FDF Volume 2: Issue 168 - Christmas with the Brady Bunch

By: March

Album - Christmas with the Brady Bunch
Artist - The Brady Bunch
Key Players - Greg, Peter, Bobby, Marsha, Jan and Cindy
Produced By - ?

Release Date - Originally in 1970, issued on compact disc in 1995

What caused me to blow off the dust? - Its Christmas music season.

Overview - This was the first album released by the Brady Bunch. The feel good American television family would grow in to their performance shoes as the show would progress with many episodes focusing on music. The family would also embark on musical tours. They'd push a few records over the course of a few years, but this was the first introduction to the kids as singers.

FDF Comments (aka the songs) - The cd opens up with "The First Noel". On this track Bobby takes the lead. A perfect fit for his vocal range at his age. It is a standard run through of the song, as all the songs are, with very little added production. The other kids come in on the chorus. Marsha takes the lead on "Away in a Manger" and at times shows she will have a stronger singing voice as she gets older. She'd use her voice stronger in years to come as one of the more dominate leaders when the group would perform live. Jan takes on "The Little Drummer Boy" with the help of the others, but her voice is low enough that it almost seems to be "okay". You hear the girls offer some backing vocals, but the orchestration of the track overwhelms this by the second verse. Greg is listed as the lead vocalist on "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "O Holy Night" and it doesn't sound like him at all on either and O Holy Night sounds more female. I understand the kid were at "awkward" ages, but on O Holy Night he comes in on the later parts and it is more suited for "When its Time to Change" than anything else (sorry). It is a group ensemble for both "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells" which are about as vanilla versions as you would ever hear. Youngest member Cindy takes on "Frosty the Snowman". Her trademark lisp is evident but also her total lack of singing ability. It it is cute, but awkward as well. You can hear her voice waiver on the most simple of lines, and you can hear her gasp for breath on more than one case. The whole group is on "Silver Bells" and this is one of the more stand out tracks. Peter gets the lead on "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". The disc wraps up with full group sing along on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"


FDF Overall Take - Steer clear of this one. It is funny for about one song, then it gets pretty embarrassing. It is also woefully short at just 20 minutes long. Now I know I am probably being harsh, but you can tell this was a rush job. The production is not the best, the versions are very cut and dry and you almost feel bad for the kids. Granted its been years since a TV show released an album of Christmas songs (Okay..South Park did one) but you get the idea. Not all Christmas collections can be winners.

Mp3's have been removed....
Curious? Check out some MUSIC!
Frosty the Snowman
Silver Bells

The cd is out of print, but you can find it for pretty cheap money here .

Redeem your self and download the clip in this post instead.

This is probably do it for 2009. Thanks for reading, see you in 2010!

Disclaimer - For the most part songs listed you can find on iTunes or your local cd shop. The idea is to give you a little taste of the music. Please support the artist buy purchasing some of their work. Songs are posted for about 1 week but can and will be removed at the request of the artist, band, band management etc. If you are one of those persons contact me via the email link in the profile and they will be removed as soon as we are made aware of the request.