JOHN FORD: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CHRISTMAS - Review by Amanda Baughn 　　 　　It's not often that I'm willing to play a Christmas CD in the middle of October, but for John Ford I'm making an exception. I mean, if it's John, it HAS to be good, right? 　　 　　After spending an entire morning listening to the CD, the answer is YES, of course it's good! In fact, it's terrific! In an age where most artists try to turn standard Christmas carols into carbon copies, John takes the higher road and completely reinvents them. 　　 　　As far as the Christmas standards on the CD go, John makes each song uniquely his own. There are two lovely renditions of "White Christmas," a traditional version, and a rock version. There is also a rocked out version of "Winter Wonderland" and John performs "I'll Be Home For Christmas" in such a way which would put Perry Como to shame. An absolutely terrific job on the covers! I'll give props to ANY artist who can make listening to "Let It Snow" a worthwhile event. (John makes it happen!) 　　 　　When it comes to the original Christmas songs he wrote for the album, John reestablishes himself as not just a fantastic musician, but a fantastic writer as well. Out of the four songs John wrote for the album, it would be hard to pick favorites, but "Christmas Rendezvous" and "Lonely At Christmas" seem to stand out the most for me. If given the opportunity, they are sure to become Christmas classics! 　　 　　The instrumentation, including the bells, really puts you in the Christmas spirit! Add this CD to your Christmas collection or place it in the stocking of someone you love... 　　 　　------------------------------------------------- 　　JOHN FORD: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CHRISTMAS - Preview by Lindsay Sorrell 　　 　　I received my copy of John Ford's new album "Whatever Happened to Christmas" yesterday - this has to be the ULTIMATE Christmas stocking filler. 　　 　　John covers all the classics ("White Christmas", "Winter Wonderland", "Run Rudolf Run", "Have Yourself a Merry Little...." and so on), with his own little twists along the way. All beautifully sung of course and John sings each song and plays the bulk of the instruments, aided by his son playing guitars on three tracks and Joe Cesare playing guitar on another. 　　 　　The album includes four of John's own tracks, including the rocky, almost punkish, title track which bemoans the diminution of Christmas as a time of magical celebration thanks to the PC brigade. Another of John's compositions, "Christmas Rendezvous", for me conjures up visions of a snowy Tyrolean Christmas complete with swaying, smiling faces lit up by a roaring fire and includes sounds reminiscent of distant cowbells, interspersed with rockier singalong chorus. John's "We All Love Christmas Time" begins with sleigh bell sounds.... "Lonely at Christmas" is a strumalong bulging with nostalgia, pathos, the whole lot. 　　 　　Yes folks, every Christmas cliche in the book is on this album: church bells, sleighs, mistletoe, carols, falling snow, aching hearts... GREAT FUN! John's sometimes apparently "tongue-in-cheek" lyrics do of course carry a deep message though, as the erosion of the right to celebrate Christmas in time-honoured tradition gathers political impetus, along with everything else. 　　 　　As mentioned on the cover (great artwork designed by Jill Morrison again btw) - the word "Christmas" is either sung or spoken 86 times! Buy a copy for youself, your kids and your granny - this album works on several levels - you'll never need to buy another Christmas album for as long as you live!