Barenaked for the Holidays

Barenaked for the Holidays
Studio album by Barenaked Ladies
Released October 5, 2004
Recorded May 2004 (Track 10 in August 1996)
Genre Alternative rock, holiday music, comedy
Length 46:28
Label Desperation
Producer Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies chronology
Everything to Everyone
(2003)		 Barenaked for the Holidays
(2004)		 As You Like It
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Rolling Stonefavourable [2]
Sputnik Music [3]

Barenaked for the Holidays is a holiday-themed studio album released by Canadian band Barenaked Ladies on October 5, 2004. The album includes Christmas and Hanukkah songs as well as "Auld Lang Syne", which is traditionally sung on New Year's Eve. There are also several songs that are simply about the winter season. The album was the first album recorded at Steven Page's studio, Fresh Baked Woods and was the first released independently by BNL's Desperation Records label (and distributed by the Warner Music Group). It was the band's first studio album for which a "naked track" was not recorded.

Production

While the album contains some faithful interpretations of traditional songs, much of the album plays true to Ladies' off-kilter spirit. "Jingle Bells" begins as a slow, faithful rendition before breaking into an up-tempo version, including the "Batman smells..." lyric variation, and Page breaking down laughing. Several existing songs are included in the form of keyboard interludes; "Happy Birthday to You" is included as a hidden track in the form "Happy Birthday Jesus". The song "Deck the Stills" is an adaptation or parody of the song "Deck the Halls" with the lyrics Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young repeated in place of the real lyrics (it was an in-joke with the band at the time to use these lyrics in other songs). The album also includes the Band Aid charity song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?", all the royalties from which the band donates to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The collaboration with Sarah McLachlan for "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" was released on a prior compilation, Christmas Songs, in 2000.[4] Finally, the album includes seven songs written by the band.

The album was a popular release during the Christmas season of 2004, and reached No. 64 in the regular Billboard album charts.

Releases

E.P. Version

An E.P. of Hanukkah-themed songs named the Barenaked for Hanukkah E.P. was released as a digital download on November 15, 2005. It contains a live version of "Hanukkah, O Hanukkah" from the band's Toronto concert on November 20, 2004, as well as the album versions of "Hanukkah Blessings" and "I Have a Little Dreidel". It was certified gold in Canada.[5]

Barenaked on a Stick

Barenaked on a Stick is a 128MB USB flash drive that contains the Holidays CD, live songs and ad libs, a demo recording, videos of the album recording, promo photos and buddy icons for instant messaging programs. It was sold initially at the 2005 holiday concert tour, and then through Nettwerk's online store, and though Amazon.com. The USB stick was part of a product test by the band to see if there was a market for releasing albums on reusable media. Their next album Barenaked Ladies Are Me was also released on USB flash drive, as were subsequent live recordings.

Other

The song "Hanukkah Blessings" was released on the Rock Band music store on December 23, 2008.

Page's reluctance

Former member Steven Page later admitted that the album was not his idea, and that a holiday themed album was not what he wanted to do following Everything to Everyone.[6]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Lead vocals Length
1. "Jingle Bells"  traditionalSteven Page 3:57
2. "Green Christmas" (†)Steven Page, Ed RobertsonEd Robertson 2:34
3. "I Saw Three Ships"  traditionalKevin Hearn, Page, Robertson 1:07
4. "Hanukkah Blessings"  Steven PageSteven Page 3:27
5. "O Holy Night"  Adolphe Adaminstrumental 1:09
6. "Elf's Lament"  Ed RobertsonMichael Bublé, Page, Robertson 3:34
7. "Snowman"  Ed RobertsonEd Robertson 2:59
8. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (‡)Bob Geldof, Midge UrePage, Robertson, Tyler Stewart 3:32
9. "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah"  traditionalPage, Robertson 2:11
10. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" (§)traditionalSarah McLachlan, Robertson 3:26
11. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"  Johnny Marksinstrumental 0:59
12. "Carol of the Bells"  Mykola Leontovych, Peter Wilhouskyinstrumental 3:00
13. "Footprints"  Ed RobertsonEd Robertson 3:14
14. "Deck the Stills"  traditionalJim Creeggan, Hearn, Page, Robertson, Stewart 0:32
15. "Christmastime (Oh Yeah)" (√)Kevin HearnKevin Hearn 2:16
16. "Sleigh Ride"  Leroy Anderson, Mitchell ParishCreeggan, Hearn, Page, Robertson 0:46
17. "Christmas Pics"  Jim CreegganJim Creeggan 2:13
18. "I Have a Little Dreidel"  Samuel E. Goldfarb, Samuel S. GrossmanPage, Robertson 0:52
19. "Wonderful Christmastime"  Paul McCartneyinstrumental 1:18
20. "Happy Birthday" (hidden track)Patty Hill, Mildred J. HillCreeggan, Hearn, Page, Robertson, Stewart 0:15
21. "Auld Lang Syne"  traditionalPage, Robertson 3:04
† re-recorded; originally from the 2000 soundtrack for How the Grinch Stole Christmas
‡ Previously released in a live version
§ recorded backstage at WPLT Planefest, 1996
√ Re-recorded; originally with Page on vocals for a compilation album

Certifications

This album achieved gold status in Canada.[7]

Personnel

Barenaked Ladies

Additional personnel

Production

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Barenaked for the Holidays at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  2. ↑ Spencer, Todd (2004-11-29). "Barenaked Ladies: Barenaked for the Holidays : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  3. ↑ "Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked for the Holidays (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  4. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Songs-Various-Artists/dp/B00005177I
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  6. ↑ McCoy, Heath (July 21, 2009). "Steven Page stripped bare". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.