AFTER reaching number eight in the UK chart with his debut Christmas album, charismatic footballer-turned pundit Chris Kamara is back with another festive offering.
‘And a Happy New Year’ follows on from ‘Here’s to Christmas’ released last November.
Kammy looks like the kind of person who, like myself, would love the joy of Christmas more than most.
He has that lovable infectious personality which makes you think he would be great to go to a Chrimbo bash with.
On my first listen I wasn’t sure about it but after playing it a few times I began to see its merits.
You feel the vocals could be stronger on some of the big Christmas classics he has bravely taken on, including ‘I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday’, ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’ and ‘White Christmas’. The problem is the original pop versions of these songs we all know and love so much that they take some beating – he’s probably on a hiding to nothing with these before he’s even taken the mic.
Having said that, you cannot but love the enthusiasm he puts on these – now big band numbers – and they are fun to listen to.
It is like you’re at a party and he suddenly decides to get up on stage and give us his own take on these festive favourites.
His versions of Blue Christmas and The Christmas Song are enjoyable but this album really comes into its own with some of the songs you would least expect it to.
Oh Come All Ye Faithful and In The Bleak Mid Winter – technically hymns we are used to hearing in church – work well as big band numbers and Kammy does a nice job on both of them. It is as if he has taken the carol concert and upped its game.
You can imagine a great audience reaction to his lively version of ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ and the last song of the ten tracks – Happy New Year – provides a poignant finale to the collection.
The lyrics call us to ‘bring on those Big Ben Chimes’ as we hope for a better year ahead – something we can all relate to after the past 12 months.
But the best song on the album for me was Dear Mr Claus.
It was one I had not heard before and – with its upbeat sound and quirkiness – is made for the ‘cheeky chappy’ Kammy is.
If you don’t know it, it’s about an adult apologising to Santa for a few years of not believing and asking the man in the big red suit to fly his loved one home to him for Christmas on his sleigh.
I actually think with the right airplay and exposure (obviously hampered this year with the pandemic), it would have been an ideal single.
After the trials and tribulations of 2020, the importance of family and friends magnified and having to spend time apart from them, we all need this song on our Christmas playlist this year.
Overall this album is a lot of fun, will put a smile on your face this Yuletide and Dear Mr Claus is on the cherry on this Christmas cake.
And a Happy New Year is available on Amazon here for £7.99 on MP3 or £10.95 on CD.
