TONYA MOSLEY, HOST:

That is FRESH AIR. Yearly, a sleigh filled with Christmas music will get launched, and rock critic Ken Tucker has been listening to loads of it. He is narrowed down his listing to two new releases. Cher has put out her first Christmas album, which can also be her first assortment of unique materials in a decade. Ken additionally actually likes the new three-song vacation EP from The Cowsills, the household group that first gained fame in the 1960s and was the inspiration for “The Partridge Household” TV present. Here is his assessment.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DJ PLAY A CHRISTMAS SONG”)

CHER: (Singing) Nobody on the streets, and the metropolis is quiet. I needs to be asleep by the warmth of the fireplace, however I am on my means out. And I am going to keep out. I can really feel the pulse as I stroll in the door. Take me by means of the crowd to the center of the flooring. The pink and the inexperienced lights are hitting me good. Nothing extra. Nothing much less. I received one request. DJ play a Christmas tune. I would like to be dancing all night time lengthy. It is chilly exterior, nevertheless it’s heat in right here. And that is the solely factor I would like this 12 months. DJ…

KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: What’s that autotune I hear? Why, it is Cher coming down our chimneys with a brand new album known as “Christmas.” Its lead off minimize is the tune I simply performed known as “DJ Play A Christmas Track.” It is designed to remind you of her final enormous hit 25 years in the past, “Consider.” This album is filled with visitor stars together with Stevie Surprise, Cyndi Lauper and Michael Buble, however I most loved her solo crooning on a properly wistful tune known as “I Like Christmas.”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I LIKE CHRISTMAS”)

CHER: (Singing) I like Christmas. I like an actual Christmas tree. I like a mall Santa Claus that lets me sit on his knee. I like an enormous, pink bow and mistletoe with you beneath. ‘Trigger I do know it means you will be kissing me. I like Christmas, I like a jingle bells tune. I prefer it greatest when my buddies are there to jingle alongside. You and me in concord with everybody the singing at the high of my lungs. Christmas time…

TUCKER: Oh, positive, there are a couple of clunkers right here. Sorry, Cher. Nobody however Chuck Berry can rock it by means of his “Run Rudolph Run.” And I am afraid she’s put in the shade of Darlene Love’s radiance on their duet of “Christmas (Child Please Come Residence).” However that is no low-cost, throwaway effort. Cher’s phrasing, particularly with out the autotune, is terrific, and the preparations aren’t sticky with candy-cane sentiment. Plus, she provides one thing completely different for a vacation album – a New Yr’s tune.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “THIS WILL BE OUR YEAR”)

CHER: (Singing) The warmth of your love’s like the warmth of the solar. And this will probably be our 12 months. Took a very long time to come. Do not let go of my hand now the darkness has gone. This will probably be our 12 months. Took a very long time to come. And I will not overlook the means you held me up once I was down. And I will not overlook the means you mentioned, darling, I really like you. You gave me religion to go on. Now we’re there, and we have solely simply begun. And this will probably be our 12 months. Took a very long time to come.

TUCKER: The Cowsills was a household pop group that had an enormous hit in 1967 known as “The Rain, The Park & Different Issues.” Once they began out as children and had that hit, their mother, Barbara, went on the highway with them once they toured, which impressed the 1970s sitcom “The Partridge Household.” The present model of The Cowsills are siblings Susan, Bob and Paul Cowsill, and they’ve simply put out a three-song EP titled “A Christmas Providing From The Cowsills” that features this pretty tune known as “Christmastime (Track For Marissa).”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CHRISTMASTIME (SONG FOR MARISSA)”)

THE COWSILLS: (Singing) It is Christmastime, a particular time when all the world shares the marvel of the vacation with evergreens and caroling and logs by the fireplace, the feeling that love is in every single place. Now the snow falls so softly and silent tonight because it blankets a peaceable world. Yuletide…

TUCKER: Over the years, Susan Cowsill has achieved backup vocals for a few of my favourite acts, comparable to Carlene Carter, Dwight Twilley and The Smithereens. She had a duo act with Vicki Peterson of The Bangles and has put out a couple of solo albums. The present Cowsills lineup does a fantastic job of reproducing the household’s unique, lovely, shut harmonies, as might be heard on their model of “Winter Wonderland.”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WINTER WONDERLAND”)

THE COWSILLS: (Singing) A wonderful sight, we’re joyful tonight, strolling in a winter wonderland. Sleigh bells ring. Are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A wonderful sight, we’re joyful tonight, strolling in a winter wonderland. Gone away is a bluebird. Right here to keep is a brand new fowl. He sings a love tune as we go alongside, strolling in a winter wonderland.

TUCKER: Each Cher and The Cowsills got here to prominence in the 1960s, however they nonetheless possess the distinctive sounds that introduced them their preliminary success. Our heat emotions towards them are rekindled by these new releases, which is in itself applicable as the chilly season settles in from a lot of the nation. Joyful holidays to you.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CHRISTMAS AIN’T CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU”)

CHER: (Singing) It is Christmas Eve, and I will not sleep tonight. I have been lady. Effectively, at the least I’ve tried. So come on, hurry down the chimney with a kiss for me. And let me wrap my arms round you. I am so fortunate that I discovered you.

MOSLEY: Ken Tucker reviewed Cher’s new album known as “Christmas” and the digital three-song EP known as “A Christmas Providing From The Cowsills.” And there will probably be extra Christmas music on Wednesday when David Byrne, co-founder and frontman of The Speaking Heads, joins Terry to play a few of his favourite Christmas recordings. His playlist consists of songs by Prince and Run-DMC. They usually’ll play one in every of Terry’s new favorites, a tune written and sung by David Byrne. In case you get depressed round Christmas, there will probably be songs for you, too.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MOSLEY: Tomorrow on FRESH AIR, we keep in mind actor Andre Braugher, who died final week at the age of 61. He is greatest identified for his roles in the TV sequence “Murder” as a police detective and in the comedy sequence “Brooklyn 9-9” as a police captain. He was additionally acclaimed for his stage performances in Shakespeare performs. We’ll function interviews with him from 1995 and 2006. I hope you’ll be able to be part of us.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MOSLEY: To maintain up with what’s on the present and to get highlights of our interviews, observe us on Instagram – @nprfreshair. FRESH AIR’s government producer is Danny Miller. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham. Our interviews and evaluations are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Myers, Roberta Shorrock, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Ann Marie Baldonado, Therese Madden, Seth Kelley and Susan Nyakundi. Our digital media producer is Molly Seavy-Nesper. Thea Challoner directed immediately’s present. For Terry Gross, I am Tonya Mosley.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

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