Santamental

Infobox Album
Name = Santamental
Type = studio
Artist = Steve Lukather


Released = October 7, 2003
Recorded = 17-24 June 2002 at The Steakhouse
Genre = Rock
Length =
Label = Bop City Records
Producer = Steve Lukather & Elliot Steiner
Reviews =
Last album = "Luke"
(1997)
This album = "Santamental"
(2003)
Next album = "Ever Changing Times"
(2008)
Santamental is the 4th solo album from Steve Lukather. When Lukather's record company, Bop City Records, approached him about recording a Christmas album, he quipped, "Why me? Do I look like Father Christmas to you mofos?" The company wanted him to do the record knowing he would approach the project with a unique angle and produce something different from the typical Christmas album. Lukather recruited keyboardist Jeff Babko and guitarist Larry Carlton, who Lukather had worked with previously, to help arrange the songs. The result was a challenge to Lukather, who had to be creative to turn the traditionally simple songs into something interesting for listeners.citation |last=Gold |first=Jude |month=January |year=2001 |title=Christmas Carol in Peril. |periodical=Guitar Player |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=85(3)]

The musicians Lukather chose for "Santamental", most of whom are hard rock veterans, lent a heavy feel to the album. Van Halen recorded guitar tracks for "Joy to the World" after not having been in the studio for some time but immediately made an impression on Lukather with his level of playing. Vai provided guitar work for "Carol of the Bells" along with Lukather's son Trevor, then 14 years old. Slash, who recorded his part in one take, played on the Lukather/Stan Lynch composition "Broken Heart for Christmas." Lukather spoke highly of Slash after the project, calling him the "Keith Richards of our generation." Famous session guitarist Michael Landau played on the song "Look Out You Angels," and there is a previously unreleased version of "Jingle Bells" sung by Sammy Davis, Jr. [citation |date=July 28, 2003 |title=DH1, Image ink music output deal. |periodical=Hollywood Reporter |volume=379 |issue=35 |pages=19]

Tracklisting

All songs Traditional arr. by Lukather/Babko except where noted

#"Joy to the World" - 3:07
#"Greensleaves" - 6:58
#"Jingle Bells" - 2:19
#"Carol of the Bells" - 4:42
#"Broken Heart for Christmas" - 4:09
#"Angels We Have Heard on High" - 4:55
#"Winter Wonderland" - 4:05
#"Look Out for Angels" - 5:19
#"Silent Night" - 4:33
#"The Christmas Song" (Traditional arr. Lukather/Carlton) - 2:16

Personnel

*Steve Lukather - guitars, vocals
*Trevor Lukather - guitar power chords on track 4
*Eddie Van Halen - guitar on track 1 (2nd & 4th solo)
*Slash - guitar on track 5
*Steve Vai - guitar on track 4 (3rd solo)
*Mike Landau - guitar on track 8 (1st solo)
*Edgar Winter - vocals, sax on track 7
*Jeff Babko - keyboards, trombone, organ, rhodes, horns
*John Pierce - bass
*Scott Hamilton - sax
*Walt Fowler - trumpet
*George Shelby - sax
*Greg Bissonette - drums
*Lenny Castro - percussion
*Simon Phillips - Tamborine on track 1

References

External links

* [http://www.stevelukather.net/Album.aspx?id=6 Album information]