Happy Xmas (Die-Cut Vinyl)

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Happy Xmas, Eric Clapton's first Christmas record in a career that's spanned over four and a half decades, certainly bears its share of seasonal charm, but it's also of a piece with the warm, amiable music he's made in the 2010s. Like Old Sock and I Still Do before it, Happy Xmas relies on songs from other songwriters (he wrote only one tune, the slow-burning "For Love on Xmas Day") and cooks to a cozy groove that's grounded in the blues but also encompasses soul, reggae, rock, and a bit of vaudeville shuffle ("Xmas in My Hometown"). This homey atmosphere is certainly suited for the season, even if it rarely sounds like a typical holiday record. Chalk that up to Clapton studiously avoiding a reliance on shopworn carols. When he does play an overly familiar tune, he switches it up: he opens up the affair with a blues rendition of "White Christmas," "Silent Night" is given a reggae bounce, "Away in a Manger" has a soulful underpinning, and he turns "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" into a seduction. These clever interpretations are nestled alongside nice holiday chestnuts, turning this into a comforting Christmas listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine