Dig That Crazy Christmas
The Brian Setzer Orchestra · 2005
44 min · 13 tracks · jazz
Swinging big band arrangements meet holiday classics, creating a festive sound that’s both lively and nostalgic.
Top tracks — play these first
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Dig That Crazy Santa Claus — This track opens the album with an infectious energy, setting the tone for the festive celebration with its upbeat tempo and catchy brass riffs.
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Angels We Have Heard on High — The big band arrangement breathes new life into this classic carol, featuring dynamic instrumentation that enhances its joyful spirit.
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You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch — This rendition showcases Setzer's playful vocal style and clever orchestration, providing a fun contrast to the more traditional tracks while capturing the character's mischievous essence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album blends swing arrangements with holiday classics, creating a festive and cohesive listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent big band arrangement style, with brass and rhythm sections driving the sound throughout.
- Each track maintains a lively tempo, with several songs incorporating call-and-response vocal elements despite being primarily instrumental.
- The last three tracks slow down slightly, providing a contrast to the upbeat nature of the earlier songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic festive journey
- short, punchy songs
- joyful holiday spirit
- energetic background ambiance
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2005, Dig That Crazy Christmas marked the Brian Setzer Orchestra's return to holiday-themed music after their previous Christmas album, 1998's Christmas Rocks! This album came during a resurgence of interest in swing and rockabilly, genres that Setzer helped popularize in the late '90s through his distinct fusion of jazz and rock elements.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy· Cherry Poppin' Daddies· Postmodern Jukebox
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Hey Santa!
In this upbeat track, the singer directly addresses Santa with enthusiasm, asking for gifts while playfully expressing impatience for Christmas.
By shifting from a narrative style to direct address, the moment creates an engaging immediacy that invites listeners into the excitement of waiting for Santa.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Dig That Crazy Santa Claus 2:14
- 2 Angels We Have Heard on High 4:21
- 3 Gettin’ in the Mood (for Christmas) 3:34
- 4 White Christmas 5:22
- 5 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 2:08
- 6 ’zat You Santa Claus? 3:13
- 7 Hey Santa! 4:08
- 8 My Favorite Things 3:59
- 9 You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch 2:38
- 10 Cool Yule 2:35
- 11 Jingle Bell Rock 2:36
- 12 Santa Drives a Hot Rod 4:05
- 13 What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve 3:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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