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Big, bearded men belting out Christmas classics have made the night before Christmas more than just a time this year to watch the Philadelphia Eagles try to beat the competition.
Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce and Jordan Mailata, with a little help from some melodic teammates, have made an already rather merry season in Philly sound a little sweeter with the release of their holiday album, ‘A Philly Special Christmas.’ .
Yes, the album’s title is an ode to Old Saint Nick, in this case former QB Nick Foles and the gimmick that helped the Eagles win their only Super Bowl of the 2017 season.
Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce and Jordan Mailata of the Philadelphia Eagles teamed up with various musicians to record the seven-song LP ‘A Philly Special Christmas’. Proceeds from this registry will benefit the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and other charities in Philadelphia.
Jason Kelce (far left), Jordan Mailata (center) and Lane Johnson, all seen recording tracks for their Christmas album, which took almost a year to produce.
The Eagles’ trio of offensive linemen can sing as well as pass guard — Johnson might not even let Santa Claus down the chimney, as he holds the record for most consecutive games without allowing a sack — and an All-Star cast. Star of The musicians got together to record the album.
Leading the charge was Charlie Hall, drummer for the Grammy-winning band War on Drugs.
‘If we’re going to do this, let’s make it meaningful. Let’s make it awesome,” Hall said. It’s not nonsense.
While the tone is light, this isn’t a novelty record.
“Oh, football players making a record, it’s like ‘Super Bowl Shuffle,'” Hall said with a laugh, referring to the 1985 song performed by the Chicago Bears, who won Super Bowl XX that same year. ‘But no, this was born out of sincerity and a deep love and appreciation for music.’
Grammy Award-winning artist and War on Drugs drummer Charlie Hall also appears on the seven-song album along with The Hooters, Dr. Dog and 98-year-old saxophonist Marshall Allen of Sun Ra Arkestra.
“Jordan (left) could quit football and be a singer if he wanted to,” Hall said, adding that Lane (right) has an “incredibly soulful voice.”
The idea for an album was floated last year by Jason Kelce (pictured) and friends last Christmas and former Eagle Connor Barwin used his musical connections (War on Drugs has headlined the former defensive end’s charity) to put things running.
The cover features Johnson, Kelce and Mailata sketched out in a homage to the Peanuts characters on the ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ album and the songs are standards found on Christmas playlists.
“I didn’t think it was going to get to this level of quality,” Kelce said.
The Boys in Green sing ‘White Christmas,’ ‘Blue Christmas,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and Eagles radio host Merrill Reese narrates ‘The Night Before Christmas.’
On the field, the Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys on December 24.
There’s also a philanthropic slant to the album, with proceeds going to the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center in Philadelphia. Over $100,000 has already been raised.
Good luck buying the album, though.
The Eagles weren’t the first team to drop a song or album, as the Chicago Bears came up with the ‘Super Bowl Shuffle’ in 1985, two months before they won Super Bowl XX.
Eagles fans better rush to grab a copy of their favorite new album, and some are selling on eBay for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Last batch sold out in 120 seconds
Well, at least one vinyl copy, as previous pressings sold out quickly. The last batch sold out in 120 seconds (some albums go for $4,000 on eBay) and a final order is available Friday. Of course, ‘A Philly Special Christmas’ is available on streaming services and one song a week has been released every Friday, leading up to the full record release on December 23rd.
The idea for an album was pitched last year by Kelce and friends last Christmas and former Eagle Connor Barwin used his musical connections (War on Drugs has headlined the former defensive end’s charity) to get the ball rolling. The album was recorded over several days at various Philadelphia-area recording studios this past summer.
“It’s 98 degrees and we’re shooting a Christmas album,” Kelce said, wearing a Christmas sweater, an Eagles Santa hat and holding a beer, in a behind-the-scenes video.
Barwin served as executive producer. The seven-song Vera Y Records LP also features musicians from The Hooters, Dr. Dog and 98-year-old saxophonist Marshall Allen of Sun Ra Arkestra.
Philadelphia-based rock band Dr. Dog is one of the most famous names in the Christmas album.
The recording team brought in a vocal coach to help the Eagles as they transitioned the group into the studio.
“That was the lesson of all this, to just be a game for something,” Hall said. ‘They’re like, ‘yeah, show me what to do. Show me how to be better and I’ll do it. Just totally trainable.
Kelce, who dressed as Mummer during the Super Bowl parade and sang the national anthem at a 76ers game last season, channeled his inner Bruce Springsteen for the classic “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
Kelce laughs as Mailata, 25, hits all the falsetto high notes in the doo-wop part ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’ made popular by The Drifters.
“What Jordan did, you could call singing,” Kelce said. What Lane did, you could call singing. I don’t know if what I did could be called singing. I’m much more of a screamer in certain tones.
Mailata has the best flutes in the group and even competed on the Fox reality show The Masked Singer.
The Eagles have an overall record of 12-1 and will remain atop the NFC East come Christmas, even after facing the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 24 in a tense divisional rivalry.
“Jordan could quit football and be a singer if he wanted to,” Hall said. But they are all great. Their voices are like a reflection of their personalities. Lane has this incredibly soulful voice. If they were to get out of this line of business, Jordan would have no problem finding a singing gig.’
Hall is already feeling the holiday spirit with War on Drugs set to play three ‘Drugcember To Remember’ benefit shows next week at Philadelphia rock venue Johnny Brenda’s. The money raised goes to the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, a non-profit organization that raises and coordinates investments in Philadelphia public schools.
War on Drugs had just won a Grammy and was on tour in Australia in February 2018 when the Eagles beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
“It was like 10 in the morning and we were all squashed into a hotel room and we were screaming and throwing chairs in excitement,” Hall said.
Now they are building Christmas traditions together.
“It’s kind of a beautiful reminder that we’re all connected through life, music and friendship,” Hall said.