John William Schlitt was born on February 3, 1950 in
Lincoln, Illinois. He is known for his
time as vocalist for the mainstream rock group Head East and then as lead
vocalist for Christian rock group Petra.
His first solo album SHAKE came out in 1995. THE CHRISTMAS PROJECT is his fifth solo
CD. It was released in 2013 on 4K
Records. The album is produced by John’s
son-in-law Dan Needham who is also responsible for drums and percussion on the
album. He has worked with the likes of
Michael McDonald, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Kenny Loggins. Mark Hill plays bass, Jerry McPherson, Tom
Bukovac, and George Cocchini play guitars, and Jason Webb and Jeff Roach are on
keys. Schlitt reflects: “The manger was
only the beginning, because looming ahead was the cross. Christ was born to die. We don’t like to think about that at
Christmastime, but His whole purpose in coming into this world was to bear our
sins on the cross. But it didn’t end
there. Our Lord conquered death and the
cross by rising on the third day.
Without the resurrection, the cross means nothing, just as the manger
means nothing without the cross”.
The album opens with ‘Hallelujah Chorus (Handel’s Messiah)’
which was composed in 1741. Here Schlitt
delivers a tremendous rock version with blistering electric guitar work and
drums. His voice has never sounded
better! The words celebrate Christ: “And
He shall reign forever and ever/King of Kings/Forever and ever/Hallelujah,
Hallelujah/And Lord of Lords/Forever and ever/Hallelujah, Hallelujah”. ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’ begins with the
sound of sheep bleating. This is
followed by a Scripture reading by John’s grandson Logan that recalls when an
angel of the Lord told the shepherds that a Savior, a Messiah, the Lord, had
been born. The song here is given the
rock treatment with a funkified groove.
It tells the story of the wisemen: “The star is showing where to go/Let
us bring silver and gold/He has won this very night/Bringing us a blessed
light/Goodness and light/The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night/He will
bring us goodness and light (2X)”.
Next up is ‘Little Drummer Boy’. The Trapp Family Singers recorded it in
1955. In 1958 a Harry Simeone Chorale
recording of it hit No 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Bing Crosby covered it in 1962. Schlitt’s version is a captivating rock
ballad. It is a song of humility:
“Little baby, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum/I am a poor boy too, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum/I have
no gift to bring, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum/That’s fit to give the King,
pa-rum-pa-pum-pum/Shall I play for you, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum/On my drum? (2X)” This is followed by a reverent, traditional
version of ‘O Holy Night’. John Elefante
of Kansas fame is on backing vocals. It
speaks of the wonderful difference Christ makes on this earth and glorifies Him
for it: “Truly He taught us to love one another/His law is love and His gospel
is peace/Chains He shall break for the slave is our brother/And in His Name all
oppression shall cease/Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we/With all
our hearts we praise His holy Name/Christ is the Lord/Him ever, ever praise
we/His power and glory evermore proclaim”.
‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ is a happy sounding rocker
that is all about the Good News: “God rest ye merry gentlemen/Let nothing you
dismay/Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day/To save us all from
Satan’s power when we were gone astray/O tidings of comfort and joy/From God
our Heavenly Father, a blessed angel came/And unto certain shepherds brought
tidings of the same/How that in Bethlehem was born/The Son of God by Name/O
tidings of comfort and joy”. ‘Good
Christian Men Rejoice’ is credited to J.M. Neal (1853). Schlitt’s take on it uses sleigh bells and is
decidedly bouncy pop in Newsboys territory.
It is a jubilant call to revel in Christ: “Good Christian men
rejoice/With heart and soul and voice/Now ye hear of endless bliss/Jesus Christ
was born for this/He has opened heaven’s door and man is blessed
forevermore/Christ was born for this (3X)/News, news, Jesus Christ was born
today/Joy, joy, Jesus Christ was born to save.../Now ye need not fear the
grave/Jesus Christ was born to save”.
‘That Spirit of Christmas’ is a quiet, crooner like, adult
contemporary number in the vein of some of Rod Stewart’s later material. Schlitt’s vocals are awesome on this
sentimental song: “I was sittin’ by the fireside/Taking a walk through the
snow/Listening to a children’s choir/Singing songs about Jesus/The blessed way
that He came to us/Why can’t it remain all through the years/Each day the
same?/That’s what I wanna hear/It’s truly amazin’/That spirit of
Christmas”. ‘We Three Kings’ was written
by John Henry Hopkins in 1857. He was
the rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA. He wrote the song for a Christmas pageant in
New York City. Schlitt’s cover is slow
and fairly traditional. The song makes
it clear that Christ is true Royalty and should be treated as such: “Born a
King on Bethlehem’s plain/Gold I bring to crown Him again/King forever, ceasing
never/Over us all to reign.../Frankincense to offer have I/Incense owns a deity
nigh/Prayer and praising/All men raising/Worship Him God on high.../Glorious
now behold Him arise/King and God and sacrifice/Alleluia, Alleluia/Sounds to
the earth and sky (2X)”.
‘What Christmas Needs to Be’ is the only original track on
the album. It was penned by Schlitt, Dan
Needham, and George Cocchini. Musically
it is an upbeat adult contemporary song.
It is pretty decent and reflects on Christ’s greatness and power: “It’s
Christmas now/The Gift of Heaven given/Love can be found/In every heart that
hears it/A Baby crowned/The hope of our salvation/He is what Christmas needs to
be.../With just one life all things were changed/A Child is born to light the
way”. The highlight of this song is
really the spot on backing vocals by Scott Faircloff. Last up is a beautiful rendition of ‘What
Child Is This?’ which is essentially a song of praise: “What child is this who
laid to rest on Mary’s lap lay sleeping/Whom angels greet with anthems
sweet/While shepherds watch are keeping?/This, this, is Christ the King whom
shepherds guard and angels sing/Haste, haste to bring Him laud/The babe, the
son of Mary”.
Christmas albums come a dime a dozen these days. THE CHRISTMAS PROJECT has far more value than
that! At 63 years of age, John Schlitt’s
voice sounds seasoned, mature, and strong.
The musical arrangements here are contemporary and don’t sound
dated. As is almost always the case when
it comes to John Schlitt, these songs point directly to Jesus Christ as our
Hope and Salvation. My only beef is that
half of the album rocks and the other is more adult contemporary. I would have liked an all out rocker with a
ballad or two thrown in. That being
said, this really is a terrific holiday project. I’m rating it 87%. For more info visit: www.johnwschlitt.com, www.schlittshop.com, and www.thepetrazone.net.