Back in 1999, Side A released a full Christmas album, "Remember December", but haven't really revisited the holiday since. So it was nice to see the new single "Merry Christmas", which also gives the band the chance to showcase their new lead vocalist, Yubs Esperat.
"Merry Christmas" is the kind of song that would fit in a Quiet Storm format--a little Jazzy, a little Soulful, and totally mellow Pop. I think it would also be a nice fit in a Carolina Beach Music format (and, having pointed the way, I'm sure one of the local bands will be covering it any day now). Call it Soft Rock, Jazz Pop, Adult Contemporary--it's just a real nice groove. Get it from Amazon or iTunes.
The band is releasing a Deluxe Edition of their most recent album, "Concrete Love", later this month. The "Extra Love" will include unreleased acoustic versions of "Concrete Love" tunes, some rare EP tracks and "Winter Wonderland". Check their website for some of the details, because I got kind of confused (never claimed to be bright). But you can certainly buy "Winter Wonderland" as a standalone limited edition 7". The official release date for the vinyl (subject to change) is December 21, but the song itself--being as its on the album--should start turning up on the nets by the end of November. And people who pre-order the album will get the "Winter Wonderland" download on the 17th of November (don't ask me how any of that works or who you have to pre-order from; complicated, confused, not bright). Any profits from "Winter Wonderland" will be donated to Shelter, a UK homeless charity.
And here's where you go to pre-order just the 7".
We were hoping to get a Christmas album from Jessie James Decker this Christmas, and I suppose we still could, but (so far, at least) what we have is this new Christmas single, "This Christmas". Thankfully, it's not yet another take on the Donny Hathaway tune, but instead a Country Pop anthem worthy of a vintage Shania Twain outing. Really nice. Jessie sure has a way with a Christmas song, making me want that full Christmas album all the more. Oh, well. You've built a solid Christmas album foundation, Jessie. Take your time and do it right. Grab this and last year's "Baby, It's Christmas" at Amazon and iTunes.
Well, with the holidays just around the corner, Rick has teamed up with 15 year old Soprano Emmie Beckitt for a Christmas song. If "Soprano" didn't give it away, Emmie is a young Operatic singer. Rick had already been working the Classical aisle when he met Emmie. He was impressed and decided to record a single with her. "Welcome A Star" is from Rick's oratorio, "The New Gospels" (which is a telling of the Christmas story) and the recording will be Emmie's debut single.
"Welcome A Star" arrives in both CD-single and digital formats on December 4 (though, stateside, hard copy is likely to arrive the following week) and also features the English Chamber Choir and the Orion Orchestra. A portion of the proceeds will Kids N Cancer, a UK charity.
I never make a secret of my strengths and weaknesses, my likes and dislikes, and Classical music am not my strong smoot. And opera? Don't ask. But, for whatever reason, I find Classical and Neo-Classical recordings from artists seasoned in Rock music much easier to relate to. Could be it's just me; lots of folks immediately tune out sounds they aren't familiar with (which is one reason I became so attached to Christmas music as many of those barriers get dropped); so maybe I'm just more open to an artist I know and like. Whatever the case, the 30 second preview on Amazon sounds intriguing to me, so I could see me picking this up.
Some other "name" artists doing the Christmas thing this year... Shakin' Stevens has a new one coming November 27. It's called "Echoes of Merry Christmas Everyone". "Merry Christmas Everyone", of course, is the song everyone remembers Shakin' Stevens for.
Anybody remember Sparks? If you do, and you're in America, it's probably for two things--"This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us" and that weird guy with the moustache on the keyboards. That would be Ron Mael who, along with his brother and vocalist Russell Mael, make up the core of the group. Interestingly, Sparks never had an American hit single, though "This Town..." got lots of exposure (I did buy that single, so I did my part). They have a Christmas single coming December 4. There's a small teaser video but otherwise no audio of "Christmas Without A Prayer" as yet, but it sounds intriguing.
And, though it isn't a single, there's a new "Gift Wrapped" this year, from WB/Rhino. Unlike past years, this one is a collection almost entirely made up of well known songs from big time artists (i.e. "previously released"). The one exception to that rule, here, may be the Grateful Dead's "Run Rudolph Run". Recorded live in 1971, it's certainly made the rounds as a bootleg. Not sure if it's yet been released on the "Dick's Picks" series through Real Gone. But, regardless, if you never got it before, you can get it now.