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BLACK & ORANGE DELIGHTS

7/25/2014

Prepare ye early for All Hallows Eve. Heck, if we're talking Christmas music in July, we might as well toss in a bit of Halloween fun. Did you know that Halloween is second only to Christmas in holiday commerce generated in the U.S. of A? It's true. Who doesn't like a good scare now and then, especially if we know there's no malevolence behind it. Just good fun. And, as it happens, there are a couple of really awesome Halloween collections coming out fairly soon.

First up, an extensive collection of rare sides from the psychedelic sixties that's just too ghoul for school and at a price that'll make you drool. It's called "Halloween Nuggets: Monster Sixties A Go-Go" and it comes from beyond the grave (that's Stubby speak for Rockbeat Records). Set to hit crematoriums and cemetery shelves everywhere on August 19, "Halloween Nuggets" is three CDs of the highly sought and the long forgotten of sixties soul and garage rock. Sure, every party has the "Monster Mash", and there's plenty of modern day horror fare, but you know what you really want to do is scare up something real and rare like James Duhon's "Graveyard Creep" (awesome track by the way) or the Aristocrats' legendary "Tombstone Number 9". And, if that ain't enough to get your bones rattlin', the set also includes movie trailers for some all-time classics like "Atom Age Vampire", "I Was A Teenage Frankenstein" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space". Pre-order your copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CD Universe, or wherever it is you shop online. It should also be available in digital form once we hit the season of the witch. We don't have a suitably sized cover just yet, but we sure got us a track list.

Sorry, no bloody cover art, yet.

Witch Girl - The Mystrys
The Beast of Sunset Strip - Teddy Durant
Seance - The Ebb Tides
Why Do I Love You - Bela La Goldensetin
Graveyard - The Phantom Five
Tombstone No. 9 - The Aristocrats
Rockin' In The Graveyard - Jackie Morningstar
Halloween Convention of Spooks - movie trailer
I'm The Wolfman - Round Robin
Jam At The Mortuary - Griz Green
Two Souls - The Grim Reaper
Count Macabre - The Connoissurs
Haunted - The Madmen
Devil's Driver Theme - The Vettes
The Voodoo - Terry Gale
Voodoo Doll - Glenda & Glen
Ghost Guitars - Daron Daemon & The Vampires
Jekyll And Hyde - Jim Burgett
Atom Age Vampire - movie trailer
Vampire's Ball - Mann Drake
Vampira - Bobby Bare
Zoola Zooky - Johnny Anderson
Frankenstein & Dracula - movie trailer
Mr. Frankenstein - Peter & The Wolves
Dr. Spook Twist - Frankie Stein and His Ghouls
The Wolfman - movie trailer
Werewolf - Gary Warren
Werewolf - The Frantics
Bury Me Deep - Chance Halliday
E.S.P. Theme for Shock Theatre - The Weirdos
The Raven - Kenny And The Fiends
The Guillotine - The Executioners
The Invasion Is Coming - Invasion
Plan 9 From Outer Space - movie trailer
They're Here - Boots Walker
Shadows In The Night - The Quests
Psychotic Reaction - Positively 13 O'clock
Castin' My Spell - The Spellbinders
Deep Sleep - Chance Halliday
The Chiller - Vic Plati Quintet
The Night Stalker - Teddy Durant
Marble Orchard - The Graveyard Five
Wombat Twist - Glenn & Christy with The Adventures
Zombie Stomp - Billy Ghoulston
The Blob - movie trailer
It - Johnny Fraser and the Regalaires
Do The Zombie - Mr. Baseman & The Symbols
Go Go Gorilla - The Shandells
Go Go Cannibal - Ronnie Self
Robot Monster - movie trailer
Strolling After Dark - The Shades
Black Magic - Jericho Jones
The Mummy - movie trailer
The Mummy's Bracelet - Lee Ross
The Mummy Walk (Walking Death) - The Contrails
The Werewolf - movie trailer
The Werewolf - Carl Bonafede & The Gemtones
Howl - Johnny Eager
The Monster - Bobby Please And The Pleasures
I Was A Teenage Frankenstein - movie trailer
I Was A Teenage Monster - The Keytones
(I Was A) Teenage Creature - Lord Luther with the King's Men
The Astro Zombies - movie trailer
Creature From Outer Space - Sonny Day and the Tony Ray Combo
Spider Walk - The Sabres
Nightmare - The Abstracts
Scream - Ralph Nieson & The Chancellors
Night Of The Blood Beast - movie trailer
Roland - Billy & The Dukes
Evil Eye - Al Saxon
The Salem Witch Trial - Kiriae Crucible
One Eyed Witch - The 7th Court
Mad Witch - Dave Gardner
Witch Queen of New Orleans - Ervinna & The Stylers
Witchcraft In The Air - Betty Lavett
Burn Witch Burn - The Circus
Monster's Bride - Miss L. L. Louise Lewis
Wolf Gal - Glenn Ryle
Midnight Rain - Gary Warren
Creature From The Black Lagoon - movie trailer
The Monster - Evans Carroll & The Tempos
Wombie Zombie - Billy Taylor & The Teardrops
Watusi Zombie - Jan Davis
Here Comes The Hearse - Terry Teene
Knives And Lovers - Frankie Stein and His Ghouls
Madness - The Blue Knights
Jack The Ripper - The Elites
Night Of The Phanton - Larry & The Blue Notes
Cha Cha With The Zombies - The Upperclassmen
Old Boris - Bela La Goldenstein
Haunted House - Chris Kevin
The House On Haunted Hill - movie trailer
The House On Haunted Hill - Kenny & The Fiends
Devil Blues - Skip Manning
Devil's Gotten Into My Baby - The Devotions
Grim Reaper - The Twelfth Night
Grave Yard Creep - James Duhon
Godzilla King of the Monsters - movie trailer
Campo De Vampiros - Les Holys

Howling good collection of 99 tracks on 3 CDs of primitive garage rock and soul tunes guaranteed to scare everyone and everything including your speakers. Vampires, Zombies, Werewolves, Monsters, Ghosts and Witches are all in attendance, and you'll experience trips to morgues, graveyards, crypts, insane asylums, torture chambers and more. Many insanely rare tracks on this collection. Over half of these tunes have never been reissued before. Housed in a nice slipcase, this nicely priced collection is the perfect soundtrack for all of your haunted holiday needs.

But maybe you're thinking, "Bah, the sixties. That's like so....recent. I want something from deeper in the vaults for my Halloween happening." Well, you're in luck. Having now produced 3 double CDs of truly vintage Christmas music, the good folks at Document are turning their attentions to our most haunted holiday...Halloween. The first volume of "Blues Blues Hoodoo Halloween" (cuz you know there will be more) will come to life on September 9. Its expected to be a single disc, not because there's any shortage of material, but because Document wanted this volume to be the very cream of grim Blues terrors--at least those within their vast arsenal (I'm sure Robert Johnson would've made the cut if they'd had the rights). The set is expected to be 21 tracks of hoodoo, voodoo, magic, and devilishly good fun. Here are the ones we know so far:

I Put A Spell On You - Screaming Jay Hawkins
I Been Dealing With The Devil - Sonny Boy Williamson
Witchin' Hour Blues - Tampa Red
Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters
Voodoo Voodoo - LaVern Baker
Hoodoo Lady - Memphis Minnie
Magic Spell Blues - Charlie Burse
Devil Dance Blues - Sippie Wallace
Casting My Spell On You - Johnny Otis & Marci Lee
My Woman Has A Black Cat Bone - Hop Wilson
Mr. Ghost Goes To Town - The 5 Jones Boys
Jinx Blues - Casey Bill Weldon
Ghost Creepin' Blues - St. Louis Bessie
Superstitious Blues - The Virginians
...and more!

You can also expect extensive liner notes about hoodoo, voodoo, and Halloween. Document's usually pretty good at, well, documenting such things.

Maybe it's the visual abysmal that makes your blood run cold...or hot. Hey, blood is blood, am I right? And as long as you've got some.... Anyway, the Mistress of The Dark, Elvira (Giddyup, oom pappa mow mow), is such an iconic character that we all know her. But a lot of us never had the chance to see her in the "role that made her famous", so to speak--hauntingly and hilariously hosting B-movie horror flicks on Movie Macabre, broadcast by Los Angeles TV station KHJ in the 80s and, maybe, 90s. There was a syndicated effort by the same title beginning in 2010, but I never saw it on my cable. And a series of DVDs which brings us to the purpose of this entry.

Coming up this year, E-1 is releasing "Elvira's Movie Macabre"--the special "coffin collection". 26 B-movie classics on 13 DVDs--all presented with Elvira's wickedly tongue-in-cheek commentary and housed in a collectible coffin-shaped tin (with an embossed lid, the better to accentuate Elvira's--ahem--assets). You get such unforgettable films as "Night Of The Living Dead", "The Brain That Wouldn't Die", "I Eat Your Skin", "Werewolf Of Washington", "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter", and "Eegah!"  No, seriously, that's a movie..."Eegah!" As much fun to say as it is to watch. More, actually. All told, over 38 and a half hours of frightful fun. Host your own Halloween horror marathon. Guaranteed to have your guests screaming and running for the exits in no time. "Elvira's Movie Macabre: The Coffin Collection" rises from the grave September 23.

And, being the busy artist she is, Elvira also has a CD coming out...or at least she's lent her name to one. "Elvira's Heavy Metal Halloween" is actually one of those albums where the artist doesn't get the full billing for his work. We used to call these "no name" albums because you had to search to find the artist responsible, if you could find him or her at all. In this case, the musician behind the music on this Elvira titled effort is Jeff Victor, who was a member of the Alt Rock band the Honeydogs at one time. Highly in demand as a studio musician, Jeff has carved out quite a career for himself on these under-the-radar albums, his keyboard playing equally adept at easy listening and New Age as at hard rock. Coincidentally, one of his best selling and most critically praised efforts was a 2007 "no name" Christmas album, "Tis The Season: Celtic Christmas" (it's my best guess that this is the album we're speaking of, since the title is rather common and, you know, no billing for the artist). Jeff tackles 10 tracks on "Elvira's Heavy Metal Halloween"--true and literal "classics" of the horror genre (no idea who will be shredding on guitar). The record will magically appear on September 9, or so the gypsy woman told me. And don't be surprised if some of these tracks get mixed into some other Somerset Halloween releases--that's kinda how the whole "no name" scene works.

The Exorcist (Main Theme)
Frankenstein
Toccata and Fugue (Bach)
Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)
Funeral March of a Marionette (Gounod)
Godzilla
Phantom of the Opera
In The Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg)
Carmina Burana, O Fortuna (Orff)
Halloween (Main Theme)

And what kind of undead creep would I be if I didn't throw you a freebie for your fright night festivities? Horror rock being its own genre, these days, there are any number of Indie labels trying to carve out a niche. This one is from Graveyard Calling Horror Records and was released just a couple of weeks ago. Its a free collection and what I've sampled has been uneven with everything from spooky ambient to lo-fi folk punk represented. I haven't listened to "Monsters Unplugged" all the way through, yet, but there's bound to be something you can use, here. I was instantly partial to the cuts from Ghoulshow and Nick Casket. And I definitely dug "A Plentiful Feast" from The Ghoolz. What can I say? I could sink my fangs into that juicy juxtaposition of a classic coffeehouse folk trio singing about someone eating your face. You just don't hear stuff like that everyday. Grab "Monsters Unplugged" at Bandcamp.

1. The Ghoolz - A Plentiful Feast
2. Bad Whoremoans - She Creature
3. The Mutant Members Only Club - The Full Moon (Made a Fool out of Me)
4. Bill Gandon - Loculus
5. Nomotion - Sunday in Mourning
6. Telling Tasha - Cemetery Blues
7. Overdue Exorcism - These Walls Are Filled With Corpses
8. The Zombie Dandies - Zombie Dandies
9. Ghoulshow - Janglin' Jimmy's Boneyard Jamboree
10. Wolfman Chuck & the Spookalele of Doom - My Love Is True
11. Lupen Tooth - In a Wooden Box
12. 1mpulsive - The Undead Organist
13. S.H.O.U.T - Wake up Dead
14. Nick Casket - House of Dracula
15. Hannibal Bateman - Undead Symphony in Zom B Minor
16. Leptus - I See the Truth
17. Reeky - Waltz of the Warlock of the Woods
18. Sam Haynes - Cemetery Gates
19. The Meager 19 - Things I Have Seen
20. Strange Nocturnal - Halloween Is Never Really Over
21. First Date Funeral - Death of Flesh and Soul

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REEL BIG FISH-MAS

7/19/2014

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Reel Big Fish

Ska Punk faves Reel Big Fish have been working on a Christmas record they're hoping to release in late November, according to band member Johnny Christmas. Reel Big Fish have been around forever in various incarnations--since 1992 anyway--lurking in the zone just between awesome cult band status and big hit record famous. Their best selling effort to date in this country was "Turn The Radio Off" from 1996 which went Gold and reached #57 on the album charts. But they might be best known for their appearance in the film Baseketball, singing the song "Beer". As far as Christmas music goes, RBF's version of "Mele Kalikimaka" is a standard of the genre. Recorded in 1996, it appears on the 1997 Kevin & Bean CD "A Family Christmas In Your @&#". They also, apparently, did a song called "Santa Claus Is Coming To Tokyo" that is supposedly on a bootleg somewhere, but I can't say I recall ever having heard that one. Look for the Reel Big Fish Christmas extravaganza record around late November or early December. Probably.

For those fans of Ska and Ska Punk, there's quite a substantial list of holiday tracks to get your black and white (or black and tan) on. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, and The Slackers have done some fine work in that particular direction. And, lest we forget, our friends from The Fayetteville Ska Alliance did that amazing CD a couple of years ago, "Merry Happy Jolly Good Time" and, if you haven't already, you should definitely pick up a copy via Amazon, CD Baby, or wherever you can get ahold of it.

Reel Big Fish wallpaper by KeithPickering, deviantART

Reports are that Tom Jones is recording a Christmas album with Roseanne Cash, daughter of the Man in Black.

I don't know who all remembers this other than me, but there was a time record labels were pressuring Tom Jones to put out a Christmas record. Oh, he's done the odd holiday track here and there. Tom did an incredible "Mary's Boy Child" on the David Foster Christmas Album in 1993. And a respectable "Baby Its Cold Outside" working with Cerys Matthews a few years later. He even had a go at John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)". And, if you're old enough to remember the TV show (or just bought the DVD), you might remember Tom's heartfelt rendition of "A Child's Christmas In Wales". But, several years back, Tom having just signed a deal with Island records, there were rumors that the label was nudging him to do a Christmas record. What he emerged with, back then, was the modern gospel record "Praise & Blame"--what many felt was his best album in decades. I know I did.

It'll be interesting to see what Tom and Roseanne come up with this time. But early word is that Tom will record several of the Wexford Carols, considered some of the finest and most beautiful Christmas music ever written, and that he'll be joined by Indie folk rocker David Gray on a few of the selections. I hope Tom can bring the passion of "Praise & Blame", the tenderness and intimacy of "A Child's Christmas In Wales", and the fun that's always been a part of who he is.

Twitter seems to be the new device for breaking album news. Earlier, we had a tweet from Darius Rucker promising a Christmas album this year. And I just saw one from Kristin Chenoweth indicating she's interested in doing another Christmas album (though I wouldn't expect that this year). But, were it not for Twitter, I would not have learned of a coming Christmas album from Kat Tingey.

And, so, OK, maybe you're more up on the newer artists than I am, but I had never heard of Kat Tingey. So I did what I always do...I dove deeper down the rabbit hole to learn more. And, after sampling tracks from her 2009 album "Stranger", I couldn't be more excited. You really need to hear "Undone", one of the best songs I've heard in a while. Don't sample it, just buy it. Just sayin'.

Kat's sound could be said to be sort of an Indie Folk Rock/Pop kinda thing, but, even though I tried to get as much as I could into that, it doesn't nearly do her justice. Her songwriting is strong and her vocals capture just the right balance of confidence and vulnerability.

The Christmas album is tentatively titled "Ring Out Wild Bells". Expect some originals and some fresh arrangements of more familiar fare ("Angels We Have Heard on High" for one). 12 tracks in all.

Just about every year, I learn of an upcoming Christmas release from an artist I'm not otherwise familiar with and they become my hope for the season--my hope for something brilliant and new and beautiful, like a previously undiscovered flower. Not too many years back that artist was Mindy Gledhill and since her Christmas album (which did not disappoint), I've become a huge fan. I've got a strong feeling this year's artist for me is Kat Tingey. Pay her a visit on Facebook or her all new website, grab the free download of "My Way", and prepare for what promises to be a pretty awesome Christmas album.

A couple of quick hits.... Michael Buble is rumored to be preparing another TV Christmas special for the coming season. Somebody had to try and be the new Bing Crosby/Andy Williams/Perry Como--even if the networks think variety is dead--and Buble seems to be the guy, right now. Good for him! And for us. If the rumors are true, it would be the 4th annual Michael Buble Christmas Special.

It wouldn't be Christmas without at least one former American Idol contestant putting out a Christmas album and the first to announce their intentions this year is Contemporary Christian artist Joanna Beasley. Her Christmas record, as yet untitled, is due out November 28. Joanna released a Christmas single, "Hallelujah Christmas", last year.

Sadly, Deniece Williams failed to reach her pledge goal for her Kickstarter funded Christmas album. That doesn't mean the album is dead, necessarily, but its not exactly full of life, either. Let's hear it for the girl. She's got a darn good set of pipes on her (one of the few artists with the potential of equalling Whitney Houston in a sing-off, when they were both in their prime). Meanwhile the Tom Wopat/John Schneider Kickstarter Christmas record is right on schedule for funding--halfway through the campaign and halfway funded. Somehow, you just know them Duke boys are going to pull it out.

Finally... I don't usually do stuff like this, but I'm going to. Oh, sure, I'm not above passing along a Christmas album rumor. I love that. Just did it above with the Buble thing. But I'm not usually the guy who makes it up. Here goes.

You may have heard that (Rumour Has It) Adele is expected to drop a new album later this year. It's been over three years since her last. Adele, herself, started the rumors by tweeting on her birthday, "Bye bye 25... See you again later in the year." It's widely been speculated that the new album will drop in October or November and will be titled "25" (as her first two albums were titled after her age when recorded). She's expected to drop the album without any prior notice.

Now.... what if its a Christmas album? I mean, sure, it could end her career. But what a ballsy move that could be. She's a new Mom, so she's automatically got to be thinking about kids and Christmas. And "25"? Get it? And, let's face it, she's only going to be 25 once and she's not likely to be 12 again. Only Nixon could go to China? Maybe only Adele could deliver a Christmas album when fans and critics alike know that's the one thing she'd never do. Certainly not at this stage of her career. Which is exactly why it would be genius. Of course, it only works if its brilliant. Worst case scenario, it bombs. And so what? She's earning enough from her first two albums that I doubt she'll ever be broke.

While strolling through the 'net the other day, I came across the cached image below which appeared, apparently, on the Gamble-Huff web site. It wasn't linked to any story or anything and its not anywhere to be found on their website anymore. Why Gamble-Huff? Why Adele? Why the heck not? So, with the caveat that the Brits call any album that drops during the season a Christmas album, regardless of contents, here's looking forward to an Adele Christmas album this year. As Judy Tenuta used to say, "It could happen."

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ONE CHRISTMAS...THREE TIMES

7/12/2014

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A mock mock-up from Wineandsass.com

LeAnn Rimes announced, via YouTube this week, the cities for her December ONE Christmas tour in support of her album of the same name. The announcement coincided with the news that the coming Christmas record will be the first chapter of a Christmas trilogy, with new Christmas albums to follow in 2015 and 2016. So we've got that going for us...which is nice.

We also got the track line-up for "ONE Christmas, Chapter 1". It's an EP, really, with 6 tracks produced by Darrell Brown and Rimes, herself.

1. Silent Night Holy Night
2. I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas
3. Blue Christmas
4. Someday at Christmas
5. Hard Candy Christmas
6. White Christmas

As for cover art, I'm obviously not the only one rooting for the bikini beach scene.

Of course, you don't have to wait for "ONE Christmas" to listen to LeAnn sing about the holidays. She's been a frequent flyer on Country Christmas collections for years, including her signature Christmas song "Put A Little Holiday In Your Heart", and she released a full album of Christmas tunes a decade ago "What A Wonderful World".

Hootie man Darius Rucker dropped his Christmas album news the old fashioned way...on Twitter. Someone had tweeted that "the only thing that could make Christmas any better would be a Darius Rucker Christmas album." And Darius tweeted back, "This year there will be."

I had honestly thought Rucker had already done a Christmas album, but I'm guessing now it's just that he's sung so many different Christmas songs on Country Christmas specials that it just seemed like he'd already done the deed. Rucker did release a holiday single back in 2009, "Candy Cane Christmas", and, around the same time, his version of "Winter Wonderland" made the NOW series. As the lead singer for Hootie & The Blowfish, Rucker also contributed "The Christmas Song" to the Very Special Christmas series. And collectors who live for rarities might also be aware that the Blowfish did a song called "Christmas This Year" for a Georgia local artist set in 1993.

Of course, the big news is all the holiday vinyl that's set to rain down upon us this Christmas. I'm not sure if the old time collectors who prefer the warmth of the old format finally won out, or if its the new generation that never knew vinyl as we did, or if its because the market for hard copy music has gotten so small that we vinyl die-hards proportionally make up a much bigger share of the overall buyers, now. Whatever it is, its a welcome trend for many of us.

Universal is promising at least half-dozen vinyl Christmas titles from their vintage vaults. But perhaps the most intriguing and exciting vinyl offering is the first two volumes of the indispensable "Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails" series. The due date for Volumes 1 and 2 is September 30.

There's also a set coming, "An Americana Christmas", that collects up tracks from Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Emmy Lou Harris, and more artists of the roots variety. "An Americana Christmas" also features all new recordings from Rodney Crowell, Buddy and Julie Miller, and Luther Dickinson. And this one, at least, is on collectors grade 180g vinyl. Track sequence hasn't been finalized, but at least we know what those tracks are. "An Americana Christmas" arrives October 14.

1. Christmas Makes Me Sad (Rodney Crowell)
2. Little Town of Bethlehem (Buddy & Julie Miller)
3. Hark the Angels Sing (Luther Dickinson)
4. Here It Is Christmas Time (Old '97s)
5. Les Trois Clohes (Ben Keith with Neil and Pegi Young)
6. Away In the Manger (Bright Eyes)
7. The Gifts He Gave (Johnny Cash)
8. Run Run Rudolph (Dwight Yoakam)
9. The First Noel (Emmylou Harris)
10. Christmas Must Be Tonight (The Band)
11. Everything Is Cool (John Prine)
12. It Must Be Santa (Bob Dylan)

Generally considered a Bluegrass musician, Rick Lang routinely brings other influences to his music. He first released a Christmas album in 2003. "The Season of My Heart" featured 13 original tracks. Then Rick was back with a holiday single in 2011, "Little Did They Know," which we featured in one of our Singles posts at the time. Rick wasn't really planning another Christmas album. He simply asked his friend Stephen Mougin to demo up a few of his recent compositions, which happened to be Christmas songs. Stephen thought they'd sound good in a Jazz setting and he must've been right about that because, after hearing the demos, Rick felt inspired to put some jingle in his jangle and cut an entire album of holiday tunes with the Jazz sound. Anyone who appreciates the work of David Grissman and Bela Fleck knows that Jazz and Bluegrass work as well together as chocolate and peanut butter. In other words, its all kinds of awesome. So I'm really looking forward to hearing this one. "That's What I Love About Christmas" is expected to be available this November. We'll keep you posted or you can keep tabs yourself at Rick's web site.

Finally, today...if you haven't checked out our List recently, you might have missed the news that Jennifer Nettles is expected to drop a Christmas album this year. Nettles is the prettier half of Sugarland who released a great Christmas record, "Gold and Green", back in 2009. Its one of my favorites of recent vintage. Well Jennifer is certainly a star in her own right and has recorded lots of music in genres other that Country. There's not a single piece of information on the Nettles Christmas album out there at the moment, so you'll just have to take my word for it. But it's a-comin'.

And, oh yeah, Jennifer will also have a duet on the forthcoming Michael W. Smith Christmas set. Not saying the song in the video below is the one that will be on Smith's record. But its a pretty little thing, isn't it?

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TWO DUKES A-SINGIN'

7/7/2014

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Don't look now, but them Duke boys are at it again.

Tom Wopat and John Schneider, who once teamed up as Luke and Bo Duke (respectively) taking on terrible Boss Hogg in Hazzard County, are working together on a Christmas album. Now y'all might remember ol' Bo, there, once did a countrified Christmas album, "White Christmas" featuring the song "Katy's Christmas Card". And he musta done another Christmas album at some point because there it is--"Acoustic Christmas"--right on his own web site. Luke, meanwhile, has been servin' up a buffet of Rat Pack influenced Big Band music to anybody who can afford the cover charge. And Bo and Luke even did a Christmas movie together back in the eighties. And Luke, now, Luke even sang in the musical version of "A Christmas Story". So, ya see, them Dukes got Christmas on the brain somehow.

Once upon a time, there was this very smart Greek fella that said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Well, I can tell ya right now that that fella had never been to Hazzard County. You see, its taken all this time for Bo and Luke to team up and just do a Christmas album together, flat out. And what do you think you get when you cross Country and Big Band Swing Jazz? Apparently, you get Country and Big Band Swing Jazz. Least wise that's what the Dukes say. It ain't no Donny and Marie, I can promise you that. Personally, I'd be mighty gratified if the boys brought Cousin Daisy along for a song or two. Why that girl shoots like Annie Oakley, drives like Richard Petty, and knows the words to ALL the Dolly Parton songs. She's a better lookin' Duke to boot.

Now when them Duke boys throw a Christmas party, e v e r y body's invited. So they've decided to let y'all in on the ground floor. I reckon they got no choice, seein' as how the Duke house only has the one floor. Just watch your step. You don't know where they might have left a loose floor board to trap ol' Boss Hogg. It's a Kickstarter campaign and there's plenty of good stuff just a-waitin' for you at the end of that Hazzard rainbow. A typical Hazzard holiday gatherin' with lots of surprises. And it looks like Christmas is comin' early this year, cause the Duke boys figure to have that album in your hands come October. So buckle your seat bealts. It's gonna get mighty Christmasy around here.

Psst. You think these guys ever get tired of all the Dukes of Hazzard stuff? I'm tired and I only did three paragraphs.

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AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - KEB MO

7/4/2014

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Free download available at Keb Mo's web site.

And, for those for whom July 4th is about baseball, Alternate Root has a free download of "Drysdale, Sutton & Koufax" by Dembrowski, Waller & Lacques. Head to AR and scroll all the way down.

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A CHRISTMAS SINGLE? SO SOON?

7/2/2014

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Well, kinda. This was actually recorded in 2013 but becomes available (to us in the states) as a digital download via Amazon on July 16 (expected). It's a sweet song, sweetly sung by the sweet and beautiful Swedish singer Heidi Hallifax. "Will You Be There For Christmas?" Well...will you? Just asking. Heidi's got a Facebook page and a Soundcloud page, also a YouTube channel...but no standard standalone web site. Then again, who needs one, right?

Don't worry, I'm certain we'll have more singles later. I'm pretty sure we'll be getting a few more Snowflake Singles. In fact, I'm so confident, I think I'll add the Snowflake Singles blog to our list of Festive Friends. Poof! Just like that, its done. Most of last year's Snowflake Singles are still available on vinyl, btw, while supplies last.

A few other things to mention as, uh, well, shoot. Isn't anybody doing Christmas in July this year? Oh, that's right. The folks over at Christmas TV History are! They asked people to answer a few questions about their favorite Christmas episodes and specials and they'll be rolling those answers out all month. July 1st featured our good friend Dinsdale Kringle of Santas Working Overtime and, who knows, I might put in an appearance my own self. ;-) Anyway, it's something kind of fun to cool you off on these hot summer nights, so drop on over. Heck, I bet you could still join the fun and contribute your own favorites.

FWIW, we're pretty well up to date on The List, so far. Chances are, I'll be crunched come crunch time and its still too early to have many release dates in hand, but there are some tasty nuggets to drink in in the TBA and Possible lists. We've also got a few items up on the Free List (and many more to come) and a couple on our Previews page. So don't forget to check around and make sure you haven't forgotten something. And lots of people were asking if I could share the portrait of Mrs. Katz (not her real name) that was included in my Kickstarter package for The Bowmans last year. OK, one person asked. Not the point. The Bowmans Christmas album, "Make Sure The Snow Falls", was one of the best Christmas albums of 2013...easily in my top 3 for the year. But I was really and truly blown away by the book, Mert The Anxious Evergreen. It's very well written and tremendously illustrated. Really, I wasn't expecting much from the book, but it ended up being my favorite piece of the package. You can still get the album and book (either or both) direct from The Bowmans and I highly recommend you do so, if you haven't already. Especially that book, which took me back to my own childhood cuz that's how awesome books were put together back then. Also makes a great gift. Just sayin' Anyway, here's Claire Bowman's portrait of my baby girl, Mrs. Katz. It's bigger in real life (and so is Mrs. Katz).

Now I know everybody knows the July 4th weekend is pretty much upon us. But did you know about the big event that happens the following weekend? Your troubles are over, Dude! July 11-13 is the 13th Annual Lebowski Fest, this year taking place in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville is an awesome town and the music lineup makes me wish I could attend. Those Darlins, The Features, Bobby Bare, Jr. I love those guys (and gals)! I guess I'll just have to settle for throwing the movie into the old DVD player for another year. Feel free to do the same. The Dude abides. Catch you later.

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