I Wanna Be Santa Claus

Amazon.com
Forget that Ringo was the funny Beatle. For our purposes, he's the Christmas Beatle. Ringo is the only member of the Fab Four to release an album of holiday music and, if this 12-song collection is any indication, Richard Starkey has certainly found his niche. This elegantly sparse production finds Ringo re-roasting old chestnuts such as "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas" with his zany, playful, rollicking sense of humor. Jazzy flourishes, rockabilly piano, and Scottish bagpipes go a long way toward lifting these classics out of mothballs. And the skinbeater in him makes "The Little Drummer Boy" irresistible. Even better are the six songs he and Mark Hudson (of the Hudson Brothers) penned for the disc, especially the sophisticated "Christmas Eve," which conjures up the ghost of Cole Porter. Aerosmith's Joe Perry provides soaring guitar work on two cuts, while former Eagle Timothy B. Schmit provides candy-cane sweet vocals throughout. As an added treat, Ringo covers the Beatles' "Christmas Time is Here Again." --Jaan Uhelszki

I Wanna Be Santa Claus,Ringo Starr,Polygram Records,Christmas,Christmas / Chanukkah,Christmas Music,Pop,Pop/Rock,Xmas Vocal

Average customer rating:

I love to sing the songs.
I Wanna Be Ringo Starr
MOST of it is fun!
THE HO-HO-HO- IN HOKUM
a missed opportunity

I Wanna Be Santa Claus
Ringo Starr
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
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ASIN: B000028TVA
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

Come On Christmas, Christmas Come On
Winter Wonderland
I Wanna Be Santa Claus
The Little Drummer Boy
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Christmas Eve
The Christmas Dance
Christmas Time Is Here Again
Blue Christmas
Dear Santa
White Christmas
Pax Um Biscum (Peace Be With You)

Amazon.com

Forget that Ringo was the funny Beatle. For our purposes, he's the Christmas Beatle. Ringo is the only member of the Fab Four to release an album of holiday music and, if this 12-song collection is any indication, Richard Starkey has certainly found his niche. This elegantly sparse production finds Ringo re-roasting old chestnuts such as "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas" with his zany, playful, rollicking sense of humor. Jazzy flourishes, rockabilly piano, and Scottish bagpipes go a long way toward lifting these classics out of mothballs. And the skinbeater in him makes "The Little Drummer Boy" irresistible. Even better are the six songs he and Mark Hudson (of the Hudson Brothers) penned for the disc, especially the sophisticated "Christmas Eve," which conjures up the ghost of Cole Porter. Aerosmith's Joe Perry provides soaring guitar work on two cuts, while former Eagle Timothy B. Schmit provides candy-cane sweet vocals throughout. As an added treat, Ringo covers the Beatles' "Christmas Time is Here Again." --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

I love to sing the songs........2006-12-02

Ringo Starr was the only Beatle to release a Christmas album. The album features mostly original Christmas songs, plus a few older songs, including the Beatles' "Christmas Time is Here Again". It's a fun album, which benefits from Ringo's easygoing personality. Most of the originals are good, although "Christmas Eve" is a bit weak. Overall though, this is a fun, lighthearted album that captures both the spirit of Christmas and the personality of Ringo Starr.

I Wanna Be Ringo Starr.......2005-04-14

Don't listen to the lousy reviews at the beginning, they have obviously not even listened to the CD! Ringo's the greatest and you'd better believe it baby!! This CD promises to be a holiday favourite for generations to come!!! The title I Wanna Be Santa Claus is very appropriate because Ringo brings us Christmas joy with this album in quantities unparalled by St Nick himself!!!! Many of Ringo's original compositions on this album most definitely rival such Christmas hits as Happy Xmas (War is Over), Wonderful Christmastime, Jingle Bells, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Silent Night!!!!! Yet again, Ringo has proved his musical genius, and it is a shame that he does not get the respect and recognition that he deserves!!!!!!

MOST of it is fun!.......2004-12-30

Well, it sounds like Ringo had fun making this CD. It's the fun songs that are the best, but there are a few other songs that are major flops. He opens the disc trying to sound like Gary Glitter on "Come On Christmas." And he closes it trying (and failing) to sound like George Harrison on "Pax Um Biscum", which is a misguided attempt at Eastern mysticism. Also, "Christmas Eve" exposes Ringo as a weak ballad singer. He does, however, do a decent job reworking the Beatles only complete Christmas song, "Christmas Time is Here Again", even adding bagpipes. The bagpipes also add a nice touch to "Little Drummer Boy", and Ringo's version is better than most for this song. Another the highlight is the steel-drum, tropical-sounding "White Christmas". The Christmas standards like "Winter Wonderland" and "Rudolph" are done in the fun-loving style that you might expect from Ringo.

THE HO-HO-HO- IN HOKUM.......2003-05-30

This Starr doesn't shine bright. Former Beatle Ringo Starr means well, as he tries to celebrate the season. Where's the line for returns? The mix --- a hint of standards ("Winter Wonderland," "Little Drummer Boy"), too many rock/country originals that sound eerily like the work of George Harrison --- is as bad as his nasal vocals. Even a revisit to The Beatles' 1967 "Christmas Time is Here Again" (with bagpipers!) falls as flat as a pine needle on the floor. Guess who puts the ho-ho-ho in hokum?

a missed opportunity.......2002-11-27

I'm a huge Beatles & Ringo fan and I have over 200 Christmas cds, but I was sorely dissappointed by this cd. The production is very heavy-handed and plodding. The new songs boring. This cd is factory-rock oriented. Ringo is better as a crooner. He should go back to the studio with Richard Perry and record another album of Christmas standards. For now, Beatle fans can enjoy the Fab Four Christmas for more Christmas & Beatle spirit.