Bob Dylan – Here Comes Santa Claus Review

Bob Dylan briefly reinventing himself as a polka-influenced artist with a knack for festivity was quite the turn. Christmas in the Heart remains a charmer and Here Comes Santa Claus is second only to the mesmerising Must Be Santa. It is not Christmas without a bit of Dylan to guide us through the festive spirit. His tones of festive delight are reliant on the traditional scope of the songs he chooses to cover. He does not meddle with them as much as he could, or should, in some cases. But for Here Comes Santa Claus, the Christmas in the Heart opener which paves the way to some questionable covers and some very-best joy-filled moments, the song serves as an appropriate introduction to what a Dylan Christmas album should sound like.

Sometimes the Christmas jingle is all you need to get into the mood of the season. Those brief sleigh bells and the calming, country-adjacent swing of Here Comes Santa Claus is a delight. A bag filled with toys and a suggestion of Santa Claus heading on a delivery route sounds relatively safe in the hands of Dylan. He sounds a tad distracted but such is the case for the raspy voice of his period of music here. At least Here Comes Santa Claus, as well as the bulk of Christmas in the Heart, remains genuinely endearing. Christmas is a time of whimsy and lightness, of family and faith. Dylan checks off all those and while he may sound like a left-field option for carrying these delightful tunes of old, part of the appeal is that very fact. He sounds out of place but dedicated to the seasonal spirit and it makes his covers, particularly Here Comes Santa Claus, all the more memorable.

What still appeals about this Dylan cover is it captures the pomp and joy of the Gene Autry original. The appeal comes from hearing Dylan, the man behind hits like Mr. Tambourine Man, Idiot Wind and All Along the Watchtower tackle something perceived as trivial. Christmas music is not where music goes to thrive. All-time greats are rarely made in the genre, but Dylan gives it an honest go and manages to use the bored-sounding inflexions of his voice, a rewarding result to follow. A groovy feel not just for the festive time but the warm, around-the-fireplace style, elicits those moments of childhood joy. They certainly sound like the sort of instrumental moves Dylan can stand proud of.

His Christmas cheer remains a dependable part of the holidays and the additional vocals mentioning peace on earth feel relatively fresh. Here Comes Santa Claus captures the joy-filled experiences of everything from unwrapping presents to feasting on food with family. It grows and grows, an unflinching dedication to the most wonderful time of the year found within, and what a riot it becomes after a few listens. Here Comes Santa Claus is a wonderful break from the moody likes of John Lennon and Mud, but it also provides a moment of peace from the glitz and synth opportunities of Wham and Band Aid. A perfect middle ground, straddled by the surprise festive master himself. Long may it continue in warming our homes and hearts.