Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and Other Stories (1996)

01. An Angel Came Down (3:52)
02. O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night (4:19)
03. A Star To Follow (3:49)
04. First Snow (3:53)
05. The Silent Nutcracker (2:22)
06. A Mad Russian's Christmas (4:42)
07. The Prince Of Peace (3:33)
08. Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12-24 (3:25)
09. Good King Joy (6:36)
10. Ornament (3:37)
11. The First Noel (0:55)
12. Old City Bar (6:18)
13. Promises To Keep (2:41)
14. This Christmas Day (4:20)
15. An Angel Returned (3:52)
16. O Holy Night (2:40)
17. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1:16)

Robert Kinkel - Piano and Keyboards
Johnny Lee Middleton - Bass
Jon Oliva - Piano, Keyboards and Bass Guitars
Paul O'Neill - Rhythm Guitars
Al Pitrelli - Lead, Rhythm and Bass Guitars
Jeff Plate – Drums
Chris Caffery - Additional Guitars on (08)
Cello - Mary Wooten
French Horn - John Clark

Vocals:
Solos:

    Zak Stevens
    John Margolis
    Marlene Danielle
    Michael Fawcette
    Thomas Faresse
    Ken Williams
    Babi Floyd

Back-Ups:

    Zak Stevens
    Nancy Jackson
    Peggy Harley
    Latasha Spencer
    Danielle Lander
    Jeffrey Stackhouse
    Timothy Carosi
    Peter Valentine

Child choir
Anthony Piccolo - conductor

What would happen if members of Savatage decided to write some Christmas songs? Easy: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This "supergroup" is the brainchild of Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill (respectively the leader-keyboardist and the producer of Savatage). They hired Al Pitrelli (Asia, Savatage) to play guitars, Robert Kinkel to help with keyboards, John Middleton (also a member of Savatage) on bass, and Jeff Plate on drums. Lead vocals are shared by six vocalists, while some of the backing vocals are handled by Savatage lead singer Zachary Stevens. Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a concept album: all the songs are built as chapters of a book, each telling part of a larger story. The plot here is of a young angel sent down to Earth to find and bring back to the Lord "the one thing that best represents everything good that has been done in the name of this day." The angel's quest takes him all over the world, through Russia and Sarajevo, until he finally hears the prayer of a father. This last piece is the strongest moment on the album and makes for a miniature story within the larger story. It is basically told in a trilogy of songs: in the first, "Ornament," we hear the father's prayer, explaining how he hasn't seen his daughter in many years. In "Old City Bar," the angel finds the daughter, standing alone outside a bar, and talks to the bartender who, out of a random act of kindness, takes all the cash from his register drawer and gives it to the girl so she can go home. The third song, "This Christmas Day," has the father praising God, thanking him for bringing his daughter back to him on this night of all nights. It is a very touching story, pondering the thought that "If you want to arrange it/This world you can change it/If we could somehow make this/Christmas thing last/By helping a neighbor/Or even a stranger." Musically, the band has taken some traditional Christmas songs ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "O Holy Night," "The First Noel") and mixed in some modern rock music. The result is stunning and very impressive. It is filled with energy that simply blows you away. The already classic "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" is a gripping instrumental based on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (although you might have to listen carefully to hear it). Fans of progressive music should like this one. And if you're into the more recent works of Savatage (like Handful of Rain or Dead Winter Dead) you'll really love this. ---Alex S. Garcia, AllMusic Review

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