Rockin' Rudolph Explained

Rockin' Rudolph
Type:	studio
Artist:	The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Cover:	Rockinrudolph.jpg
Released:	October 16, 2015
Genre:	Swing rockabilly
Length:	33:53
Label:	Surfdog
Producer:	Peter Collins
Prev Title:	Don't Mess with a Big Band (Live!)
Prev Year:	2010

Rockin' Rudolph is the third Christmas album by The Brian Setzer Orchestra, released on October 16, 2015, through Surfdog Records. Produced by Peter Collins, it is the band's first Christmas album in ten years and their most recent album to date.^[1]

Promotion

In support of the album, The Brian Setzer Orchestra embarked on the 12th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour.^[2] In the midst of the tour they performed at an invitation-only event for SiriusXM at The Hard Rock Café in Times Square. The concert was broadcast across SiriusXM channels in the days that followed.^[3]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album three out of five stars and states: "Rockin' Rudolph deserves to sit proudly alongside the Brian Setzer Orchestra's other Christmas albums because it serves up snazzy seasonal swingers, tunes that revel in their retro-kitsch."

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic:^[4]

Production

• Brian Setzer – arranger
• Peter Collins – producer
• Steve Gibson – producer
• Terry Christian – engineer, mixing
• Don Cobb – mastering
• Eric Conn – mastering
• Dave Darling – additional production
• Frank Comstock – arranger
• Mark Jones – arranger
• Dave Kaplan – executive producer
• Tim Messina – music director
• Jody Nardone – vocal arrangement
• Kristen Carranza – production coordination
• Joey Waterman – production coordination
• Tyler Sweet – guitar technician
• Derek Yaniger – cover art
• Scott Anderson – layout

Musicians

• Brian Setzer – guitar, vocals
• Roy Agee – trombone
• Sean Billings – trumpet
• Ron Blake – trumpet
• Mike Briones – trombone
• Shannon Brown – vocals (background)
• Barry Green – trombone
• John Hatton – bass guitar
• Mike Haynes – trumpet
• Robbie Hioki – trombone
• Jamie Hovorka – trumpet
• Paul Leim – drums
• Sam Levine – saxophone
• Jeremy Levy – trombone
• Kerry Loeschen – trombone
• Tim Messina – saxophone
• Eric Morones – saxophone
• Jody Nardone – vocals (background)
• Steve Patrick – trumpet
• Charlie Peterson – saxophone
• Tony Pia – drums
• Steve Reid – trumpet
• Matt Rollings – piano
• Julie Setzer – vocals (background)
• Leslie Spencer – vocals (background)
• David Spicher – bass
• Jim Youngstrom – saxophone
• Matt Zebly – saxophone

Chart performance

Chart (2015)! scope="col"

Peak position
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)^[5]	3

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label
United States	October 16, 2015		Surfdog

Notes and References

1. Web site: Brian Setzer Announces First Christmas Album in a Decade. DeRiso. Nick. Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media. August 2, 2015. August 7, 2015.
2. Web site: Brian Setzer Announces 'Rockin' Rudolph' Christmas Album. Guitar World. Harris Publications. July 28, 2015. August 7, 2015.
3. Web site: Christmas Rocks: The Brian Setzer Orchestra to perform on Outlaw Country and Holly. SiriusXM. November 20, 2015. December 1, 2015.
4. Web site: Rockin' Rudolph - The Brian Setzer Orchestra Credits - AllMusic. All Media Network. AllMusic. October 20, 2015.
5. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=The Brian Setzer Orchestra|chart=Holiday Albums}} The Brian Setzer Orchestra Chart history: Top Holiday Albums]. Billboard. November 24, 2015.