Glenn Page & the Always October Orchestra - Halloween Is My Christmastime
Holiday Jazz, Pop
New Jersey, U.S.
Overall Impression: If Count Basie threw a Halloween party in Santa’s workshop, it might sound something like “Halloween Is My Christmastime,” the audaciously charming seasonal swerve by Glenn Page & the Always October Orchestra. Wrapped in the silk lapels of a big band suit but wearing vampire teeth underneath, this track is a riotous mashup of spooky swagger and peppermint nostalgia. It doesn't just tiptoe through genres—it moonwalks across holiday boundaries with a devilish grin. From the very first bars, where werewolf howls clash gloriously with sleigh bells, the song announces its mission: to haunt the holidays with horns, humor, and heart. It’s a playful and deeply musical jab at the syrupy overload of Christmas culture, dressed in the velvet of vintage pop and stitched together with jazzy bravado. The sleigh ride is careening off course, and Glenn Page is happily at the wheel.
Strongest Point(s): The performances across the board are excellent. Page sells each lyric with a wink and a swing, commanding the mic like a lounge singer moonlighting in a haunted mansion. Behind him, the Always October Orchestra is tight, expressive, and clearly having a blast: brass punches land like Jack-o’-lantern grins, sweeping strings swirl like autumn leaves, and the double bass grooves like it’s two drinks into a speakeasy séance. These are musicians clearly having fun with the songs concept. Take how both short lyrical and musical cues are drawn from Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” for instance, the track doesn't parody so much as possess it. When Page croons: “Jingle Bell Rock, please make it stop / I’ve memorized every line / What’s scary to me / Is Mariah Carey / Terrorizing us at Christmastime”, you can practically see the Christmas tree lights flickering nervously. A twangy guitar flourish nods cheekily at the original tune, only to be chased off by the rest of the instrumentation. The lyrics are clever enough to sugarcoat their bite, poking fun at Christmas clichés while celebrating the weird and wonderful spirit of Halloween. In verses like: “Some people like when snow comes to life / But Frosty ain’t no Frankenstein / I laughed till I cried / When Frosty got fried...” the track toys with tradition, not out of malice but as a gleeful act of subversion. It’s a trick and a treat, equal parts homage and heresy. The final verse and coda are a party: ghouls, zombies, and “elves on the shelf” all swirl in a cauldron of swing, culminating in a bravura finish that could’ve been ripped from a 1950s variety show—if said show aired on a full moon. Ultimately, “Halloween Is My Christmastime” is a gleefully genre-bending swing number that thumbs its nose at tinsel and trades in cobwebs instead. It’s reverent in its musical craftsmanship but rebellious in its holiday allegiance. Glenn Page & the Always October Orchestra have conjured up something rare: a track that feels timeless and timely, capturing the decadent joy of jazz, the narrative cleverness of classic pop, and the subversive spirit of Halloween.
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of traditional holiday tunes will find “Halloween Is My Christmastime” to be an undeniably good time.
Artist target suggestions: Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Perry Como, Sam Butera & The Witnesses, Mel Torme
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About the Reviewer:
Andre is a freelance session guitarist, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar as well as teaching it, helping students learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and become proficient in home recording.