The Big Night
Audium Records/ Boy Rocking Records
Tulsa soul takes center stage on this, the second Christmas album from Steve Ripley and The Tractors. This time around, lead Tractor Ripley enlists legends including Scotty Moore and The Jordanaires, along with standouts such as Fats Kaplin and Floyd Domino. Things get off to a rollicking start with Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, a holiday remake of Boogie Woogie Country Girl. Plenty of funky cool stuff follows, but the album's highlight is a remarkable take on Little Drummer Boy, with Ripley's impassioned vocal and rhythm guitar set against Kaplin's heart-tugging strings and accordion.
Audium Records/ Boy Rocking Records
Tulsa soul takes center stage on this, the second Christmas album from Steve Ripley and The Tractors. This time around, lead Tractor Ripley enlists legends including Scotty Moore and The Jordanaires, along with standouts such as Fats Kaplin and Floyd Domino. Things get off to a rollicking start with Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, a holiday remake of Boogie Woogie Country Girl. Plenty of funky cool stuff follows, but the album's highlight is a remarkable take on Little Drummer Boy, with Ripley's impassioned vocal and rhythm guitar set against Kaplin's heart-tugging strings and accordion.
About.comReviewed by Jolene Downs
The Tractors have released a new Christmas album in time for the holiday shopping season. It is released off of Boy Rocking Records and Audium Records. The Tractors have a unique sound and this is a fun album to put in for your holiday parties. They have that western swing flavor in their music. Lead vocalist, Steve Ripley has a voice that is perfect for this style of music. You can hear a saxophone in the background on several songs that adds to the uniqueness of the album.
"The Big Night" lends a modern tone to Santa's trip around the world. It finds Rudolph popping in some digital tunes to fly with in the form of Mp3's. He shines his reindeer shoes and does a little reindeer shuffle in preparation for "The Big Night."
They have included "Pretty Paper" on this album. It is a country and western holiday standard on many albums. It is a very pretty song, and it almost makes you cry hearing how sad he is in the midst of all the holiday preparations. It is one of my favorite songs.
"Run Run Rudolph" makes you do some serious toe tapping. Rudolph is running all kinds of crazy trying to get everything done in the short time he has.
The Jordanaires are a legendary group in the music field, and they lend their talents as background vocalists on "Santa Claus Is Back In Town." It has somewhat of a bluesy sound to it. Santa is in a Cadillac for this one.
"Christmas Times a Comin'" is probably my favorite song on this album. I like the tempo and the words. It features some great piano playing, and background vocals from Debbie Campbell. They have managed to keep a good share of the bluegrass feel from when the original recording by Bill Monroe. They just added a little Texas swing to the whole thing.
"Bo Diddley Santa Claus" is definitely the most interesting song on the album. Love the percussion. Santa got sick and who do they call?? Bo Diddley of course!! It is a fun, fun song.
Bottom line is that this is a seriously fun Christmas album. Your body moves along to the music of it's own accord. The lyrics are fun and it is definitely a great album for a party. While they have included a couple of traditional songs, it is definitely not a traditional Christmas album.