Every year, a sleigh-full of Christmas music gets released. Cher and the Cowsills came to prominence in the ’60s, but they still possess the distinctive sounds that brought them their initial success.
TONYA MOSLEY, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. Every year, a sleigh full of Christmas music gets released, and rock critic Ken Tucker has been listening to a lot of it. He’s narrowed down his list to two new releases. Cher has put out her first Christmas album, which is also her first collection of original material in a decade. Ken also really likes the new three-song holiday EP from The Cowsills, the family group that first gained fame in the 1960s and was the inspiration for “The Partridge Family” TV show. Here’s his review.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DJ PLAY A CHRISTMAS SONG”)
CHER: (Singing) No one on the streets, and the city is quiet. I should be asleep by the heat of the fire, but I’m on my way out. And I’m going to stay out. I can feel the pulse as I walk in the door. Take me through the crowd to the middle of the floor. The red and the green lights are hitting me just right. Nothing more. Nothing less. I got one request. DJ play a Christmas song. I want to be dancing all night long. It’s cold outside, but it’s warm in here. And that’s the only thing I want this year. DJ…
KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: What’s that autotune I hear? Why, it’s Cher coming down our chimneys with a new album called “Christmas.” Its lead off cut is the song I just played called “DJ Play A Christmas Song.” It’s designed to remind you of her last huge hit 25 years ago, “Believe.” This album is stuffed with guest stars including Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper and Michael Buble, but I most enjoyed her solo crooning on a nicely wistful tune called “I Like Christmas.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I LIKE CHRISTMAS”)
CHER: (Singing) I like Christmas. I like a real Christmas tree. I like a mall Santa Claus that lets me sit on his knee. I like a big, red bow and mistletoe with…
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