Shakin' Stevens (or Shaky, as he is sometimes known) established an excellent reputation as a rock'n'roll revivalist in the eighties, during which decade he had many big UK hits. Some of these hits were covers of fifties hits - they included Blue Christmas, which made number two in the UK charts. Others were original songs including Merry Christmas everyone, which made it to UK number one in 1987. (Note - never confuse this with Slade's 1973 song, Merry Christmas everybody.) In 1991, with the hits drying up, Shaky was encouraged to record a Christmas album and this was been re-released in 2005 after being out of print for many years and following the success of a new hits compilation released earlier in 2005. So if you've got the original, you won't need this.
Understandably, the two big eighties hits are included although these tracks (unlike the rest of the album) have been frequently re-issued on Christmas compilations down the years and will no doubt appear on many more. If you enjoy those hits, you will surely enjoy the rest of this album. Two old chestnuts are given fresh renditions. I prefer Shaky's version of Silent night (taken slightly faster than normal) to his version of White Christmas, but both are very enjoyable. The other eight songs are all originals though one (I'll be home this Christmas) sounds like it could be a sequel to another old chestnut (I'll be home for Christmas) but in this song, he is finally coming home and not just dreaming about it. There are many other fine songs here beginning and ending with up-tempo rockers. The closing track (So long Christmas) is appropriate, as Shaky looks forward to the New Year.
There have been many revivalist acts down the years and while none of them can ever recapture the spirit of the originals completely, Shaky is among the best rock'n'roll revivalists I've heard, mixing excellent covers with original songs that sound as if they could have been written in the fifties.
If you enjoy fifties rock'n'roll, you ought to enjoy listening to Shakin' Stevens. Give this Christmas album a listen.