Just some eye candy to whet your appetite for Christmas In July (no, they aren't linked to anything and the old mixes are not returning).
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![]() It's very nearly Christmas In July...and we'll get to that in a second. But, in case you missed the news, Lea Michele--best known for her role as Rachel Berry on Glee--has been recording a Christmas album for release later this year. It will be Lea's third solo studio effort, following "Louder" in 2014 and "Places" in 2017. I actually had this news in my back pocket and was going to post about it in July. You see, prior to her official announcement on Thursday, Lea had been dropping the kinds of hints through social media that can only mean a Christmas album is in the works. You know, stuff like childhood Christmas photos and holiday emojis (in June). Someone also posted a clip of a choir singing in the studio, giving one the sense that this is likely to be a lush and traditional Christmas album, not a Bubblegum outing. So we've got that to look forward to...which is nice. We've also learned of seasonal sets in the works from Pennsylvania Neo-Swing Jump Jive and Rock band The Neon Swing X-Perience, Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito, Classical Crossover duo 92 Keys, and Jazz Pop artist Andrew Ryan. Update your lists accordingly. ![]() Now...onto Christmas in July. By now you should be familiar with the festivities provided by some of our Festive Friends. But just in case you've forgotten and need a reminder, a couple of them not only welcome your participation, but depend upon it. Over at Christmas TV History, Joanna Wilson is getting ready for her annual Christmas In July celebration with another 5 question survey. I'd list the questions, here, but (as usual) it's really helpful to see her own answers to get a handle on what she has in mind. You're free to be as brief or as long-winded as your answers require. Once July is underway, she'll begin posting them (usually one a day) and its always a delight to see what other Christmas fans think are the "best" or the "most" or how they make their entertainment decisions in the Christmas season. Yeah, I'll be in there this year (I kinda forgot last year until it was already under way). You'll find an overview and all the directions (plus links to past Christmas In July celebrations) right CHEER. Meanwhile, July is also time for Rob Martinez' annual Christmas In July broadcast on WBOI, which you can stream live on July 17 from 9 to 11 PM (EDT). The show is primarily request driven, so if there's a seasonal song you'd like to hear, head on over to Rob's The Nights Before Christmas Facebook site and follow directions on the sticky post (your hometown, the artist and track are what's required). Limit one request per person (for now). You have until July 15th to get yours in, but, as a former radio guy, I'd say the merciful thing to do is get it in early (gotta plan out those sets, ya know). Mine's in. I fully expect our good friend Ernie (Not Bert) will put the rest of us to shame, as always, with his selection of quality out-of-print recordings. And what about us? Does Stubby's have anything planned for Christmas In July? Mmmm. We might, rabbit, we might. Stay tuned. ![]() I don't have to tell you that right now is when artists and labels are plotting out and recording their Christmas projects for the coming holiday season. And that's why now is when you should begin checking out the crowd funding sites to pick up on projects that you might want to pencil in for purchase come the fall and winter (or now, if you want to be part of the action). Back in 2013, we featured a digital release from Glenn Crytzer, who specializes in the sounds of the Jazz Age and Swing era. If you need to refresh your memory of "A Little Love This Christmas", here's my personal favorite from the set. ![]() Of course "A Little Love This Christmas" was Glenn with a smaller group, The Savoy Seven. But to fully appreciate the Crytzer magnificence, you'd really want to hear him with a full orchestra (with strings!). And Christmas obsessives will get their opportunity to be musically transported back to the days of Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Cab Calloway this Christmas as the Glenn Crytzer Orchestra unleashes "Underneath The Mistletoe". The currently anticipated song list includes 20 tracks...11 originals and 9 new arrangements of old standards. And the lineup includes nods to Hanukkah and to Krampus. Let's check out some of the titles, shall we? Originals Underneath The Mistletoe An Old Fashioned Christmas The Little Tree Keep a Little Christmas in Your Heart Hey, Mister Snowflake I'm Sorry Santa It's a Wonderful Life All I Want for Christmas is Food Christmas in New York Playing Santa Claus (Watch Out For) The Krampus Classics Deck the Halls Jolly Old St. Nicholas Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel Silent Night Toyland Tea (Chinese Dance from the Nutcracker) Up on the Housetop We Three Kings I Saw Three Ships Additionally, the GCO may record some bonus tracks and there are Kickstarter packages both with and without the bonus tracks...your choice. The usual Kickstarter rules apply. There are multiple tiers with assorted incentives that include lead sheets, ornaments, lapel pins, your name in the liner notes, guitar lessons, and more. And, if Glenn fails to reach his pledge goal by August 2, you will not be charged. Glenn previews several of the new songs on his Kickstarter page but you have to imagine them with a full orchestra (and strings!). Head on over to Kickstarter and let Glenn Crytzer make his pitch. If, like me, you'd like a little more Swing or a bit of Jitterbug and Jump in your Christmas, you'll be locking in your purchase of "Underneath The Mistletoe" early. Delivery expected in November. If your interests run more to Folky Christian seasonal sounds, Folk Hymnal are nearing the end of a campaign to produce a follow-up EP to last year's "Incarnation Songs". Folk Hymnal is an artist collective, led by producer and songwriter Tim Briggs. "Incarnation Songs, Volume II" will feature Stacy Lantz, Nathan Storey and others. Depending upon your level of support (and assuming the project meets its goal by June 30), you can get both "Incarnation Songs" CDs, as well as a non-holiday set expected in the spring of 2020, "Good News Songs". Head to Kickstarter for all the details. And here's a song from last year's EP. ![]() The Christmas project from Nashville based Country Pop artist Olivia West could really use your support with less than two weeks remaining to reach her funding target. Olivia grew up in Kansas City, btw (just sayin'....Aaron). Olivia has written a bunch of Christmas songs and has chosen her best six for this project, the working title for which is "Hurry Up Santa". But the song title that has my interest piqued is "Everybody Wants A Penguin". Doncha want to hear what that one sounds like? I do. And Gary Chapman is expected to make an appearance on "Just Because It's Christmas". Pledge perks include handmade ornaments and a tour of Nashville with Olivia (if I didn't have $200,000 in medical debt, I'd seriously consider that tier). Being as it's still spring, Olivia has had trouble getting the word out to we Christmas music obsessives and "Hurry Up Santa" has had a bit of difficulty moving the needle in its first two weeks. Olivia only has until June 26 to reach her $5000 goal, so head on over to Kickstarter and give the lady a fair hearing. C'mon. You want to hear "Everybody Wants A Penguin". You know you do. Here's Olivia's 2015 Christmas single, "Unwrap Me" (which is not slated to be on the new project), just so you get a taste of Olivia West. If you haven't heard, PledgeMusic has ceased operations. A quick perusal of IndieGoGo turned up no new Christmas album projects as yet. Our final note for this post is that former SNL cast member Ana Gasteyer has completed her Christmas album. We first told you about that project in 2016. Though it has taken some time, Ana's Christmas album is now complete and ready for release later this year. Ana's Christmas set is entitled "Sugar and Booze" and Ana says the title track is an homage to her two favorite things about the holidays. Expect "Sugar and Booze" to be a mix of light Jazz and light humor, as was Ana's debut record "I'm Hip". |
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