A Christmas Cornucopia [10th Anniversary Edition]

by Annie Lennox

Overview

Most artists treat Christmas albums as toss-offs; something to get into the marketplace and have on the shelf when punters come in and snap up the holiday offerings. There is usually little forethought, production and arrangements are entrusted to studio stalwarts who paint by numbers. Annie Lennox doesn't fit this mold remotely. She considered a Christmas Cornucopia with all the intuitive care and devotion her other studio albums reflect. Lennox spent much of her youth singing in choirs, and that is reflected in both the song selection (all but one of these she sang as a child in choir) and arrangements. Working once more with producer Mike Stevens (who also helmed the sessions for her last offering, 2007's Songs of Mass Destruction), Lennox recorded many of the choral vocals herself by overdubbing. The pair did employ a 30-piece orchestra; they also recorded the African Children's Choir who are prominently featured throughout, especially on "The Holly and the Ivy" and the French carol "Il Est de le Divin Enfant." Textures and atmospheres are the name of the game in these interpretations, and they're employed in unusual ways: note the Middle Eastern rhythms and modalities on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" that collide -- albeit harmoniously -- with Celtic pipe, flute, and accordion sounds. It's a fantastic track, though it does engender a minor complaint: why on earth would a vocalist of Lennox's caliber use Auto-Tune even momentarily? Other standouts here include the majestic "The Holly and the Ivy," the sparse instrumentation on "In the Bleak Midwinter," and the the dramatic darkness in the obscure carol "Lullay Lullay" that tells the Christian story of King Herod's infanticide in trying to eliminate the threat posed by the Christ child. "Silent Night" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" are given wonderful arrangements and sung with a sincerity approaching absolute devotion, especially with the African Children's Choir underscoring Lennox's voice. The lone original here, "Universal Child," is the lead single (proceeds are being donated to the Annie Lennox Foundation); it's a beautifully written and arranged pop song, delivered soulfully and enigmatically; it is worth the price of the album itself. A Christmas Cornucopia is a real contender for best Christmas album of 2010. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	11/20/2020
Label:	Island / Verve
UPC:	0602435181912

Tracks

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2. The First Noel
3. Il Est N¿¿, Le Divin Enfant
4. See Amid the Winter's Snow
5. Silent Night
6. Universal Child
7. Dido's Lament
8. Angels From the Realms of Glory
9. The Holly and the Ivy
10. As Joseph Was a Walking
11. O Little Town of Bethlehem
12. In the Bleak Midwinter
13. Lullay Lullay (Coventry Carol)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Annie Lennox   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Santur,Vocals,Marimba,Dulcimer,Triangle,Accordion,Harmonium,Keyboards,Pan Pipes,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Pipe Organ,Reed Organ,Vibraphone,Harpsichord,African Drums,Fender Rhodes,Navajo Flutes,African Percussion,Harpischord Synclavier,Drums,Flute
African Children's Choir   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Mike Stevens   Oud,Bass,Drums,Organ,Drones,Strings,Keyboards,Music Box,Percussion,Bass (Vocal),Glockenspiel,Guitar (Bass),Organ (Hammond),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Nylon String)
Barry Van Zyl   Drums,Percussion,African Drums,African Percussion
Dave Robbins   Conductor
Rod Dunk   Conductor
Mark Stevens   Percussion,African Drums,African Percussion

Technical Credits

Annie Lennox   Whisper,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Vocal Percussion,String Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements
Traditional   Composer
Matt Allison   Engineer
Mike Owen   Photography
Mike Stevens   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Bass Programming,String Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements
Henry Purcell   Composer
Mark Stevens   Engineer
Tim Warburton   Leader
Marcus Byrne   Engineer
Heff Moraes   Mixing,Mixing Consultant