My favorite review of this album was, “when he sings ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas,’ it comes off as a threat.” I don’t remember who said it though.

Dylan is taken too seriously when he doesn't want to be taken seriously

It's incredible how much people still associate Bob Dylan with his persona from over fifty years ago. The man has re-invented himself continuously over the decades, some incarnations more commercially successful than others. He has tried all manner of business ventures, even owned a boxing gym at one time. He paints, he sculpts, he welds... The man is whoever he feels like being at any given moment, defies-pigeon holing by his very nature. Christmas In The Heart is a gift to all longtime Dylan fans, I savor every song. Dylan's voice is an acquired taste. Like a fine, aged scotch.

When you talked about Dylan's raspy voice in contrast to his immaculate production, and how it serves as an alternative to the soulless, hollow, perfect voices you usually here in most Christmas songs, it really made realize why I love Dylan so much. People say he can't sing, which is totally false if you actually spend the time to sit down and listen to his music, but the imperfections in his voice are what make him seem more real, and adds depth to his lyrics. You can hear each emotion he wants you to feel in his voice. It's not sloppy, it's carefully crafted to give a unique listening experience. And that's what I've always valued about Dylan's music.

The watercolor animation for his Little Drummer Boy video was out of this world.

Dylan’s delivery on “Must be Santa” is so good that I thought it was an original song that he wrote. I soon realised it’s actually a famous Christmas song but nevertheless it’s my favourite track on the record.

Davie Bowie described Dylan's voice as "like sand and glue". Pretty apt imo.

Christmas songs have great value culturally. Think about your life, at least a 12th of your life is surrounded by this atmosphere and feeling. Lennon really made a charge into that, props to Dylan for getting into that tradition too.

This has been a family favourite ever since it was released (complete with vintage postcards) and our default Christmas music for decorating the tree with the kids - as a performance (but so much more), "Must Be Santa" is right up there with "Stuck Inside of Mobile" or "Highway 61"! Great album, great video - thanks and Merry Christmas to Polyphonic and Bob!

I've always loved this album when everyone I knew hated it. There is an interview, hard to find now, of Dylan on this album and after the interviewer said "on 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' you sound like a true believer." To which Dylan replied "I am a true believer"

this was the only christmas album i could stand to listen to when i worked retail

Bob Dylan sounds like Tim Waits now... Which just makes me want to hear a Tom Waits Christmas album

Another great Dylan video Poly, well done. It's worth mentioning that while he is Jewish, he does still celebrate Christmas with his family. Would've loved a section of the video discussing his religious history. Anyway great vid, cheers.

It's not a Christmas album, it's a charity album. He didn't have to do it, he obviously likes those songs.

He's not the first Wilbury to have a Christmas song/album. 👍

Dylan gonna Dylan, whether people like it or not. He was punk af before we even knew what to call it.

Merry Christmas, Poly, and thanks for your creativity and work. You contribute to make KZfaq enjoyable.🎄

this was a wonderfully thoughtful analysis mate. Thank you

We should have got a christmas duet between Bob Dylan and Ozzie Osbourne singing jingle bells, would have been no. 1 for weeks

Dylan's Must be Santa is one of my favourite Christmas songs. Fun is definitely the word to describe it.

As a fan of Dylan I bought the album two years ago, with the anger of my parents (used to listen to dean martin and Sinatra for Christmas, which I love too), because I knew there was something more. His “mathematical music”, his music of tales and magic dragons, which he borrowed from the folk tradition, can be found in the album and in the timeless Christmas songs. He is one of the few who can give a true prospective on those songs. Sorry for the punctuation, I’m Italian 😅

Think I will give this album a listen. Thanks for another great year Polyphonic Happy Holidays and see you in 2023.

So many well said comments. I was so glad to find this video that says so well how I feel about this album. There was a video of Penn Jillette talking about how much he liked this album I saw around the time it came out but I can’t find it any more. I even play it when it’s not Christmas time. Thanks Bob.

"Must be Santa" has been on my Christmas music rotation since I heard it about a decade ago.

My best friend and I who's since passed on last May would throw this on every 1st day of Summer. We'd CRANK it on the stereo next to the bonfire. I miss those times. Thank you, Polyphonic.

Don't forget the theme time radio hour christmas episode!

Have yourself a happy little holidays Poly & Fam.

Christmas came early this year with another Polyphonic Bob Dylan video!

im so glad you got to use That Santa Drawing again poly ive been thinkin abt it since the venn diagram

I Dreamed I Saw St. Nicholas

Man... it took me a while to figure out that he was just having fun. I wish I knew it sooner! Last time I saw him live I finally got it. Transcendent moment in my musical life.

I would absolutely appreciate an analysis on Dylan’s capture of that “thin, wild mercury sound” from Blonde on Blonde!

I think you should do "Understanding Animals and The Wall",they're both great concept albums

Christmas in the Heart is one of my favorite Christmas albums, and the jewel for me is Must Be Santa. Its such a fun song and the video is great. Happy Holidays Everyone.

Dylan is Dylan is Dylan. He felt like doing this so he did it.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR THIS. My wife and I haven't had a laugh like this in ages.

This released the Christmas that I worked in HMV, it’s gone from being a slightly ironic listen to a traditional accompaniment to Christmas dinner

It’s like Dark Side of the Moon, but for Christmas

You should listen to "A Pirate stole my Christmas" from "Ye Banished Privateers". It is another quite distinct and especially fun christmas album

i have a bit more respect for this album but its too strange for me still, i dont outright hate it, but beyond recognizing this is just a guy having a time, being himself. i respect his work

I just learned about this album a few days ago and wow it's great. Also a bit cursed, but great.

Listening to this makes me long for a Tom Waits Christmas Album.

My favorite Christmas album 🎄

Polyphonic: His version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" seems to be an homage to Bing Crosby Me: Funny; sounds more like Louis Armstrong to me

This album is menial and I lovie it! It's been a family tradition for my sister and I since its release. We love it because of how deranged it seems. Dylan's voice here sounds Waits played back at 45 speed. I feels like a weird parody of mid century Americana, like something from Ren & Stimpy or Adult Swim.

Thanks Polyphonic

His version of Little Drummer Boy is incandescent. Amazing.

An underrated classic in my opinion

Adding this to my xmas rotation

Amazing as always. Couldn't agree more. Has a lot of that Tom Waits originality and new take on something being redone.

The video I didn't know I needed

I think that you always can make a statement with a Christmas album, and that what he did. Few years ago I made a short Cristmas album about the ilusions of a snowie Cristmas on tropical lands, solitude, family discussions, and the constant desire that the next year will be better than the last one and almost never does. If you want to check it out its called "Feliz Natal e um Ano Novo Melhor Que Esse'.

Great video!! Do one on Bob Dylans album Street Legal.

I love this album! Must be Santa is so much fun..MY favorite song is The Christmas Blues..

Ngl i absolutely love his voice

Do a we didn't start the fire video where you explain some of the references or do a series where you explain them all with snippets of the song just a suggestion keep up the good work 👍👍

Waiting for a closer look on Tom Waits!!!

Here in italy children will still sing Adeste Fidelis in latin, and that version is still the most recognized around christmas time. Also his voice really fits in this genre, this grandpa smoking a pipe and sining in his old ratchety voice this man's making me like christmas songs jesus christ

Always fantastic to see any sort of video essay on the one and only Bob Dylan! So great to have my obsession with him continuously fed.

Genuinely thought there were fleas on my screen for a moment there and I am very not high.

Well said!

PLEASE Do a video about Journey. A video done in your style about Journey would be Awesome

Great video! I didn’t know a lot of this stuff! I like this album too

Polyphonic I beg you, make a video about the Moog!

It’s a good album imo. Not perfect one or two of the arrangements are a little grating but for the most part it’s genuine and heartfelt fun.

'Bob Dylan Christmas album definitely sounds like a joke that would've been on the Simpson's in like 1996 lol. I think think a lot of people miss that part about folk singers being interpreters of music. And that's to their credit. Back in the day folk musicians would play what we would consider "folk" music, but also gospel and traditional hymns.

I like Christmas songs, especially when they're well done. And some of them can truly be powerful when done well, like Silent Night or God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, but with almost everybody doing Christmas albums, there's way too much Christmas music out there. Except for some really classic versions of Christmas songs, the best thing to do is only get Christmas albums by artists you actually love, and skip most of the others. And don't forget Snoopy's Christmas, a truly wonderful and fun song! Jon Anderson of Yes fame did a Christmas album, 3 Ships, but you almost can't tell if it's really supposed to be a Christmas album,. it's so sly and subtle about it.

Great video

We even win when you take a break, because it's better to give than to receive

Hey Polyphonic, I wanted to ask if you could regularly put captions on your videos/ add them to your older videos. It makes it way more accessible to people with auditory issues or even attention issues. At this point deaf and hard of hearing people can't access your videos at all, and it's largely inaccessible to those of us with other auditory processing difficulties. Coming here from your video on Hadestown and the one you just did on disco, loved both but had a really hard time following along.

Cheers Poly

Hey polyphonic. I thought it would be a great idea to do a video on understanding a dream theater song like octavarium... they have so much to say throught their music ...

Folk music is a form of traditional music and Christmas songs are traditionally. It makes sense.

Sir please you have to talk about the band The Protomen and they’re 2 rock opera masterpieces

Is a video on the Scorpions in your plans? Would love to watch it!

Thank you for validating me liking the album all along.

A beautiful álbum

I love your review and agree with all. You didnt mention 'little drummer boy' I could picture Mary nodding on that song . I love Bob's voice on this album. Have bought quite a few as gifts because of the charity. But if you every thought about what the voice of God might sound like, well?

Have you had a plan to make a video on the band "America" in the future?

Me: **reads the title** Me: Because he has a Nobel Prize, he can do what he wants.

Talk about fun… think of Sinatra’s 80th birthday when Sinatra, Springsteen, and Dylan spent all night singing old songs at Sinatra’s house. The love of music is the love of all the world, because “when things go wrong a man ain’t got a friend without a song.”

He looks like Peter Capaldi in that shot…

knocking on heaven's door

Polyphonic, check out Manchester Orchestra's Christmas album. Curious to hear your thoughts about that and the band in general... They are rad!

Yooo I love your content, I would love for you to do videos on Soulquarians members if you haven’t already, like D’Angelo, Dilla, Erykah Badu and ?uestlove.. Shit would be tight !!!

Look, I love Dylan, grew up 5 miles from his hometown house in Hibbing, covered his songs during Dylan Days, and will pass down his classics to my children... nothing but respect. And ok, I can "get it", rejecting commercialism, being "authentic"... it's just when that authentic happens to be so strong I can smell the nicotine-infused armchair and the sound of a real-life grandpa trying his darndest to stay on tune during the family caroling outing... maybe it becomes what they say about film dialogue... you don't actually want to mimic real life to a T. But seriously I think Dylan's voice through the years is kind of like a strange litmus test for... something. Some people of course can't stand any, I love the rasp of his early days, but I could tell in his Gospel albums he became more loose than my liking hitting some of those notes... and I had to call "uncle" somewhere in his 90s stuff. But seriously there should be a study done on this phenomenon. Truly the straight black dark roast of music (made like traditional Polish coffee - hot water straight into a cup of grounds). I can't get myself to drink it for the life of me, but I guess I can't help but have respect and awe for those that do ;P

Love the album. That’s all I know.

It would be cool watching a video yours talking about the career of john frusciante and his dark ages Thanks for all this😁

Why didn't Amy Winehouse release a Christmas album? It would have been the best thing ever....

Xmas on the Skids is my take on it. 🤣

@polyphonic can you make a video about Stone Temple Pilots and/or Scott Weiland and his lyrical talent?

Even Eric Clapton had a Christmas album out a few years ago

Never clicked on a video so quickly

I found it nostalgic

elements of this reminded me of Tom Waits, but Waits is more intentional with his inflections and seeming flaws. Dylan's voice in this felt less formulaic, but clearly honest in his celebration of a cultural rite of passage. not like I'm going to listen to it for hours and hours, not even going to buy my own copy. but this was awesome. I respect Dylan, and do not think his Nobel Prize was undeserved. but I'm relegating this to the pile Mariah Carey et al are in... (fairytale of NY, or Snow for Christmas are more my speed)

Any praise or criticism of bob is just another day in the life. So 🎄❄☃️🙏

If you see this, I think it would be cool if you could do Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

The steel guitar sound great on the album.

Bob Dylan made a Christmas album because he's Bob Dylan and he does whatever the fuck he wants. Always has, always will.

I think this album is an immaculate troll on the listeners expectations of what a Christmas album should be - and as a result its just fuckin hilarious. Its 'The Room' of Christmas albums in some ways. Mostly to me it sounds like the sad lonely old drunk singing to himself around closing time, and the productions are what he hears in his head as he does.