Holiday Music: Christmas in Memphis
Way back in ancient history (well, late 2002) a bunch of friends and musicians dubbed themselves Husky Team and got together for a quick, one-off project: recording a bunch of holiday classics with a twist. What they did and who they are make this a worthwhile departure from the normal let-it-snow Christmas collections that come out (or get re-released) every year.
What they did is this: they cleverly arranged all of the tunes in the classic Memphis style. They managed to make everything from the hymn “We Three Kings” to the Beach Boys’ “The Man With All the Toys” sound like, well, like Booker T & the MGs. Have fun trying to spot what other well-known songs are referenced in these lovely tracks. You’ll hear some Box Tops, to name just one. The songs are deftly played with just the right amount of winking-we’re-having-fun attitude.
Who they are is also well worth noting. The project instigators call themselves Husky Team, but they’re really Dennis Diken (drummer/vocalist from the Smithereens) and Dave Amels (keyboardist for Reigning Sound). This nearly overdub-free, live-in-the-studio effort includes a powerpop who’s-who supporting cast: legendary underground popmeister R. Stevie Moore and endlessly cool powerpop tunesmith Richard X. Heyman. And some other cool guys too.
Who says Holiday music has to be the same stuff year after year? Christmas in Memphis is a fun album, although if you play it in September (as I did) you’ll get some odd looks from passers-by.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.