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HARK !
The Fab Four's Original
Holiday Soundtrack Album
This 2008 compilation of holiday tunes is a coupling of the
Beatle tribute band's two 10-song releases from 2002. The
remastered 20-song set sounds a bit cleaner than the single-disc
earlier versions, and makes for handy one-stop shopping for
these tracks.
The Fab Four are one of the premiere touring tribute
bands (a second troupe is typically in residency in Las Vegas).
Here, they package their sound neatly with a send-up of the
"Help!" album cover, and deliver a
set sure to become a conversation piece at your next holiday
get-together.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, traditional Christmas
songs are reworked in arrangements mirroring well-known Beatles
songs. For example, the descending scale of the harmonica
riff to "Please Please Me" is slightly
reworked to the melody line of "Joy To The World".
The title song "Hark!" is fittingly
presented in an arrangement built around "Help!".
All the usual suspects are here (Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus),
and a cover of Ringo Starr's "Dear Santa"
is thrown in for good measure.
It's quite clever, actually, and a nice counterpart to the
familiar fan club novelty records issued by the real Fab Four
all those years ago (WHEN is Apple going to release
those?). In fact, a playlist alternating these tracks with
the Beatles originals makes for a nice holiday season listen.
The
album is available here. Go get a jump on your
holiday listening and shopping ... this makes a great stocking
stuffer.
- Tom Frangione
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