Written by Mykola Leontovych

 

“Carol Of The Bells” was the opening track and a highlight of David Foster’s now-classic 1993 The Christmas Album. The track’s powerful and inventive arrangement made it a seasonal favorite, often played for events during the festivities. Foster’s version of this classic composition was already a Song of the Week on this page years ago. The review can be resurrected in the archives.

For this holiday season, Foster re-worked “Carol Of The Bells” for the new, complete version of Christmas Songs. The 2022 successful cd was released with his wife, Katharine McPhee. This new version doubles the fun with seven new tracks paired to the seven of last year’s version. As previously mentioned, “Carol Of The Bells” was one of the new offerings. Foster sonically updated the arrangement thanks to some tasteful programming. He added gorgeous vocal harmonies courtesy of his talented wife, Katharine, and a glorious choir. With Foster’s clever touches, the song sounds fresh and modern without losing the impact and strength of his original version.

The Hitman kindly sent a few words about this new version of “Carol Of The Bells”:

“Tom Whalley, my old friend and former head of Warner Bros. Records, always loved my arrangement of “Carol Of The Bells.” He was  at Interscope Records when I first did it on my Christmas album in the nineties. All these years later, Kath and I released our new album on Tom’s independent label, Loma Vista Recordings. He suggested that re-record the song and putting some vocals on it. I got my genius friend, Boh Cooper, to do the programming and incredibly he was able to duplicate the original 90s sound. Then, our friend Tim Davis did the vocal arrangement. I really enjoyed their help and incredible input because I was too close to it! People seem to love it and it certainly makes them think of Christmas!”

Happy Holidays!!

• Vocals: Katharine McPhee
• Piano & Keyboards: David Foster
• Programming: Boh Cooper

• Vocals Arranged by Tim David
• Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

No Lyrics

Written by Joseph Beal & James Boothe

 

David Foster wears the undisputed “King of Christmas Music” crown. In the new millennium, Foster was the producer on successful seasonal albums for the likes of Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Sir Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Mary J. Blige and many more.

Back in 1993, Foster released his own critically-acclaimed Christmas album, aptly titled The Christmas Album. That record featured guests that included Celiné Dion, Natalie Cole (1950-2015), Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones, Vanessa Williams, Wynonna and more. The Hitman was responsible for co-writing “Grown-up Christmas List,” sung by the unforgettable Natalie Cole and included on The Christmas  Album. “Grown-up Christmas List” is among the most beloved and covered modern yuletide classics.

For the 2022 Christmas season, Foster, along with his talented singer/actress wife, Katharine McPhee, recorded a handful of holiday evergreens and released them on a cd titled Christmas Songs. On Christmas Songs, Foster and McPhee fans and seasonal music lovers enjoy beautiful renditions of classics which included “The Christmas Song,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” ”Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and a gorgeous reworking of “Grown-up Christmas List.” McPhee shined throughout the record. She delivered one killer performance after another. Her crystal-clear voice was at home with this kind of material. Foster’s arrangements built the perfect music scenario for McPhee’s terrific vocals. The production by Foster and his partner, Jochem van der Saag, was top-notch. Award-winning arranger, Chris Walden, crafted the lush orchestrations.

“Jingle Bell Rock” is the pick for Song of the Week from Christmas Songs. This song sports a fantastic, big-band arrangement and a feel-good, joyous vibe that’s total ear-candy.

The Canadian super-producer kindly sent a note about this special project:

     “’Jingle Bell Rock’ is probably my favorite
     song on this record ‘cause I love the big-
     band approach. Chris Walden did the horn
     arrangement and I think he did an
     incredible job. Second favorite is ‘I’ll Be
     Home For Christmas’ loosely borrowed
     from my 1993 version with Peabo Bryson
     and Roberta Flack. If I have to choose, I
     think Kath’s best vocal on the cd is
     ‘Grown-up Christmas List.’”

On a final note, a merry and bright Christmas wish to the Foster/McPhee family and all readers of fozfan.com.

• Lead & Backing Vocals: Katharine McPhee
• Programming & Synths: David Foster & Chris Walden
• Sound Design: Jochem van der Saag
• Arranged by David Foster & Chris Walden
• Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin’ and blowin’ up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin’ in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin’ feet
That’s the jingle bell rock

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin’ in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin’ feet
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell rock

In his live performances or in the studio, David Foster always surrounds himself with the best vocal talents around. Often, we are talking about global stars like Andrea Bocelli or Michael Bublè, but sometimes Foster finds the best up ’n’ coming names. This is the case with the Hitman’s newly released project, An Intimate Evening. This latest live cd aired on PBS as part of its “Great Performances” TV series.

An Intimate Evening finds Foster reinventing part of his legendary songbook with a bouquet of superb singers including his new wife, Katharine McPhee, Pia Toscano, Loren Allred, Sheléa Frazier and classical crossover tenor Fernando Varela. Among the evergreens found on the cd are the Celine Dion staples “To Love You More,” “The Power Of Love,” “The Prayer” and “Tell Him,” all originally produced and/or co-written by Foster. Also heard are the giant hits Foster produced for the late, unforgettable Whitney Houston (1963-2012). The new material includes a fantastic rendition of Ms. Allred’s trademark anthem, “Never Enough,” and a gorgeous instrumental performance by Foster on acoustic piano of “Victorious,” both of which stand out as absolute treats. This last piece should be part of the Canadian super-producer’s all instrumental music project to be released sometimes in 2020.   

An Intimate Evening offers another delight for music fans: a new composition titled “Something To Shout About” from Foster’s still-in-the-works musical, “Betty Boop.” Beautifully sung by Ms. McPhee and with lyrics written by veteran Broadway tunesmith, Susan Birkenhead, “Something To Shout About” has timeless Broadway anthem written all over it with a gorgeous melody, stunning crescendo and lush orchestral work, all inevitable elements of the classic Foster sound. Ms. McPhee does a remarkable job with her voice going from the delicate intro up to the pyrotechnic finale. We have asked our favorite music-maker to write a few words about this new, special composition and here’s what he sent us: 

“Something To Shout About was written for the part of our musical when everyone keeps telling Betty Boop that she has everything. She has money, fame, mansions, yachts but she feels like one thing is still missing. So she longs for something to shout about although she doesn’t really know at this point of the show that what she is missing is real love. Kat’s performance of this special song is of course simply flawless and beautiful.”

“Something To Shout About” wets the appetite for the entire “Betty Boop” play. More Foster/McPhee collaborations would also be a sure bet for quality music lovers.

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Katharine McPhee
• Piano: David Foster
• Keyboards: Boh Cooper & Troy Laureta
• Guitar: Tariqh Akoni
• Drums: John Robinson
• Bass: Keith Nelson
• Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

I want something to shout about
Something to spin me around
Something mysterious, something miraculous
Earth-shaking, life-changing, cosmic, profound

I want something to make me, someone I never was
Something to shout about, whatever it does

I want something to shout about
Something to make me cry
Something so powerful, something so true
It will change who I am and undo what I know

I want something to stun me, to fill me with fire and fears
Something to shout about, whatever it is
I wish I knew, I haven’t a clue
But I am sure I’ll know it when I see it
I triple-guarantee it

Some days I wouldn’t doubt about
Whether they care or not
Nothing entices me, nothing amazes me
Unless its scripted and I’m in the shot
Oh, I have nothing to pout about
Listen to me, to me
But God I want, something to shout about
Shake all my head about
Take every dream about

I know I cannot live without
Something to shout about
Something to shout about
Wherever he is

written by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg

Katharine McPhee is one of the best talents ever discovered on the TV show American Idol. McPhee was the runner up on the program’s 2006 fifth season and immediately caught the eye of American audiences as well as the attention of super-producer David Foster.

Foster took McPhee under his wing and brought her into the studio to record a version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” an evergreen that she performed beautifully on American Idol’s finale. The single, backed up by “My Destiny,” was released on June 2006 by RCA Records. It skyrocketed to #12 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and eventually became the second best selling song of the year, staying on the charts for an amazing fifty-eight weeks. McPhee’s take on “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” was a total success due to her fantastic vocal performance plus the impeccable and lush David Foster/Humberto Gatica production. This successful collaboration brought her many others with Foster like a duet with Andrea Bocelli on “Can’t Help Falling In Love” for the CD/DVD “Live Under the Desert Sky.”  McPhee also had a high-profile appearance on the “Hitman: David Foster & Friends” concert where she performed one of Barbra Streisand’s signature songs, “Somewhere” from “West Side Story,” and again had a duet with Bocelli on the Foster mega hit “The Prayer.” In 2008, Foster asked McPhee to sing a new song entitled “I Will Be There With You” which was used for the promotion of Japan Airlines in the United States.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/somewhere_over_the_rainbow.mp3|titles=Somewhere over the rainbow|artists=Katharine McPhee]

Lead Vocals: Katharine McPhee

Produced by David Foster & Humberto Gatica

Lyrics

When all the clouds, darken up the skyway
There’s a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your window pane
To place, behind the sun
Just a step beyond the rain?

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There’s a place that I heard of once
In a lullaby
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt, like lemon drops
A way above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why, then oh why can’t I?

If happy little blue birds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh, why can’t I?