Review: “Sounds Of The Season” by Lionel Richie (CD, 2006)

Today’s festive Pop Rescue from a fate uncertain, is the 2006 Christmas album Sounds Of The Season by legendary American R&B star, Lionel Richie. Is this album your Destiny, or is it more a Sound Of The Seasonal flu? Read on…

Lionel Richie - Sounds Of The Season (2006) album. — Lionel Richie – Sounds Of The Season (2006) album.

This 8 track CD opens with a nice synth ‘wake up’ sound that ushers in tinkling piano, and oodles of magic, and of course the rattling drums of Little Drummer Boy. Lionel Richie is soon on the microphone and he sounds soulful with his rich and smooth vocals. Pitched against the piano and gentle beat allows you to hear him well. As the song evolves, backing vocalists, dramatic 00s pop ballad fills, and sleigh bells emerge around him. Whilst it’s a well-trod Christmas time song, it gets enough Lionel Richie to make it sound fresh and interesting. We’re off to a nice start.

Then it’s Silent Night, opening with a wash of strings and chime bars. Here, Lionel gets to show off some more of his signature vocals. His delivery acts as a great contrast to the gentle keyboards. The track does seem to meander a little and at times I feel impatient for the next lyric to be sung while the instruments juggle their intricate nuances. Lionel makes it through, giving us some big vocal notes and then suddenly but almost seamlessly, the track switches to become an R&B track.

That leads on to The First Noel, which opens with some synth string chords before Lionel takes the mic alongside the electric piano. The strings swell behind him as he delivers these old lyrics with seemingly great ease. Another R&B beat drops in, but it thankfully adds to the track, and at about the same time, Lionel is flanked by backing vocals that help to ensure the sounds are well mixed – even for the key change. Lionel sounds great here, with plenty of big vocals to deliver.

Sleigh bells enthusiastically lead us into Joy To The World. Here we find Lionel with piano, handclaps and a gentle drum machine beat. The focus here is clearly on Lionel’s vocals, and aptly they are full of power and cheerfulness. It’s a nice little uplifting track.

Next up is The Christmas Song, and this gives us a nice brushed set of jazz percussion as Lionel’s vocals sound beautiful here in this style – timeless! It’s a atmospheric and ‘vintage’ styled version and works very well.

Then it’s on to O Come All Ye Faithful and Lionel’s vocals really shine here and he delivers it almost effortlessly with the minimal instrumentation after its initial synth strings intro. Once again, some backing vocals, a gentle plodding beat, and an additional ‘church style’ organ sound helps to lift this religious hymn.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is next, and thankfully Lionel takes the big notes and shines perfectly in their delivery with his soulful, sharper, and richness. Again, there’s a wonderful vintage and jazzy feel to this song and it works a treat. Lionel’s vocals clearly suit these older songs. There’s even time for a smooth saxophone solo from Dino Soldo. Excellent stuff!

The album closes with Winter Wonderland, which gives us a ton of drum machine beats, but Lionel sings undeterred over the top with his rich voice. It’s a different sound, and a little disorientating at times, but Lionel’s melody is just enough to lead us through it without confusion. The backing vocalists seem to go all out here (as do the drum fills), and then it’s all over.

Lionel Richie performing ‘Joy To The World’ (2006).

Verdict

Over all, this album is a nice blend of vintage and R&B styles, iced with the wonderfully rich vocal tones of Lionel Richie.

Whilst the album is short at just 8 songs, half of which are traditional songs (and therefore outside of copyright), the CD booklet consists of a folded single page, the album does carry an air of contractual obligation. However, it was recorded in 2004 and took 2 years to surface. Regardless of this, whether it was a last minute decision or not – Lionel took part in the promotion for it (see video above) despite there being no singles.

The album’s highlights are the opening Little Drummer Boy, The Christmas Song, and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, all of which feel the most cheerful and in which Lionel’s vocals works well with the track. Lionel’s vocals do also work well with the more religious songs too, but here he sounds the most relaxed. The lowest point is Silent Night which feels a bit erratic and unsettled.

If you’re a Lionel fan, then you’ve probably heard it already but if you like his big ’80s hits, then you’d probably quite enjoy this too.