David Edwards is an artist I first discovered back in 1981 when he released his self titled album. That album lived on my turntable for months. His cover of the old Paul Revere classic "Kicks" to me is the definitive version. It was so good but it wasn't the best song on the album which is saying something. A couple of years later his followup Get the Picture was a darker, more sparse offering that like it's predecessor lived on my stereo for a long time. After that I lost track of him and it wasn't until a chance e.mail exchange with Mister Edwards that I found out he had released a third album in the '80s. Dreams, Tales & Lullabies was produced by the late Mark Heard, and it was an amazing album but it was nothing like his previous work. It was likely a perplexing experience for those expecting another collection of new wave intellectually tinged pop songs. I was the literally the commercial suicide he'd sung about on his debut.
Regardless after a long, long wait David Edwards was back on my radar and in 2000 with his tongue in cheek e.p. Inappropriate and then in 2001 he quietly released Christmas Carols Old And New. I have to admit I really wasn't all that excited as I was hoping for a new pop release and not another generic rehash of the same old Christmas standards. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas music, but it can get a little tiring when artists just focus on the old standards. Seeing "Oh Holy Night" on the track list didn't help. "Good grief Charlie Brown," I thought to myself, he's going to go for the Mariah Carey high note.
Boy was I in for a surprise.
One of the things I'd never paid a lot of attention to was David's vocal ability. I mean, with new wave and pop music a good voice was a good voice, and I always liked how David sang. I knew he could sing, one of my favourite ballads of all time came from Get the Picture, "Someone to Trust" was elevated by his vocals. In a world where excellence is rewarded, it should have been a monster hit. Except David was on a Christian label, and pop like this was an anomaly and I suspect the folks in the suits had no idea what to do with a guy who expressed himself without resorting to the tired cliches and simple theological tropes. In short, he didn't say "Jesus" enough, or work in enough thief in the night references.
The first thing that stands out when reading the liner notes is this album was a labour of love. The songs were performed, arranged and produced by David Edwards. Although he did have a little help from Randy Stonehill who provided acoustic guitar on a couple of songs and backing vocals on "The First Nowell."
The album stays true to the core of Christmas. This is a collection of songs celebrating the birth of Christ, and there are no snowmen or marshmallows. I'd poked the bear a little earlier when I'd mentioned "Oh Holy Night" and David absolutely brings it. He's not belting it out, but he didn't cheat either. It was a surprise. David's voice is at the centre of the songs, and his gentle vibrato and tone is so soothing. Not Gerry Rafferty soothing, but it's in the same ballpark.
I hate sitting here picking out one song over another as this works as an album. Of course having said that, let me pick out one of the songs: "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day" a song often associated with Harry Belafonte is one of my favourites here. David's version is spectacular. The only glitch that sort of takes me out of the song is the acoustic guitar. I know David did all the parts and recorded this himself, unfortunately the string scritches are distracting. Oh well, you can't have it all.
Such a shame.
This is really a wonderful album.
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