Eric Clapton during the making of Happy Xmas
Eric Clapton is gifting his fans with an early holiday present. The classic rock legend announced on August 17 the release of his first full-length holiday album, Happy Xmas, which was released Oct. 12, via the Bushbranch/Surfdog label. The collection of 14 songs includes covers of many holiday standards including “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” His first studio release since 2016’s I Still Do will also feature Slowhand’s take on such favorites as “Jingle Bells” and “White Christmas.”
Watch a making-of video, a Claymation clip, a performance video, and more, below.
Two bonus songs, “A Little Bit of Christmas Love” and “You Always Hurt the One You Love,” are included in a limited edition die-cut 7″ vinyl edition here.
Happy Xmas includes one original, “For Love on Christmas Day.” (Hear it and see the complete track listing below.) The album also features a cover art illustration by Clapton himself. Order is available in the U.S. here and the U.K. here.
Watch the performance video for “White Christmas”
And the lyric video for “Home For the Holidays,” released Dec. 5
“I had in my head that these holiday songs could be done with a slight blues tinge, and I started to figure out how to play the blues lines in between the vocals,” Clapton, told Billboard. “I got it down and one of the most identifiable songs on the album, the one that became the foundational style, is ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’”
Clapton co-produced the album with longtime music producer Simon Climie.
Happy Xmas Track Listing
White Christmas
Away in a Manger (Once in Royal David’s City)
For Love on Christmas Day
Everyday Will Be Live a Holiday
Christmas Tears
Home For the Holidays
Jingle Bells
Christmas in My Hometown
It’s Christmas
Sentimental Moments
Lonesome Christmas
Silent Night
Merry Christmas Baby
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Though he’s said he’s no longer going to be touring, Clapton hasn’t eliminated live performances. He did nine shows this year, although only five were truly accessible to the public, including his headlining concert in London on July 8 as part of the British Summer Time series in Hyde Park.
Watch the Claymation version of “White Christmas”
Related: Our recap of his October 6-7 shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Eric Clapton 2019 Concerts
May 13 – London, U.K. – Royal Albert Hall
May 15 – London, U.K. – Royal Albert Hall
May 16 – London, U.K. – Royal Albert Hall
Jun 04 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena
Jun 06 – Vienna, Austria – Wiener Stadthalle
Jun 08 – Mannheim, Germany – SAP Arena
Jun 10 – Dresden, Germany – Messe Dresden
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
Be a fly-on-the-wall and watch the making-of video
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationEric did not sing Jingle Bell Rock?good he is still performing.needs to do a album of Elvis & Ray Charles along with all the performers who influenced him?