis’ Christmas Album and A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector.
Frank-John Hadley (DownBeat)
