Christmas Eve and Other Stories

by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Overview

What would happen if members of Savatage decided to write some Christmas songs? Easy: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This "supergroup" is the brainchild of Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill (respectively the leader-keyboardist and the producer of Savatage). They hired Al Pitrelli (Asia, Savatage) to play guitars, Robert Kinkel to help with keyboards, John Middleton (also a member of Savatage) on bass, and Jeff Plate on drums. Lead vocals are shared by six vocalists, while some of the backing vocals are handled by Savatage lead singer Zachary Stevens. Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a concept album: all the songs are built as chapters of a book, each telling part of a larger story. The plot here is of a young angel sent down to Earth to find and bring back to the Lord "the one thing that best represents everything good that has been done in the name of this day." The angel's quest takes him all over the world, through Russia and Sarajevo, until he finally hears the prayer of a father. This last piece is the strongest moment on the album and makes for a miniature story within the larger story. It is basically told in a trilogy of songs: in the first, "Ornament," we hear the father's prayer, explaining how he hasn't seen his daughter in many years. In "Old City Bar," the angel finds the daughter, standing alone outside a bar, and talks to the bartender who, out of a random act of kindness, takes all the cash from his register drawer and gives it to the girl so she can go home. The third song, "This Christmas Day," has the father praising God, thanking him for bringing his daughter back to him on this night of all nights. It is a very touching story, pondering the thought that "If you want to arrange it/This world you can change it/If we could somehow make this/Christmas thing last/By helping a neighbor/Or even a stranger." Musically, the band has taken some traditional Christmas songs ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "O Holy Night," "The First Noel") and mixed in some modern rock music. The result is stunning and very impressive. It is filled with energy that simply blows you away. The already classic "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" is a gripping instrumental based on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (although you might have to listen carefully to hear it). Fans of progressive music should like this one. And if you're into the more recent works of Savatage (like Handful of Rain or Dead Winter Dead) you'll really love this. ~ Alex S. Garcia

Product Details

Release Date:	10/29/2021
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0603497845934

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Trans-Siberian Orchestra   Primary Artist
Mary Wooten   Cello
Al Pitrelli   Guitar,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Rhythm)
John Clark   French Horn
Jon Oliva   Piano,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Robert Kinkel   Piano,Keyboards
Jeffrey Stackhouse   Vocals (Background)
Ken Williams   Vocals
Nancy Jackson   Vocals (Background)
Peter Valentine   Vocals (Background)
John Margolis   Vocals
Michael Fawcette   Vocals
Warren Wilson   Choir/Chorus
Nigel Tangredi   Choir/Chorus
Peggy Harley   Vocals (Background)
Adrian Ross   Choir/Chorus
Paul O'Neill   Guitar (Rhythm)
Babi Floyd   Vocals
Latasha Spencer   Vocals (Background)
Jeff Plate   Drums
John Middleton   Bass
Caroline Ross   Choir/Chorus
Zachary Stevens   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Zachary Stevens   Associate Producer
Frederick Oakeley   Composer
Jon Oliva   Composer
Robert Kinkel   Composer,Engineer,Overdubs,Producer
William Sandys   Composer
Seth Greenwald   Photography
Edgar Jerins   Cover Design,Illustrations
Dominick Barbera   Overdubs
Ben Arrindell   Assistant Engineer
Matt Thrasher   Assistant Engineer
John Sullivan Dwight   Composer
Ben Arindell   Assistant Engineer
James Carabello   Assistant Engineer
Dave Whittman   Mixing,Engineer
Paul O'Neill   Composer,Producer
Traditional   Composer
Steve Sola   Overdubs
Kevin Hodge   Mastering
Felix Mendelssohn   Composer
Charles Wesley   Composer
John Seymour   Engineer,Overdubs
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky   Composer
Adolphe Adam   Composer
John Francis Wade   Composer