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NOT SO VERY SPECIAL?

9/19/2012

We've finally gotten a track list in for "A Very Special Christmas: 25 Years", albeit tentative and subject to change. You'll recall that we posted the track list for the other new VSC set a while back.

1. TRAIN - Joy To The World
2. GRAYSON SANDERS & JONO - Something In The Air
3. THE BAND PERRY - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. MICHAEL BUBLE - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...
5. FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI - December 25
6. CHEAP TRICK - I Want You For Christmas
7. RASCAL FLATTS - Mary, Did You Know?
8. WONDER GIRLS - Best Christmas Ever
9. AMY GRANT - Tennessee Christmas
10. ONEREPUBLIC - Christmas Without You
11. VINCE GILL - Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)
12. MARTINA McBRIDE - Please Come Home For Christmas
13. JORDIN SPARKS - Do You Hear What I Hear?
14. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND - Christmas Song
15. CHRISTINA AGUILERA - Oh Holy Night

Maybe I'm just Mr. Crankypants McScrooge this year, but I have to say the VSC people need to bring in some fresh blood--and by that I mean some people who actually buy and listen to Christmas music to advise them on what a good compilation should look and sound like. Because their last set (Vol. 7) was a total disaster, musically, and I'm more than concerned to see so much retread material on this one. The Special Olympics is a great cause, well worthy of my Christmas music dollar. But I don't think I'll be able to convince myself to put out for this any more than I could for Vol. 7. In fact, Vol. 7 is looking pretty good by comparison, right now. Right off the top, the tracks from Martina McBride, The Band Perry and Rascal Flatts were ALL on the Colonial Candle release last year (surprise, surprise, that was on the Big Machine label as well). Alright, so you say that wasn't available retail (except in Canada). Fine. I still say they're just regifting last year's fruitcake, but fine. Michael Buble's track is from his 2011 set. At the very least, he could have offered up one of the "exclusive bonus tracks". The Onerepublic track is not only last year's single, but it's also on the NOW set this year. I'm going to be kind and assume the Dave Matthews track is at least a different recording than appeared on VSC3 (credited on Amazon to Tim Reynolds for some reason). And I hope to God Xtina came in and recorded "Oh Holy Night" anew--she was only 20 when she cut her Christmas album and she's become a much better singer since then--but I'm guessing she didn't. The Vince Gill and Amy Grant tunes are ancient--decades old. And the absolute worst? "Winter Wonderland" by Jason Mraz. That was from a 2005 Target/NBC "Sounds Of The Season" release which was offered as a bonus iTunes download to the 2010 rerelease of "A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 7". Now you're just recycling stuff you already recycled. And this is your anniversary offering? This is just lazy. I expect better from "A Very Special Christmas". I really do. "A Very Special Christmas" became the success it became because it blazed fresh trails every time out. The brand has become old and tired, apparently, and VSC is now content to stick to the most well worn of paths. I don't say this lightly--I really don't--but I could put together a better playlist. In my sleep. Maybe the Special Olympics can hook up with the folks at HEAR Music; it looks as though they know what they're doing when it comes to putting together a Christmas compilation.

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SUFJAN, KITTY & COLT & COLBIE

9/18/2012

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While I was sleeping, Billboard published the cover art for Colbie Caillat's "Christmas In The Sand". So let's have a look, shall we? Very cute. But a one-piece? I can't help but be disappointed.

The Billboard piece also mentions that the album, due October 23, is 15 tracks long (last we'd heard was 14, so...yay)--5 originals (including the 2007 single "Mistletoe") and 10 standards/covers. The other originals include the title track and first single from the album, "Christmas In The Sand", "Everyday Is Christmas", and "Happy Christmas". Billboard also says that Brad Paisley helps out on "Merry Christmas Baby" (pretty sure that's the old Beach Boys track and not the Charles Brown blues) and Gavin DeGraw duets on "Baby It's Cold Outside". Previously, Colbie has mentioned "Silver Bells", "Winter Wonderland", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Santa Baby" and "Auld Lang Syne". And, if "Mistletoe" is on board, I wouldn't be surprised to see 2009's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" as well. So only a few tracks to go and I suspect we'll have a full track list shortly.

In addition to the "Holidays Rule" collection from Hear Music, featuring Sir Paul McCartney and many more, some other intriguing compilations have recently popped up on the season's schedule.

The most intriguing (after "Holidays Rule" that is) may be "Average Joe's Christmas", a set from the relatively new Outlaw Country label started by Country Rap artist Colt Ford. Colt's most recent album, "Declaration of Independence" went all the way to #1 on the Country charts. To put it plainly, Average Joe's specializes in Country music (and Country Rap) that kicks ass. Undoubtedly the biggest (or most familiar) name on the label's roster is Montgomery Gentry, but the label features many emerging and breakout artists like JB & The Moonshine Band, Matt Stillwell, Bubba Sparxxx, and the Redneck Social Club. Average Joe's also has an affiliated label (AVJ) that specializes in southern rock and urban, R&B, and hip hop music. And, if they really wanted to open this sucker up on the highway, pedal to the metal, I'd love for them to include something from Nappy Roots. That being said, the label has issued annual label samplers around June of each year and I expect this Christmas album will represent a lot like those "Mud Digger" comps. And that is not at all a bad thing. "Average Joe's Christmas" is scheduled for an October 30 release. No details around just yet, but we'll be watching.

The cover art for my very favorite annual charity comp was released Monday. "Christmas In The Mountains, Vol. VI" will officially release in early October. The album is done annually in the High Country of North Carolina to benefit The Hunger & Health Coalition. The coalition's primary goal is ending childhood hunger, but they do so much more and are such an integral part of the community. There have been artists and groups you'd have heard of, like The Kingston Trio and The Kruger Brothers. But most of the contributors are just local residents donating their time and their talents to help out their neighbors. Sadly, childhood hunger is all too common in this country, even more so in a bad economy. Many children this time of year ask Santa to bring food for their families rather than gifts or toys.

From a Christmas music fan's point of view, it's a pretty sweet deal. The "Christmas In The Mountains" albums have featured a wide array of music, including folk, jazz, pop, country, choir and more and between 95 and 99% of the music you'll never hear on any other collection. And you get that good Christmas feeling knowing that your purchase made a real difference. Discs are ten dollars and that's enough to feed a family of four for a week. Of course, you're welcome to donate at any time. Time was it was a little bit of a hassle to get a copy of the CD if you didn't live near Boone, North Carolina. But, last year, you could order direct from the Hunger and Health Coalition web site and there's no reason to believe this year will be any different. We'll have more details for you when the album is released. While we wait, feel free to look over our preview of last year's collection, and our full review of the 2010 edition.

OK, so maybe you've got no use for Kick Ass Country and Country Rap. And maybe a Christmas in the Carolina mountains doesn't do it for you either. So howz about some Pop Punk? Will that do it for you? The folks at xEasycorex have something lined up just for you. xEasycorex started out in 2008 as a place for Pop Punk and Hardcore musicians to hang, chat, and share with each other. It was more a forum than anything else, a chat room with downloads. xEasycorex has been changing and evolving ever since. Some of their changes work, some don't. At the moment, I think of them more as a web-zine featuring plenty of reviews and news and introductions to new bands in the genre.

But what's important, here, is the Christmas music, right? Back in 2010, xEasycorex released "A Holiday Compilation"--16 full tracks of Pop Punk wonderfulness. If you were with us back then, we featured it on our free page (it was released late in December, so we didn't dwell, but, hey, two thumbs up for sure). In fact, you can still download "A Holiday Compilation" for free. And you should.

Well, gluttons for punishment that they are, xEasycorex has decided to do Volume 2 this year. Expect it to be another December release and I'm guessing it'll be another free download. And if you happen to be in a Pop Punk or Hardcore band, they'd love for you to submit your song for inclusion. Some restrictions apply, so get up on all the deets at the xEasycorex Facebook site.

Kitty Pryde

Probably the biggest news in the single artist world is that the inscrutable Sufjan Stevens is reported to be back in the studio working on a new Christmas album. Now, ordinarily, that wouldn't really be much in the way of news. Sufjan loves Christmas music and he's known to do a little sumpn sumpn for family and friends (and the occasional gift at gigs) pretty much every year. And, really, his only general holiday release was the big and budget priced box set "Songs For Christmas" which, in essence, was Sufjan's private holiday records gathered together. But this year's Sufjan talk has an air of something decidedly different. For example, Sufjan mysteriously started a Tumblr account which he, at first, titled "Christmas Is Coming", later changed to "Advent of the Apocalypse". Then teen Alt Rapper Kitty Pryde posted to Facebook that she'd just finished recording her track for Sufjan's Christmas album. Having never heard of Kitty Pryde before, I checked around and I see a lot of folks aren't very impressed with her music, but I actually thought she was 181 different kinds of awesome, and very definitely an original. And, lately, Sufjan has been posting tiny YouTube clips of experimental Christmas snippets--probably his. So anyway, it's sounding like Sufjan might truly be up to something, here. I'm in.

I suppose I really should mention the new 5-song EP from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra due out October 30, "Dreams of Butterflies (On A Christmas Night)".

Nah!

I gotta admit, I don't know what's going on with this cover art. I mean, dude, either green-screen some snow into the picture or lose the trenchcoat. Do you know that the appearance of food affects anywhere from one to two-thirds of a person's overall opinion? Same with Christmas records; never underestimate the value of good cover art. That said, here's the track list for American Idol Season Ten alum Tim Halperin's "Under That Christmas Spell", due in stores November 6.

1. Under That Christmas Spell
2. I'll Be Home For Christmas (featuring Hayley Orrantia)
3. Maybe This Christmas
4. Mary Did You Know?
5. Miracle
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Finally, today, good news. Jonathan Coulton is working on a Christmas album with John Roderick and we should see the results sometime this fall.

Jonathan Coulton has a talent for brilliant pop culture satire in song and was truly one of the first artists to see the potential of the Internets for reaching an audience. He's been a staple of Internet radio and podcasting for at least a decade and almost certainly longer.

Christmas wise, Jonathan has three classics out there. "Christmas Is Interesting" dates back to 2003 and rolls up all the media images of the season into a big ball of absurdity. Just brilliant. The "Podsafe Christmas Song" from 2005 is done in parody/tribute of the Chipmunks with the subject matter being the fees some music publishers require for streaming audio on podcasts. A lot of artists just wanted the exposure and would happily have foregone any fees. I'm not sure how that whole battle eventually shook out, but it did cause the rise of Creative Commons as a publishing alternative for emerging artists. And it gave us "The Podsafe Christmas Song" featuring former MTV VJ Adam Curry as a Chipmunk. Brilliant. Coulton also recorded a Geek Core Christmas song, "Chiron Beta Prime", not my favorite but still pretty darn brilliant. I'm pretty sure all of these are available as free downloads from Jonathan. I don't really have time to go looking right now, but just follow the links in the Jonathan Coulter Wiki (the "JoCopedia").

But, anyway, if Jonathan is doing a full Christmas album (and one Hanukkah song), I definitely want in on that action. Watch the skies for signs, or just check in at JC's web site from time to time. Let's leave with a live performance of "Christmas Is Interesting" in which Jonathan shares the stage with Paul & Storm (also brilliant).

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JOYSTRINGS TO THE WORLD

9/17/2012

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THE JOYSTRINGS/O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM (from "Well Seasoned")

Still lots developing in the Christmas music world. But this is one I've been waiting for though, blast it all, it's only a digital import at the moment and may only be an import CD when all is said and done.

Does anyone here not know the story of The Joystrings...the hippest Salvation Army Band the planet has ever known and likely the first ever Christian rock band? Back in the 60s when folk and R&B and rock were all coming together in new and exciting ways, the Salvation Army had an idea. Perhaps they could reach more people with their message of salvation if the people could better relate to the music. It was just an idea, at first, dropped to the British press by one General Frederick Coutts. But the press went to town with it and the General could either look a fool or actually create such a group. As it happened, there was a young woman among their ranks, Captain Joy Webb, known to possess a wonderful voice and adept at most any style. Next, they sought out cadets who had come to the Army with their instruments (electric guitars and such) in hand. A photo shoot was hastily arranged. But that then led to television requests and so an actual band of cadets had to be quickly put together around Captain Webb. In their brief time together, they rehearsed a few songs that had been written by Captain Webb.

An EMI executive was watching their television debut and he liked what he saw and heard. He signed the group to a recording contract and, by mid-February 1964, a single bearing the name Joystrings hit the streets. The Salvation Army was both intrigued by their rapid rise to pop culture prominence, but also somewhat embarrassed. Internally, the name "Joystrings" was not permitted; the group was referred to as "The International Training College Rhythm Group". The Joystrings were a huge smash, though. Teenagers packed theaters to see them. When they played The Blue Angel in Germany, even Marlene Dietrich could not believe the beyond capacity crowd and their excitement. It was actually remarkable that the Army even allowed such a performance as they were already regretting their creation. Though the Army wanted to pull the plug on the Joystrings as early as 1965, the group's popularity made that virtually impossible until 1969.

During their reign, the Joystrings recorded a number of Christmas songs. For many of us, though, their finest hour (so to speak) was the 1966 album "Well Seasoned"--the only Joystrings album to be released in the United States. Only one half of the album was Christmas, but it was on that album that the Joystrings showed their psychedelic side with their legendary covers of "We Three Kings" and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", the latter performed to the music of "House Of The Rising Sun".

It has taken a long, long time to get these wonderful Christmas recordings released on CD, but finally here they are--remastered and restored to their full glory glory hallelujah! "Christmas Collection" will be available on CD very soon (even if only as an import) and is currently available as a digital download from the sp&s store, an offshoot of the UK's 7 Digital (if they'll let any of us yanks take the plunge). If nothing else, I'll be watching for it on eBay. (My thanks to my pal Ernie for the rip of "Little Town" above. His web site is amazing. You should spend lots of time there.)

1. Hurry Shepherds
2. A Starry Night
3. This Little Boy
4. Hush, Hush, Hush
5. The Little King Jesus
6. Just Be Grateful
7. Silent Night, Holy Night
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
10. Such A Tiny Child
11. The Holly And The Ivy
12. Czech Rocking Carol
13. Mary's Boy Child
14. The Only One
15. Carol Of The Bagpipers
16. What Dreams
17. Away In A Manger
18. Winter's Coming On
19. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
20. Once In Royal David's City ARTIST SITE
21. Rise Up Shepherd And Follow FACEBOOK
22. Dance Of The Shepherds SP&S DIGITAL STORE (UK)
23. Christmas Can Be Everyday For You AMAZON UK

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BUBBLE BURSTING

9/17/2012

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Going through the Amazon listings, as I do pretty much daily, I stumbled across this little MP3 album. I had to do a double take--make that a triple take. At first glance, this looks like something from Michael Buble--he of the grand (and very good, too) 2011 Christmas crooning album. It seemed weird and all that he'd do another holiday record so soon AND that he'd do it so under the radar (Mike had a pretty long promotional rollout last year, if you recall). But, still thinking Michael Buble, I punched up one of the samples. Dude sounds sick. Remember when Meat Loaf lost his voice for like a year and a half? Sounded kinda like that.

So I looked again and....oh, OK, you got me; I see what you did there. It's Michael BUBBLE, not Buble. Now for all I know, this guy is really and truly named Michael BUBBLE. But I doubt it. And, if he's not actually named Michael BUBBLE, then the guy should be charged with identity theft. Or at least theft of any money he makes off of this.

Don't get me wrong. I like tribute bands/artists just fine. And I like true satire, but this... I dunno. It sure ain't a tribute, or satire or parody or anything except...a sick opertunistic rip off. Seems very very wrong to me. You want good satire (intentional or otherwise) and/or tribute, check out the Surfsiders/New Surfsiders records we told you about the other day. They didn't call themselves the BEECH Boys.

Now, again, if the dude's name really is Michael BUBBLE, then I apologize. I'm really sorry you got stuck with that name--not that your parents could've foreseen the musical juggernaut that is The Buble--but I would suggest you change your stage name to something else, for everyone's sake.

And then there is THIS.

Did you read that? Or at least look it over a bit? Go ahead, I'll wait. Now, check the post just below this one here at Stubby's. Look familiar? Yeah, I thought so, too. I mean, hell, they didn't even bother to correct the typos. And the previous post over there? Also mine. No link back to this site. No mention of our authorship. Indeed, the pieces are attributed to their "team". And I'm pretty sure if I were a member of that "team" I'd know it. (And, frankly, I wouldn't want to belong to any team that would have me as a member.)

Now, I'm no lawyer and I don't even play one on TV. And I'm not going to make any fuss beyond this little rant, here. And leave aside that, if they pulled that kinda crap with Billboard, they'd be in court before you could say Jack Frost. But, you know, and maybe it's me...I think it's just rude. And lazy.

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HOLIDAYS RULE!

9/16/2012

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Tim Neely, kindred spirit and author of the indispensable Goldmine Christmas Record Price Guide tells us of a new Christmas track from Paul McCartney (former Beatle? Yeah, that guy). Paul's been all about the old standards, lately, so it should surprise no one that he's decided to sing "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)". The album, which will be released on HEAR Music, is called "Holidays Rule" and also features a Wings' cover of "Wonderful Christmas Time" (probably live). The comp also features tracks from fun, The Civil Wars, The Shins, Holly Golightly, Irma Thomas and more. Not allowed to embed, sadly. So, to hear the song in it's entirety, head here. Album drops Oct. 30. Full track list below.

1. Sleigh Ride (fun.)
2. Wonderful Christmastime (The Shins)
3. Baby, It s Cold Outside (Rufus Wainwright featuring Sharon Van Etten)
4. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) (Paul McCartney with Diana Krall)
5. (Everybody s Waitin For) The Man With The Bag (Black Prairie featuring Sallie Ford)
6. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (The Civil Wars)
7. Green Grows The Holly (Calexico)
8. We Need A Little Christmas (AgesandAges)
9. That s What I Want For Christmas (Holly Golightly)
10. May Ev ry Day Be Christmas (Irma Thomas with Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
11. Blue Christmas (Heartless Bastards)
12. Santa, Bring My Baby Back (To Me) (Eleanor Friedberger)
13. It s Beginning To Look Like Christmas (Fruit Bats)
14. SeÃ±or Santa (Mister Santa) (Y La Bamba)
15. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Punch Brothers)
16. What Are You Doing New Year s Eve? (The Head and the Heart)
17. Auld Lang Syne (Andrew Bird)

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CATCHING UP WITH KATHERINE JENKINS

9/14/2012

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I've kept up with The List pretty well, but I've fallen behind on the rest of the site. And, if I'm this far behind in September, it's gonna be a hellish season. So, hopefully, over the weekend, I'll try and make a little headway on the Previews and The Free List. Among other things, we may add a tiny bit more info to our Previews of the Legacy "Classic Christmas Album" series. Stick with us; weez tryin'.

Last night, I posted one new item on both the Previews and the Free as kind of a down payment on that catch up agenda. But, since you haven't had much reason to go "inside" in a while, I'm bringing our Preview post for Katherine Jenkins to the front page as well, just to make sure you don't miss it. You may have noticed Katherine had a spot on the schedule on October 9 for an album titled "My Christmas". Well, that is Katherine's former label, Decca/Universal attempting to capitalize on her announced Warner Brothers/Reprise Christmas album with back catalog material. Chances are much of the material on Decca's "My Christmas" will come from Katherine's "Sacred Arias". Add in a few other tracks she recorded for Universal--like "O Holy Night"--and you not only have a defacto Christmas album, but you get to claim you have her first Christmas album (on a pure technicality) since Decca's will be released 3 weeks before Warner's. And, since the Decca material is all previously released, their Christmas CD will even be cheaper than the actual Christmas album Katherine just recorded. Crafty buggers, these label types. If you've not followed Katherine, however, but decide you like what you hear, you get a double shot of Katherine Jenkins Christmas music this year and that simply can't be all bad.

1. O Come O Come Emmanuel
2. Ding Dong Merrily On High
3. Away In A Manger
4. In Dulci Jubilo
5. The Christmas Song
6. Santa Baby
7. The Little Road To Bethlehem
8. Deck The Halls
9. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
10. Sleep Quietly My Jesus
11. I Wish You Christmas
12. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
13. Come What May (with Placido Domingo)

ARTIST WEB SITE
FACEBOOK
AMAZON

One of the biggest underlying trends in music today is Classical Crossover. In 2007, Josh Groban's Christmas album, "Noel", was the biggest selling album of the year. And there has been a constant stream of Classical Crossover artists ever since.

And there is no Classical Crossover artist more prolific than Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. "This Is Christmas" is the 32 year old's first Christmas album and her ninth studio recording overall since 2004, when she burst onto the scene. Her record sales have already eclipsed those of giants like Kiri te Kanawa and Angela Gheorghiu. And, with this Christmas album, Katherine is poised to add significant sales to her already gaudy totals. On "This Is Christmas", Jenkins lends her unique vocals to old world Christmas carols as well as traditional and timeless classics. Talk about range, Katherine tackles everything from"Away In A Manger" to "The Christmas Song", and even has a go at "Santa Baby".

"I have always hoped that one day I'd have the opportunity to record a Christmas album," says Katherine, "and I can't wait to share my interpretations of these songs with everyone." "This Is Christmas" is scheduled for release on October 30.

No cover art, yet, but we've got the track list for Kem's holiday Motown release, "What Christmas Means". Currently, the album is expected to drop on October 16.

1. Glorify The King
2. What Christmas Means
3. A Christmas Song For You
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
5. Christmas Time Is Here
6. The Christmas Song
7. Be Mine For Christmas (featuring Ledesi)
8. Merry Christmas Baby
9. We Three Kings
10. Doo Wop Christmas (That's What Christmas Is All About)

And, wouldn't you know it, we've got no track list for Cee Lo's set, "Cee Lo's Magic Moment", but we've got the cover.

Perfect example of why I feel compelled to do what I do. I kinda doubt I'd have ever found this Jazz release if I wasn't constantly digging, digging, digging like your neighbor's dog in your flower garden. And I do love Christmas Jazz. Will Scruggs is an emerging Jazz artist, highly in demand as a sax man on other people's records. He's appeared with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and recorded with both Natalie Cole and Cee Lo Green (as well as many others). He's released two albums as leader of his own Will Scruggs Jazz Fellowship--"Jazz Fellowship" and "Bluebari Jam".

On the coming Christmas album, "Song Of Simeon: A Christmas Journey", the band features Brian Hogans, Marlon Patton, Dan Baraszu, Tommy Sauter, and Kinah Boto Ayah, plus special guest Joe Gransden and an 8-piece horn ensemble. The music is an instrumental Jazz suite in 2 parts, based on the message of the biblical Song of Simeon. It features all new arrangements and improvisations based of 11 ancient melodies that explore the mysterious side of Christmas.

What can I say? I'm thoroughly intrigued. Don't know when or if this will make it's way to Amazon or other vendors, but you can place your hard copy order with Will right now and they'll ship it out on or before October 10.

Anyone familiar with The Failure Club? The Failure Club is Morgan Spurlock's Yahoo Screen web series in which a group of people work to overcome their fear of failure in the pursuit of their dreams. Generally speaking, you have to fail--you certainly can't be afraid to fail--in order to succeed; it isn't the failure that prevents you from succeeding, it's the fear of failure. Anyway, that's the idea. So a couple times a week, they drop web videos to show the members of The Failure Club trying to push through the fear.

A very accomplished, successful and creative woman by any metric, Elizabeth Chan wants desperately to write a "world famous Christmas song". When she was very young, her vocal talents landed her a contract with Sony Japan, but nothing was ever released. So Ms. Chan put her dreams to the side and worked her way up to become a fairly powerful media executive.

But dreams have a way of sticking to the bone and Elizabeth has used The Failure Club as a means to push forward through the fear, come what may. You might think this set up would have me an addicted viewer. But, honestly, I watched one episode and found it...uncomfortable. It was like eavesdropping on someone else's therapy session. I don't much care for the current voyeuristic programming of modern media. It's far less intense to check in with Elizabeth through her blog as she basically writes a new Christmas song every day (over 200 so far, she says) and seeks feedback from her readers.

I doubt there's a "White Christmas" or "Jingle Bells" on her debut EP, "Naughty & Nice", but, damn, you really have to give her credit for getting this far. And she's not done yet. She wants to take the act on the road--a full promotional tour--and, to raise the necessary fundage, Elizabeth has launched a Pledge Music campaign. It might be the only way to get a hard copy CD of this release, if you'd like one. The digital download of "Naughty & Nice" will be available from Amazon (and elsewhere) September 25.

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AT LONG LAST SINGLES

9/13/2012

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Beyond the 7" Helix Maple Leafs lament and the sparkling new single from MacArthur Park, the crop of announced holiday singles is fairly unexciting. That's not unusual for early September. The biggest name on the schedule is August Burns Red, who will this Tuesday release "Sleigh Ride" as the single from "Sleddin' Hill". OK. But it's not like there's been any talk of ABR "Sleigh Ride" VINYL. So, odds are, if you're interested in August Burns Red, you're going to buy the full album when it's released and whether you drop the dollar for a digital single doesn't matter a whole lot to anyone but the record company.

Perhaps contemplating the demise of the CD format, the Essential Media Group have reissued pretty much their entire holiday catalog, including some hard copy CD-singles from bluesman Jimmy Reed and hipster Babs Gonzales (here and here). But, if you've been collecting for awhile, you probably already have those on hard copy and, let's face it, there are reasons why the CD-single never took off as a format. And it doesn't help that Amazon is perpetually out of stock. Though, admittedly, it is kinda cool that these are out there and maybe you want to pick up one for posterity (if you're not bleeding debt in this economy).

And, speaking of re-issues, Gilbert O'Sullivan's "A Christmas Song" from 1975 will get a proper American release (albeit digital) on October 1. Again, though, even though it's aged well, folks who frequent Stubby's are likely to have found a way of adding that one to their collections long ago.

The other "name" artist on the schedule is Whitney Wolanin who gave us the brilliant "Chistmasology" back in 2006. But even that "single" (digital) is just a series of alternate mixes of the big 2006 single from "Christmasology", "Frosty The Snowman" (release scheduled for November 13).

So now what? Well, where would Ralph Kramden go for something freaky and fascinating? Hey, Norton!

Norton records can almost always be counted on to bring a little vinyl singles cheer to the season. It's a bit early for their total holiday rollout, but Norton has been pushing the debut release from The New Surfsiders and, as such, they've also pointed to the group's November release Christmas single.

The original Surfsiders were one of those anonymous "round em up and rip em off" budget cover non-groups of the 60s. I'm not sure if the Surfsiders were trying too hard or if the folks at Design/Pickwick paid them in weed and acid, but "The Surfsiders Sing the Beach Boys Songbook" has reached near legendary status for being one of those "so bad it's good" records. Kinda ironic, in many ways, if you really think about it. It only adds to the goof factor that Lou Reed (much younger when the LP was recorded in 1965) has alternately admitted and denied being one of the Surfsiders.

Like their "ancestors", The New Surfsiders are only covering the Beach Boys. Badly (but in a good way). Fortunately for us, that means "Little Saint Nick" in November. Listen to a bit of the original Surfsiders (just a bit--the clip is 15 minutes, but no one expects you to sit through all of it in one sitting), then listen to The New Surfsiders cover "Kokomo" and just think of the possibilities.

Pretty much everybody knows that the "Elmo" of Elmo & Patsy has made millions from "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" and has recorded a number of CDs as Dr. Elmo. But whatever became of Patsy?

Elmo & Patsy were divorced in 1985 and Patsy Trigg took a break from music to try a few other things. She did commercials and some other acting, worked as a disc jockey at WLIJ, taught a music publishing workshop at Motlow College, joined the Bar-B-Q cooking team at Oink Cackle & Moo, and even got her auctioneer's license and sold everything up to and including the kitchen sink. More recently, she's written a few children's books and helped create and market a toy based on her musical character "Percy The Puny Poinsettia".

But Patsy couldn't stay away from music forever. And seasonal music remains her specialty. In 2010, it was "Cyber Santa" and a CD-EP of "Christmas Songs". In 2011, Patsy did a rap version Of "Grandma". But this year's "It's A Merry Christmas When Pigs Fly" is the first single she's taken to national distribution thru the digital market. It's the kind of a song kids would probably love and it's a whole lot less annoying than that Grandma song. Look for it on Amazon, iTunes, or at CD Baby. And there's probably an accompanying kids book to go along with it.

This next single will probably also appeal most to the Kiddie market, but I think it'll reach a few nostalgic adults as well.

Jeff Funk is a longtime composer, lyricist and arranger as well as an author and actor. He's written over 300 choral works published by Warner Brothers and you might very well have heard some of his arrangements back in the day. And you almost certainly heard the opening song he wrote for NBC's coverage of the 74th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.

Jeff recently completed an original musical, "Glee Club Smarties". Gotta be honest, the musical doesn't really move me. But, while he had the Smarties around, Jeff recorded a pair of Christmas songs that really--for me anyway--recapture a lot of the better sounding Christmas kiddie records of that long gone era. "It's Raining Reindeer" is kitschy enough to bring out the kid in any adult while "Waiting For Santa" has the sweet sway of a sock-hop slow dance record. Let's stroll by the mistletoe, shall we? Definitely wasn't expecting this one to find my soft spot, but it did. Maybe it'll find yours. As my niece said many years ago when she was about 5 or 6, "You never know, you just never know." (Trust me, it was way cute when she said it.)

I'm going to quickly mention this one because we know all the players, but I can't claim to be in love with it. It's another children's song with a country twang, "Rudy's Winter Break". Luanne Hunt, who turned in a very nice CD back in 2008 with "How Christmas Feels To Me", takes the lead on this digital single about Rudolph taking some time off in a warmer clime. Backing Luanne are the Royal Guardsmen. Yes, that would be the Royal Guardsmen of Snoopy fame, but lead singer Barry Winslow isn't with the group anymore. Barry still sounds great, though he's doing the Christian thing these days (hey, Barry, howz about a Christmas record?). The last we heard from the Winslow-less Guardsmen was 2008 when Snoopy moved on from the Red Baron to take out another rat--Osama Bin Laden. If you're interested in "Rudy's Winter Break", just click on the cover art to your left.

I'm sure I've mentioned that, growing up, I used to read Billboard at Christmas time. And, as a young Stubby of 13 or 14, I'd look at the international charts and wonder why I couldn't buy all those wonderful holiday titles that charted there. The Internet's changed all that, for sure, but I think that's why I still have a fascination for seasonal music from "other lands". For example, the Scandinavian countries turn out some gorgeous and fascinating stuff. But I don't think the idea of Swedish Chanukah music ever occurred to me. Nils Harning is an accomplished klezmer performer from Stockholm and you can find his take on "Oy Chanukah" on Amazon or at CD Baby. Need I say more?

Finally, today, I don't know if any of you younger cats and kittens know Marshall Chapman, but back when I was growing up, she was a pretty big deal. In the 70s, her songs were sung by just about everybody. The list of who didn't record Marshall Chapman songs would probably be shorter. So, of course, the cool thing to do was to listen to the source and everybody I knew had at least one Marshall Chapman album. I don't remember hearing the term "Americana" back then, but that's precisely what she plays--a very rootsy country blues kind of thing. Now, truth be told, I haven't thought about Marshall Chapman since, oh, the late 80s or so. But I recently stumbled, quite by chance, upon a Christmas song that Marshall apparently released in May of this year (chances are it was something she was singing out in December 2011; might even have been a download at her web site). "Lands Far Away" is a prayer and remembrance for our soldiers overseas. Marshall wrote the song while thinking of her cousin who was a Captain in the Army serving in Iraq at the time. You might think we've left Iraq entirely, but we never seem to leave anywhere entirely (you'll note the line "the ones who are still there" in the chorus). It's a very moving piece in its starkness and it seems like a good note to leave on today. You can get "Lands Far Away" from Amazon or CD Baby and probably anywhere fine digital music is sold.

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MacARTHUR PARK - NOW A CHILD IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM

9/12/2012

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How's about a single single, eh?

Most of the early Christmas singles in any given year have certain charms or novelty appeal, but it's more often the later singles that sparkle. But my faith in music is refreshed and renewed when a real gem turns up early, shining like... like a bright star in the east (too much? OK). And this is not only one of the best sounding Christmas singles I've heard in a long time, it's even got a great story.

Back in the 60s, after the Beatles hit, every kid in the world wanted to be in a band and most every kid tried. In America, these would-be rock stars rehearsed (and often only played) in their parents' garages (thus the term "garage band"). You'd think this was largely for naught for most of them, but, in reality, a good many of these groups would write ONE song or hit upon ONE sound that would grant them their 15 minutes of fame (even if it was just local fame). Then, either they couldn't come up with another or, more often, they just couldn't get along and that would be that. Watch "That Thing You Do" sometime; awesome movie.

Here, every kid wanted their band to be "the American Beatles". In England, oddly enough, many wanted to be "the British Beach Boys". The band that held that title for a few years from about 1969-1971 was MacArthur Park (technically, they were billed as "the West Country's Beach Boys"). The band had gone through numerous names and lineups since starting as The Kynd in 1968. It was upon Dave Rees' arrival in 1969 that the band developed it's psych pop vocal harmony style that led to a contract with Phillips records and extensive touring. The band only managed a couple of singles before more lineup changes and poor management derailed them. The band name remained alive into the 80s but it wasn't the same band.

Sometime last year, Rich Lanham (bass guitar) met up with Dave Rees (lead vocals and guitar) and, as they emailed each other through the year, it was clear that there was unfinished business for MacArthur Park. And, once they located Roy Taylor (drums) and Martin Ricketts (guitar), it was a classic case of "hey we're getting the band back together and taking it on the road".

The first new song from MacArthur Park in 40 years is an original Christmas song, "Now A Child Is Born In Bethlehem". And, clearly, the story isn't worth much if the song isn't any good. Well, I'm here to tell you that the song is good. The song is very, very good. It strikes me as sort of a cross between Peter, Paul & Mary and The Magic Lanterns. Anyway, I really dig it and I think it's worth checking out. Released yesterday, you'll find "Now A Child Is Born In Bethlehem" by MacArthur Park at Amazon and CD Baby. And, 40 years on, it feels good to say... there is more to come. Look up the boys on Facebook and look for the album "Full Circle" in the not too distant future. Just a teaser below.

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MERTZ

9/11/2012

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We're close to getting to our Singles post. Closer now. So close you can really feel the closeness (any "Porklips Now" fans out there?). But we've got to catch up on some of this other stuff first.

In addition to what's below, Cee Lo Green made the scene. Leave it to Cee Lo to put a title to his set that contains no holiday search terms. "Cee Lo's Magic Moment" is listed on Amazon as due out October 16, but the recent PR blitz says October 30. I've put it on our list as the latter, figuring that information is more current than Amazon's. Also, one of our List-ees from last year has resurfaced. The Baseballs are a German "Voc & Roll" band, doing modern songs in an oldies style. They'd mentioned doing a Christmas album last year, but now they're promising "Good Ol Christmas" will be released THIS fall. Olivia Newton-John and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy both say that new Christmas records are in their future (it's hard to kick the Christmas habit. Ask Scott Weiland), neither of which we'll see this year. So that happened.......... Anyway, on with the show.

1. Carly Rae Jepsen - Mittens
2. Justin Bieber - Mistletoe
3. Train - Shake Up Christmas
4. OneRepublic - Christmas Without You
5. Coldplay - Christmas Lights
6. Norah Jones - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
7. Sara Bareilles - Love Is Christmas
8. Gavin Degraw - The Christmas Song
9. Lady Gaga - White Christmas (Live)
10. Christina Aguilera - Christmas Time
11. Mariah Carey - Oh Santa!
12. Selena Gomez & The Scene - Winter Wonderland
13. Demi Lovato - Wonderful Christmastime
14. Rascal Flatts - Jingle Bell Rock
15. Grace Potter - Please Come Home For Christmas
16. Carrie Underwood - The First Noel
17. Sugarland - Silent Night SEPTEMBER 25
18. Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24

No sign of John & Yoko anywhere on this one! ;-)

This one's pretty much a half-n-half; half of these tracks were on the Target exclusive EP a few years back and half are newly recorded.

1. A Holly Jolly Christmas
2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
3. All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. I'll Be Home For Christmas
5. This Christmas
6. The First Noel
7. On This Winter's Night
8. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Silent Night (Lord Of My Life)
11. Blue Christmas
12. Silver Bells

OCTOBER 23

1. A Working Elf's Theme
2. Winter Wonderland
3. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire)
4. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
5. Silent Night
6. Silver Bells (feat. School of Seven Bells)
7. Do You Hear What I Hear?
8. Carol of the Drum (Little Drummer Boy)
9. White Christmas
10. Let It Snow
11. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
12. Silver Bells (Reprise)
13. Holidaydream

CD: OCTOBER 23
Vinyl: OCTOBER 23

1. Twas The Night Before Christmas
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Jingle Bells
4. That Spirit Of Christmas
5. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
6. Here Comes Santa Claus
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
8. Silent Night
9. Up On The Housetop
10. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas
11. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
12. Twas The Night Before Christmas (Cajun Version)

OCTOBER 23

1. Silent Night (Emmanuel) - Matt Maher
2. The Night Before Christmas - Brandon Heath
3. O Holy Night - Kerrie Roberts
4. What Child Is This? - Building 429
5. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Anthem Lights
6. Deck The Halls - Tenth Avenue North
7. Rescue (Oh Holy Night) - The Royal Royal
8. Oh Come All Ye Faithful - Casting Crowns
9. The First Noel - Third Day
10. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Rhett Walker Band

OCTOBER 16

1. The First Noel
2. Jesus is Alive
3. Go Tell It On the Mountain
4. Do You Hear What I Hear
5. Christmas Changes Everything
6. Almost Christmas
7. Emmanuel
8. Carol of the Bells
9. Angels We Have Heard On High
10. Once a Year

OCTOBER 9

Oh, yeah. This guy.

1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Winter Wonderland (featuring Michael Buble)
4. White Christmas
5. Merry Christmas, Baby (featuring Cee-Lo Green & Trombone Shorty)
6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (featuring Dave Koz)
7. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Chris Botti)
8. Blue Christmas
9. Red-Suited Super Man (featuring Trombone Shorty)
10. When You Wish Upon A Star
11. We Three Kings (featuring Mary J. Blige)
12. Silent Night
13. Auld Lang Syne OCTOBER 30

1. Holy Night (featuring Josiah Jojo Martin)
2. Christmas Time
3. Grace Gift
4. Gabriel's Message
5. Mary's Song (featuring Cheryl Fortune)
6. Love Came Down (featuring Todd Galberth)
7. Go Tell It/Wonderful Child (featuring Lisa Knowles & Shawn McLemore)
8. The First Noel (featuring D'Shondra Rideout)
9. Worship the King
10. This Christmas (featuring Isaac Carree & Minon Bolton)
11. Fortune Kids Christmas Interlude
12. I Believe-Part 2 (featuring Zacardi Cortez & Shawn McLemore)

OCTOBER 16

Boy, are we close now. Way closer than earlier.

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KICKSTARTER-PALOOZA

9/10/2012

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Yes, I know I owe you a Singles post. We'll get there. I promise. But you can't open all your presents before they're ready, can you? No, you can't. That wouldn't even be any fun. Well, OK, yes it would still be fun, I'll admit that. But you'd have nothing more to look forward to, would you? Singles post coming. Meanwhile...

I'm a pretty big fan of the Kickstarter trend. It's a cool way for independent artists to get their music out there and an equally cool way for music listeners to invest a bit of themselves into a project. Not to mention it's a cool way to reserve a copy of the albums. I mean, chances are you are going to be able to find the Rod Stewart CD, no sweat. But these Kickstarter deals might show up on Amazon and, then again, they might not. And they don't usually print in the huge numbers major artists and labels do. Maybe all that you'll be able to find will be the digital version and you'll regret not getting hard copy when you could.

If you're an independent artist looking to put out a Christmas or holiday album this year, chances are you need to be funded by the end of September. So we've rounded up a few Kickstarter holiday projects for your consideration. As a Roots kinda guy, I'm most excited by the first one, here, from RMS Five (not to mention I was the first to toss a bit of money in their pot, so that was a cool breeze sensation). But maybe you're more the New Age type, or possibly you groove on Southern Gospel. Whatever. Surely you can find at least one of these projects to help along (and get some great music back in the bargain).

First up, RMS Five. The RMS Five are a sub-group of Rock My Soul Choir and Band, a secular Roots and Gospel group from New England (wasn't really clear whether it was Maine or New Hampshire). The "Five" are members of the 20 person choir of Rock My Soul, and they step to the fore to provide a "gospelized" doo wop vocal harmony twist in a way that's endearingly very pop-accessible without losing that Roots authenticity. Think of it as "The Manhattan Transfer meets The Drifters meets Sister Rosetta Tharpe". The Rock My Soul CDs are available at CD Baby and through the Roots & Gospel Project web site. Since the Roots & Gospel Project is a non-profit, nondenominational, interfaith exercise, the music covers the gamut from Urban Gospel to Gospel Bluegrass to Pop numbers that are just naturally inspiring. As for the RMS Five, you can hear them on the Kickstarter video. They're looking to raise $3000 by September 30 and, right now, my pledge sits alone in the kitty (though, in fairness, the drive just kicked off Sunday night). And here's the very cool track-list-to-be (with your help):
Christmas Everyday
Christmas Baby, Please Come Home
Go Where I Send Thee
The Baby Sleeps Tonight
O Holy Night
Last Month of the Year
I Pray on Christmas
Sleigh Ride
Silent Night
White Christmas
No Room at the Inn

Next up, Utah New Age artist ALBEDO. The word "Albedo" has to do with the reflective quality of surfaces. For instance, new fallen snow has an albedo near one while fresh asphalt has an albedo near zero. The term turns up quite often in New Age and Ambient music and my guess would be that has something to do with notes being painted on a blank or white virtual canvas--each creating a unique refraction. Then again, maybe the term's use in music has more to do with alchemy.

Irrelevant. The ALBEDO in question here is a versatile artist who combines synthetic and live sounds to create unique soundscapes ranging from solo piano to full symphonic score. In addition to keyboard instruments, ALBEDO is also quite adept with the woodwinds. So when you hear Oboe or Clarinet or Recorders on the Christmas album, those will be live instruments. And, thanks to the wonder of modern technology, where a Christmas carol requires a choir, you'll have ALBEDO performing all the vocals himself (we had a nice example of that a couple years ago when Donnie Iris did all the parts for "The Hallelujah Chorus"). The album will contain both secular and sacred music and there are some samples on the Kickstarter page.

ALBEDO only needs to raise $500 (it's primarily for production and distribution--the music's been cut and is currently being mixed and mastered) and you've got until October 5 to join in. I think the coolest thing about ALBEDO's Kickstarter campaign is that, for $100, you can be in a music video (though you'd have to get to Salt Lake City) and, for a $500 contribution, he'll write you your own song. Now that's cool!

Tennessee's Suzzette Michaels has generally funded her own records in the past. But there's no point in doing a Christmas album unless you're going to do it right. And that means having the money for top notch musicians and a top notch studio for recording.

Suzzette began her music career singing Country, signing with Warner Brothers for a time, but she found her true calling singing Gospel. With 3 albums released, one available on Amazon and all three through her own web site, Suzzette would very much like to make a Christmas EP that makes use of all of her Gospel and Country music talents. She's done the math and hopes to raise $7000 by October 6. And there are some interesting incentives, here, that include some of Suzzette's original artwork.

Through the years, I've reached the conclusion that there is no bad music in Seattle. OK, that probably isn't true. But I've never heard any bad music from Seattle. So when I see music coming from The Emerald City, I tend to listen just a bit more attentively.

Breath of Aire is a Pacific Northwest choir made up of both professional and recreational singers. They don't limit themselves to large venue concerts; they are often called upon to visit the sick at their bedsides and to console families in times of grieving. Breath of Aire are a 501(c)(3) charity, so their resources are limited and they rely a great deal upon donations to support their performance and recording activities.

They previously recorded and released "Christmas Aire" (song clips available at the Breath of Aire web site), but that was several years ago and they are preparing to step once more into the holiday spirit. They estimate the overall cost to be around $25,000, but they're only looking for $8,500 from the Kickstarter campaign and they'll have to raise that by October 1. If all goes well, "Christmas Aire Encore" should be available around December 1.

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NOT SO VERY SPECIAL?

SUFJAN, KITTY & COLT & COLBIE

JOYSTRINGS TO THE WORLD

BUBBLE BURSTING

HOLIDAYS RULE!

CATCHING UP WITH KATHERINE JENKINS

AT LONG LAST SINGLES

MacARTHUR PARK - NOW A CHILD IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM

MERTZ

KICKSTARTER-PALOOZA

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