If balance is a key to success, KHP Music’s latest release has holiday tunes wrapped up, tied with a bow and sitting pretty for 2007.

   Ocean Drive Christmas Volume II – released earlier this month – offers a 14-song collection featuring an array of Carolina Beach Music sounds for the season. Blend those sounds with vocals from some of the industry’s most popular artists and you end up with a stocking stuffer to be enjoyed for years to come.

   The project as a whole is well-rounded, featuring names like Band of Oz,  Second Nature, and The Entertainers among others. It winds expertly through twists and turns that bring traditional classics together with several original compositions. The Drifters’ deliver a nostalgic treat with their cover version of “Little Saint Nick”, for example, while the Entertainers (featuring Gary Lowder on vocals) contribute a smooth new tune, “We'll Have A Merry Christmas.”

    Other songs that stand out on this CD include:

    - “Boogie Woogie Shake Shag on Christmas” by The Embers – Debbie Mac’s voice fits the swing rhythm of her original creation perfectly while the tune begs listeners to show off their best shag moves at holiday dances;

    - “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Gary Brown – If you like the intro to this arrangement, wait ‘til you hear the rest of the song. Brown’s version of this tune is every bit as smooth as the original.

    - “O Holy Night” by Taylor Manning – Doug Manning must be thrilled every time he hears his musical arrangement as delivered by his daughter. In terms of vocal performance, this has to be one of the most moving tracks on the CD;

    - “Shaggin Santa” by the Attractions – It’s a fun song with a great traditional Carolina Beach Music rhythm. One thing, though. If Santa’s shagging so much, he should have his elves whip up a pair of shag shoes for him. Those boots must be killing his feet.

    Below is a track-by-track rundown of the complete project. Click the bells to the left of each description to hear a sample of each song.

  1. Wrapped in Your Arms, Band of Oz
  2. Christmas With My Baby, Russell Thompkins Jr. & the New Stylistics

  3. What You Done Got for Me – King Tyrone & the Graveyard Ramblers

  4. Little Saint Nick, The Drifters

  5. Boogie Woogie Shake Shag on Christmas, The Embers featuring Debbie Mac

  6. Christmas Love, Tim Cashion

  7. This One Yuletide, Coastline featuring Albert Rogers

  8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Gary Brown

  9. In December, Second Nature

 10. O Holy Night, Taylor Manning

 11, Christmas in Carolina, Mighty Saints of Soul

 12. We’ll Have a Merry Christmas, The Entertainers featuring Gary Lowder

 13. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Jelly Rolls

 14. Shaggin Santa – The Attractions

- Ms. DistinctivelyBeach
On the Record