Cali Tucker brings holiday magic with a new EP, Santa Baby
By Alan Shipston for Country Music News International Magazine
Just in time for the holidays, Cali Tucker has released a six song EP, entitled Santa Baby, stuffed full of Christmas classics. With warmth, style and sparkle, Tucker will keep you in a festive spirit as she interprets yuletide standards sure to heat up your Xmas celebrations. The record production is big and bold and has all the trappings of a beautifully wrapped gift with a shiny red bow.
Please Come Home For Christmas has a sound not dissimilar to a Phil Spector style production with the trademark wall of sound evident. There have been a number of covers of this perennial favorite beginning with the blues-based version by Charles Brown and going through The Eagles and Bon Jovi before settling in with Cali Tucker.
Cali frolics her way through Mele Kalikimaka amongst the horns, ukeleles and steel guitar as the bouncy island vibe plays out. There’s a nice three-part harmony reminiscent of the Andrew sisters from the original Bing Crosby recording of 1949. This song takes its title from the Hawaiian transliteration of Merry Christmas.
O Holy Night might be the best vocal production on the EP, although it’s drenched in reverb, hiding the soaring rendition that Tucker recorded. The typical instrumentation is heard including the piano holding the majority of the song, with emphasis coming from huge string lines, tympany, glockenspiel and a full choir. The song is based on a French language poem written in 1843 and since that time it has been covered by many artists including Johnny Mathis, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Josh Groban and a host of others.
Tucker serves up a country sounding vocal performance on the timeless hit, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Once again, the inventive production is saturated with a variety of instruments spelling out the two and half minute song. Judy Garland introduced this song in the MGM musical, Meet Me In St. Louis, while others such as Frank Sinatra, Chicago, Sabrina Carpenter and Michael Bublé have all put their stamp on this everlasting ballad.
Cali takes The Christmas Song to a new place with her sultry voice and interesting vocal delivery of the Mel Torme classic. The production offers up some noteworthy melody and chord changes so that Cali can put her own brand on this Christmas favorite. Listed as the most recorded / performed Christmas song, it was maybe Nat King Cole who won the hearts of listeners with his trademark release.
Santa Baby has some of the earmarks of the Eartha Kitt single as Tucker’s sweltering, suggestive vocal is on display. The arrangement is playful and chock full of instrumental ornaments sure to please followers of the original. Santa Baby has a long list of covers by Madonna, Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood and was the best-selling holiday song of 1953.
Cali Tucker’s provenance runs deep – her mother is LaCosta Tucker, a country music sensation of the 70’s with fourteen chart hits and numerous appearances on the biggest TV shows at that time. Cali’s aunt is legendary country singer, Tanya Tucker who sang Delta Dawn plus seven number one hits. Living up to such high standards is easy for Cali since she is gifted with a voice that has become her signature. With over 10 million on-demand digital streams, an abundance of awards and a captivating new touring show, Cali Tucker has proven she is an artist to watch.