Jamie Hoover – Happy Hooverdays

My second favorite holiday will be upon us shortly (the first being National Record Day). What would Christmas be without the requisite holiday soundtrack? Right on cue, Jamie Hoover gives us a new festive EP entitled Happy Hooverdays. Four tracks in all, we get new takes on old favorites as well as a terrific Christmas original.

The disk starts out with a rockin’ version of the Gene Autry favorite “Sleigh Bells”. Hoover makes a statement with “I Believe in Father Christmas”, a Greg Lake classic about the commercialization of the holiday. It’s another great choice for a cover. And Greg James’ “There’s a Star” is a nice, mellow way to close the EP.

In between, Hoover gives us “The Real Star”, a song co-written with Catesby Jones, author of Travis Tritt’s county hit entitled “Country Club”. With “The Real Star”, the boys have given us a new Christmas pop classic, a bouncy story-song that settles into a groove – one that feels as comfortable as a fire on a cold winter’s night, fuzzy slippers and a hot chocolate, drink. 

You can get Jamie Hoover’s Happy Hooverdays in digital form at Apple Music. If it’s a CD you prefer, get your copy at Kool Kat Musik.