Some Christmas albums

Do a good deed and enjoy Christmas music by Rico J. Puno and some friends at the same time. You can do this by getting a copy of With Love in Our Hearts Unexpected Christmas Duets and Trios featuring Rico J. Puno & Friends. This is a fund-raising album conceived by musical director Toti Fuentes and his manager Bibsy Carballo to benefit children living with cancer. With Fuentes as arranger and keyboardist, Rico and friends perform solo or as interesting duets, trios and more.

Cuts include It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by husband and wife team Ricky Davao and Jackielou Blanco, We Three Kings by Richard Merk, Bodjie Pascua and Miguel Castro, Oh Holy Night by Tirso Cruz III and Jenine Desiderio with the St. John’s Chorale, Go Tell It On the Mountain by Jacqui Magno and Richard Merk, What Child Is This/ O Come All Ye Faithful Medley by Roanne Mallari, Kim Diaz and Ricky, O Little Town of Bethlehem by Jackielou, Tosca Puno and Ivy Violan, The First Noel/ Away in a Manger by Jenine and Miguel, Angels We Have Heard on High by Rico and The CY Boys with the St. John’s Chorale and Heaven Will Wait, an original tune composed and performed by Toti. A message from Rico baby closes the album.

Rico & Friends will launch the album on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at Coriks Bar at Kingswood Arcade, Vito Cruz Ext. cor. Pasong Tamo, Makati. Set to perform are all the featured artists with Fuentes on the keyboard. If you miss this show, there will be a repeat next Wednesday, Dec. 28. The album is distributed by Vicor Music Corp. and is now available at SM Department Stores, Odyssey, Coriks and Color Me Mine at Shangri-La Mall.

The most interesting Christmas album I heard this year is Merry Mixmas, a collection of remixed Christmas classics by Various Artists from 92.3-JOEY. Cuts are really classics, from probably the ’40s or even earlier. To give you an idea of how old, the song where Nat King Cole sings All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) is credited with the group he performed with early in his career, The Nat King Cole Trio. Now that is really old. This, plus the other cuts were given additional programmed instruments then mixed by various DJs. The idea does not always work but it is always nice to hear the likes of Nancy Wilson and Julie London again.

Other cuts include Winter Wonderland by Bing Crosby, Baby It’s Cold Outside by Dean Martin, Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Lou Rawls, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow by Lena Horne; Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer Mambo by Billy May, Everybody’s Waiting for the Man with the Bag by Kay Starr, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Les Brown and his Band of Renown, Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Johnny Mercer with the Pied Pipers, The Christmas Waltz by Nancy Wilson, I’d Like You for Christmas by Julie London, The Merriest by June Christy and Christmas Time is Here by Vince Guaraldi.

For non-stop dancing and merrymaking at Christmas parties, there are also the annually ubiquitous albums of medleys. These recordings have become staples of the Pinoy celebration ever since the dance medleys became popular in the early ’80s. No party or Christmas program is complete without them. These are made up of Christmas songs arranged as medleys interspersed with current hits. That means you can feel Christmasy while dancing to the tune of whatever is the big seller. There are two popular examples for this Season. Chocolate Basketbol Pasaway Christmas Medley by the Jolly Beans and Kinikilig Ako sa Paskong Ito by the Kringles.

As can be deduced from the album title Chocolate has three long cuts, Chocolate Choco-Choco, Basketbol and Pasaway. The Christmas songs included cover almost everything, from Here Comes Santa Claus to Little Drummer Boy, down to Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Happy Days. Kinikilig is anchored on the hits Kilig, Mr. Suave, Chocolate and Dragostea Din Tei. Each one boasts of carols aplenty like I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Someday at Christmas, Joy to the World, Jingle Bell Rock, etc., etc.