A Gorgeous, All Original Christmas Album from Lennie Gallant
With Christmas right around the corner, leave it up to Lennie Gallant to deliver a holiday record of all originals, packed with personality, character, charisma, warmth, and loads of honesty, delivered with descriptive and storytelling lyrics coated in love and portrayed with such a richness that you just can't turn away from any of it.
The album is dubbed Christmas Day On Planet Earth, and it brings together elements of folk, singer-songwriter, contemporary pop, light-hearted rock, and so much more, all packed into this wonderfully woven album that has no problem being straightforward and giving songs that absolutely capture all these different emotional elements of the holidays.
I think one of my favorite aspects about this record is the sheer fact that these are all original songs. There are a lot of artists out there that have always dropped some originals, but for a full-length album like this one, it's really impressive.
A lot of artists go with covering classics and standards, which there's no problem with, of course.
Everybody loves classic Christmas tunes, but I think it takes a lot more thought and effort to write originals for Christmas. I think Lennie really dove in on this one and came through with something that was impactful and had this beautiful set of textures to it, all while still being able to deliver that classic Christmas spirit that you want when you listen to songs like this.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a record that tells a lot of stories. Some of them feel like they're from a personal perspective, some of them may be fictional, but they really capture and encompass what a lot of people go through and think, feel, and remember during Christmas time.
You can sort of feel the personal attributes with songs like "If You Make It Home for Christmas."
Songs like this one give you clean, sort of plucky guitars, giving you pop sensibility right from the start, and it goes on to open up and tell the story about how people you love may be far away during Christmas and how distance still can't stop that love.
However, if they were to make it home on Christmas, that would be even better. The icing on the cake.
It's tracks like this one that give you that personal feel. It feels like it came from a real place, maybe currently or maybe even in the past, but I love how detailed he gets with expressing how strong the love is and how distance can't get in the way of sharing the holidays.
Other songs like "I Want to Waltz with You on Christmas Eve" display other kinds of love and warmth during the holidays, and this is indeed in the form of a waltz, complete with accordion that gives you a sort of colorful and classic, romantic Christmas tonality that goes perfectly with the clean and acoustic guitars and Lennie's warm and welcoming voice.
The record covers a lot of ground, and I feel like it's something that stands tall in terms of original Christmas songs and records as a whole.
Certain tracks hit a little harder than others and can be far more detailed. For example, one of my personal favorites on the record is actually a song called "The Gift (A Nurse Story)," in which he gets into such detail about the environment, what was on the radio, and what it felt like to be in a very particular kind of situation on Christmas Eve that is different.
He goes into a few different areas, but the imagery that's painted about being in a hospital room with patients on Christmas Eve, some who haven't been seen in over a month by any family or friends, is a really intense view and story to soak in.
It's a beautiful song, and it does have a light at the end of the tunnel, but it's such a brilliant piece of work because, again, this is one of the songs that you feel like it had to have come from someplace real.
Lennie is obviously an amazing storyteller, but songs like this just feel too real to be fiction. He's really giving you all these little nuances throughout the track, and his performance also displays such heavy-handed emotion, both vocally and instrumentally, that it's hard to ignore.
Meanwhile, "I Still Believe in Santa" gives you a southern-style romp and stomp with harmonicas and more. This one is much more light-hearted, of course, as a lot of the record is, but it gives a spirited, fun, colorful approach from all areas, and I think this showcase is such an important aspect of the album.
There are plenty of funny sections on this record.
Lennie is unafraid to let a lot out and paint those pictures in your head as songs unfold. He's not afraid to give the details, get descriptive, showcase loads of emotion, and that emotional aspect goes in all different directions.
I think that's important because, for a lot of people, Christmas covers all of that ground. You go through a range of different emotions during the holidays depending on who you are and what you've been through in life.
I think it's outstanding that Lennie has created a record that encompasses so many of those different sides of the holiday. The sides that not everyone thinks about, the darker sides, the lighter sides, the warmer sides, the colder sides, the parts of it you wish were different, and the parts of it you'll hold on to forever.
This is a very unique batch of Christmas songs. They're not in the traditional sense that you may think they are, but they're beautifully done, and I feel like there's a lot of layers to be soaked in with a record like this one.
The record drops November 18th, and being able to listen to this album before it releases was a really amazing experience.
Going into it, I had a totally different idea of what it might be.
Again, I was thinking much more traditional kinds of Christmas tracks. I was amazed at what I heard, and it just shows you that even for a Christmas album, Lennie Gallant is someone who puts pieces of himself into his music. He's unafraid to go to these different places, and I feel like we all need a little piece of each of these songs this holiday.
This is literally for everybody.
Now, a little bit ahead of its release, we got to have a sit-down with Lennie to talk about the record and where it actually came from, plus what might be coming up next for him.
So, while you listen to this amazing record, have a read through our interview with Lennie Gallant below.
Do not forget where you heard this first.
I understand that Christmas is the inspiration behind this, of course. What made you write all originals as opposed to taking the classic route of covering traditional Christmas songs?
I am first and foremost a songwriter, so I thought it would be an interesting adventure to try and write a few seasonal songs. I originally thought I would only write 3 or 4, but once I got started, it seemed like I was on a roll and was looking at Christmas from different perspectives for each song. It wasn’t too long before I decided to make the whole album an album of original Christmas songs, which, as far as I know, has never been done before.
This album was performed by you and your band, correct? No outside hired musicians?
It’s a combination of both. Some players from my current band and past bands, and some players that my producer, Les Cooper, brought in.
I see you are going on tour starting in November! Do you find it more rewarding to perform live or be in the studio writing and recording?
I love performing live, and I also love being in the studio. Each is a unique experience. I can’t really compare the two since they are so different. I find a lot of joy in playing on stage for audiences, and the exchange of energy in the theatre is an extremely uplifting experience. In a studio, it’s a place where you are trying to create magic that you hope you will get to share with an audience in a concert setting at a later date. So, while they are both supportive of each other, I can’t say I prefer one over the other.
Did you write this album yourself? Did you work with an outside producer?
I wrote the album myself, except for one song that I co-wrote with my partner, Patricia Richard. I usually like to work with a producer other than myself, whether it says it in the credits or not, so all my albums tend to be more or less co-produced. I really liked working with the producer, Les Cooper, on this record. He has a vast discography and a solid reputation, and he brought a lot to the table.
How long did this record take to complete?
I started writing it early in the year and would occasionally get together with Les to discuss recording plans. Then we recorded it in early fall of the same year to be released for Christmas.
After the tour is done, will you be working on any new releases? Or is it break time?
I don’t find that there is very much time for a break in this business. We tend to always be working on a project or on tour, or in the studio. After this tour, we will be doing a winter tour in Ontario, a spring tour in Western Canada, and then a summer tour that will have dates across Canada and beyond.
When you are writing a record like this, is it lyrics or instrumentals that come first?
It really depends on the song; it could be either one. Sometimes it’s just an idea that is the genesis for a song, and sometimes it is a riff of music or a chord progression that is looking for a story or some lyrics to go with it.
What would you say people can expect from the album?
I think people find new perspectives on Christmas from this album. I think it does not shy away from what is going on in the world at this time, but yet is very celebratory in its stories of love, brotherhood, acceptance, and sharing. It also has a lot of humor in the album, and when we perform these songs on stage, there are a lot of laughs and comic moments.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I’m very excited about this tour. I have an amazing band with me who are each accomplished musicians themselves. We love making music together, and we have a ton of fun on stage. From all the comments we get back, I know the audience picks up on that big time. Please come and join us for a Christmas celebration unlike any you’ve had before!
THE INNKEEPER’S CHRISTMAS TOUR 2026
Nov 18: The Souris Show Hall / Souris, PEI
Nov 19: Fox Harb'r Resor / Fox Harbour, NS
Nov 20: Harbourfront Theatre / Summerside, PEI
Nov 21: Wilmot United Church / Fredericton, NB
Nov 22: Second Wind / Florenceville-Bristol, NB
Nov 26: Hugh’s Room / Toronto, ON
Nov 27: Market Hall / Peterborough, ON
Nov 28: National Arts Centre / Ottawa, ON
Nov 29: Festival Hall / Pembroke, ON
Dec 3: Imperial Theatre / Saint John, NB
Dec 4: Marigold Cultural Centre / Truro, NS
Dec 5: Bauer Theatre / Antigonish, NS
Dec 6: Membertou Centre / Membertou, NS
Dec 9: Light House Arts Theatre / Halifax, NS
Dec 10: The Grace Arts Theatre / Tatamagouche, NS
Dec 11: King’s Theatre / Annapolis Royal, NS
Dec 12: Convocation Hall / Wolfville, NS
Dec 13: Bicentennial Theatre / Musquodoboit, NS
Dec 15: Th’YARC / Yarmouth, NS
Dec 16 & 17: Chester Playhouse / Chester, NS
Dec 18: Riverview Arts Centre / Riverview, NB
Dec 19: Confederation Centre / Charlottetown, PEI
Comments