Smithereens celebrate with Christmas CD
Manalapan's Jim Babjak will join bandmates for Lakewood show
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
Jim Babjak of Manalapan has been busy these days touring with his band The Smithereens, recording the group's new album of original songs and recording the band's first collection of Christmas songs, "Christmas with The Smithereens."

The Smithereens will appear in concert at the Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood, at 8 p.m. Nov. 16. Tickets are $24, $20 and $17. For more information call (732) 367-7789.

The show can be expected to feature material from the group's 25-year songbook, their recent CD "Meet The Smithereens" (covering songs that appeared on "Meet The Beatles") and the new Christmas CD.

Babjak called the Christmas CD an "amazing and rocking collection of brandnew versions of classic Christmas records by The Beatles, Chuck Berry, The Who, Elvis Presley and other rock legends, all done in the style of The Smithereens. The Smithereens set out to reinvent the Christmas album and turn the genre completely upside down with this record."

Babjak said the new CD "stands on its own, yet somehow channels the ghost of Christmas past and in the process, also pays tribute and reinvents some of our absolute all-time favorite rock and roll Christmas records."

The Smithereens formed in Carteret in 1980. Original members Babjak (guitar), Dennis Diken (drums) and Pat DiNizio (lead singer/guitar) are still going strong after 27 years of recording and performing. In 2006, Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion (bass) replaced original bassist Mike Mesaros.

"The success of 'Meet The Smithereens' has reintroduced us to our old fans and helped us gain new ones. As a result, our live appearance bookings have increased three times from the previous year," Babjak said.

"Christmas with The Smithereens" includes "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," inspired by Bill Haley, "Run Run Rudolph," made famous by Chuck Berry, "Merry Christmas Baby," a Beach Boys classic, and "Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me," which was recorded by Elvis Presley.

The band has put a new twist on Clement C. Moore's classic poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by singing it to an almost hip-hop beat. "Auld Lang Syne" has been redone as a classy upbeat tune, rather than one that usually evokes tears.

Also included in the collection is The Beatles' "Christmas Time Is Here Again" and the Ramones' "Christmas, (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)."

There are also some original tunes, including Babjak's "Waking Up on Christmas Morning."

In the liner notes that accompany the CD, Diken shares his childhood Christmas memories and reveals how his own interest in collecting Christmas music began when he was a child.

He sums up the band members' thoughts, writing, "Christmas time is here again. When I dig out my holiday platters every December, I feel like I'm visiting with some of my oldest and dearest friends. With that in mind, we humbly present 'Christmas with The Smithereens.'

"We've taken what we've learned from some of our favorite Christmas records and did our best to make these numbers our own. Plus, we tossed in a few new treats and surprises as well. It is our hope that we'll be seeing you again and again at the end of every year."