Blog Archives

SANTASTIC 6 IS HERE!

11/30/2011

1. Have Yourself A Santastic Little Christmas - djBC
2. Santatage - Divide and Kreate
3. Party Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - DJ McFly
4. Santa A Go-Go - DJ Schmolli
5. Nothing Else Matters But My Favourite Things - G3RsT
6. Crimson & Chanukah - A Plus D
7. Wonderland Walker - ATOM
8. Mashing Christmas - djBC
9. Merry Christmas 2U - mojochronic
10. You're A Loser, Newt Gingrich - Voicedude
11. Marshmallow Vanilla Fudge World - DJ Flack
12. Blenda Ree Mix - Martinn
13. Pump Up The Holiday - mojochronic
14. Let's Get Our Fa La La On - Voicedude
15. Viva Home - Cheekyboy

DOWNLOAD SANTASTIC 6 FREE

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MOJOCHRONIC - MERRY XMAS 2U

11/30/2011

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The latest Mash-Up from mojochronic from the forthcoming djBC collection "Santastic 6"!

mojochronic Bonus Jam!

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VERSAEMERGE - SANTA BABY

11/30/2011

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This single from VersaEmerge will hit iTunes on December 20. The consensus on this one is that they took all the Christmas out of the song and made "Santa Baby" sound like the suspenseful music in-between killings in a slasher flick. I report, you decide. The approach seemed to go over a lot better when VersaEmerge tackled "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" back in 2008.

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ALETHEIA TAMPA - CAME AS A CHILD

11/30/2011

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Graham Cochrane, the vocalist for Aletheia Tampa, left this note as a comment on one of the posts below. And, call me whatever names you like, I don't like to publish comments on items they have nothing to do with. But nor am I a Grinch looking to prevent someone from alerting you to a project that, if I were better at what I'm trying to do, I might've found myself. Especially if it's a good one. So I hope Graham doesn't mind, but we'll drop the note here.

Hi!
My name is Graham and my band just released a brand new EP featuring our spin on three classic Christmas tunes and you can download it right now!
http://www.aletheiatampa.com/christmas/index.html
All proceeds go to feeding bay area families in need this Christmas season. One thing my church likes to do at Christmas is hand deliver legit Christmas dinners to people in our community here inTampa who are down on their luck and struggling financially. To help fund this operation, our band decided to donate all proceeds from our Christmas EP sales to buying Christmas meals. So if you'ld like some new music and want to help people in my community here, go ahead in link above.

Now, naturally, I went out and took a listen (there's a Quicktime sample of the three tunes) and I gotta tell you, it's darn good stuff. "Came As A Child" is essentially Christian Rock or Christian Alt Rock or Indie Rock if you prefer. But it's the kind of Rock you can take home to mother, if you know what I'm saying. It's very melodic, very pleasing to the ears. But Rock all the same. I think you're going to have to listen to the Quicktime clips to decide if that's something you'd like (some people like their rock less melodic). For whatever it means to you, I bought it. It's just $3 ($1 per song). And, if Graham wasn't clear enough, it's important to remember that 100% of the proceeds will go to feed struggling families in the Tampa Bay area. 100%. Nuff said.

PURCHASE "CAME AS A CHILD" FROM ALETHEIA TAMPA

1. Angels We Have Heard On High
2. The First Noel
3. Silent Night

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LOL

11/29/2011

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This is actually a new cat toy from SUCK UK that you can get through Insound (cat not included). It's a cat scratching deck. Get it? Too rich for my blood, but too funny not to post.

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MIA ROSE - WHAT WOULD CHRISTMAS BE LIKE?

11/29/2011

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This very beautiful young woman is Mia Rose, an English and Portuguese singer and songwriter whose fame and following was built on the YouTubes. I had never heard of her before stumbling across this video several days ago. As it happens, "What Would Christmas Be Like?" is one of the few songs she's actually released for purchase and you can buy the download from iTunes or direct from Mia. The song was released in 2009 and there's a whole professional music video that goes with it, but I prefer this less polished, more intimate Mia from 2008. And the dancing snowman is priceless. If you think this sounds suspiciously like Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe", don't tell me, tell Mia's lawyer. At least we know for sure which song came first.

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DANNY MITCHELL - A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME

11/28/2011

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Check this out! Danny Mitchell is a young performer currently based in Nashville. His sound reminds me most of Norah Jones and I also hear a bit of Michael Franks in there. But it does a bit of a disservice to just say Danny does the pop jazz thing Buble and Connick do. That's why it's great that there's such a thing as Soundcloud. I fell in love with this song as soon as I heard it. And this is one of those songs that--well, for lack of a better analogy--has a wonderful aftertaste. It just fills you up and makes you feel warm all over.

This is a track off of Danny's new Christmas album, "Savior On The Way". I'm hoping to review the entire album shortly. But listen to "A Merry Christmas To Me" from Danny Mitchell for yourselves. I think you're gonna love it. And if you love it as much as I did, you can order it from Danny's web site direct. You should. And I think maybe you will.

A Merry Christmas to Me by dannymitchellmusic

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SINGLES? AGAIN?

11/28/2011

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Yes, Singles. Again. I know this is do or die time for a lot of you and you know what I'm talking about. Do I wrap it up now and just hope I don't miss something magnificent? Or do I take this right to the wire? So if I've got something good to share--even potentially good--I'm not going to sit on it now. You need this information--you need it yesterday--and Stubby is not going to let you down. At least I'm going to try not to. (To quote Yoda..."Do or do not; there is no try".)

Mike Doughty was the frontman for Soul Coughing, a band that is viewed by a lot of folks as the foundation for much of the Indie generation. The band featured Doughty's stream-of-consciousness poetry and a mish-mash of musical styles ranging from folk and hip hop to trance and free form jazz. Soul Coughing split up in 2000 amid internecine fighting over money (it always comes down to money).

Doughty has carried on a solo career since and its the nature of what he does that even die hard fans run hot and cold with his music, but everyone seems to agree that Doughty's latest, "Yes And Also Yes" is Mike Doughty at his best. And Mike's Christmas single would seem to be fair evidence of that.

"Holiday (What Do You Want)" features Roseanne Cash sharing vocals with Mike. It's an easy breezy Alt Rock/Americana tune with some cool sleigh bells and thoughtful wistful lyrics. Like a lot of the best Christmas songs, this one has both sadness and joy interwoven inextricably. It might just be the best holiday single of the season. "Holiday (What Do You Want)" officially releases December 12, but there's no need to wait. You can download the track now, off "Yes And Also Yes" and laugh and weep to your heart's delight.

RODEO MASSACRE - Swirling Candy Cane by Smoky Carrot Records

Not sure if this is really a Christmas single. In fact, it really isn't. But they've released it in November and it's got "Candy Cane" in the title. And it's a great rockin' single that would sound splendid on your personal holiday soundtrack. So. Close enough for government work.

Rodeo Massacre is a Swedish-French band currently recording for the Smoky Carrot label. "Swirling Candy Cane" is a heavy psych blues trip for those of us who may be missing the days of Haight Ashbury and Ina-Gadda-Da-Vida, baby. And I was thrilled to find the Soundcloud stream because I want you to hear it.

The story, itself, is autobiographical. Or so says Izzy, the Swedish miss who fronts Rodeo Massacre. Izzy wrote "Swirling Candy Cane" on her honeymoon about her honeymoon. Get this one from Amazon or iTunes.

And there's more good news. You can get a free download of the acoustic version of "Swirling Candy Cane" from Smoky Carrot in exchange for your email address. But the acoustic version can't hold a candle to the regular version. Just sayin'.

Well, look who's back! Tanya, we've missed you so. Tanya Tucker is releasing a Christmas single on December 6. And "Wherever You Are" sounds like a potential winner, a sweet little country ballad filled with sentiment accentuated by that sweet sexy saucy voice of hers. Always had a thing for Tanya, especially after that album cover (you know the one). Hard to believe, but Tanya's 53 years old now. And, on "Wherever You Are", she sounds as good as ever. Better even. Tanya's done her share of Christmas tracks through the years on various artist compilations. Let's see, she's done "Away In A Manger", "Christmas To Christmas", "What Child Is This", "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow", and "The Wonder". Is that it? Seems like I'm forgetting something. Anyway, "Wherever You Are" could easily be her best. Mark the date. December 6. Tanya Tucker. Amazon. Be still my heart.

QUICKIE UPDATE: The new Christmas single from Selecter--the classic British ska band--will be released December 1. The tracks are "Skank Till Christmas" and "A Christmas Fable". Looks to be a digital only release. Watch for it.

Do I have to explain to anyone who Benny Bell is? Well, for those who have somehow managed never to hear of Benny, he was a singer/songwriter known mostly for very risque (but happy) songs. Benny made mainstream songs and comedy records, too, but the so-called "party" records brought him more money and, ultimately, lasting fame. In the 70s, Dr. Demento began featuring Benny's "blue" records on his national radio show. In particular, the audience loved "Shaving Cream"--a song where every suitable rhyme seemed to be the "s" word. But instead of saying the "s" word, Benny would launch into a chorus of "Shhhhaving cream". In 1975, Benny's 1946 record of "Shaving Cream" became an actual hit, spending 11 weeks on the charts and rising well into the Top 40.

Benny Bell died in 1999 (at the age of 93), leaving his manuscripts and song rights to his grandson Joel Samberg. Samberg wrote a biography of his grandfather as well as Licence To Kvell. Now Samberg is reviving his grandfather's legacy once more with "Holiday Shaving Cream"--featuring all new holiday lyrics. Samberg uses Benny's original track (including scratchy record noises) and even shares the chorus with his grandfather. Yes, it's another "duets with dead people" record, but, knowing it's all in the family, it doesn't bother me so much (I do wish he'd mixed Benny a bit louder or, better yet, let the old man have the chorus all to himself). The "Shaving Cream" gimmick was always funny (or at least I thought so), so it works about as well here, with Joel alternating Christmas and Hanukkah lyrics, as it did then. "Holiday Shaving Cream" will make its way to Amazon and iTunes, but right now its only available at CD Baby.

By the way, it's not as though Benny never made a holiday record. He made several, in fact, a few of which will be turning up on our Free page in the very near future. Something to look forward to.

Not every Christmas song is an instant hit or an instant miss. Even the best Christmas songs have to hang around a while before people determine that they've reached "standard" stage. Some Christmas songs are out there just waiting for the right artist or the right time to be noticed. And the time may just be right for "Overdrawn Over Christmas".

"Overdrawn Over Christmas" was originally released in 2005 on a collection of new holiday songs that the writers and artists hoped would dent the national Christmas consciousness. But the time wasn't right for "Overdrawn Over Christmas". The songwriters tried again in 2008, releasing the song under their own names. But, in 2008, the economy had just crashed and nobody really saw the humor in being "Overdrawn Over Christmas".

The song is back for 2011 and, this time, the timing seems more appropriate. This version is credited to Tommy Joe Wilson. The 2011 version sounds an awful lot like the 2008 version, but the timing's the thing. So far, the Tommy Joe version isn't showing on Amazon or iTunes, but you can listen to it and buy it from it's own web site. Since the price is the same, you might as well buy that one if you plan to buy any of them. "Overdrawn Over Christmas" is a nice little up-tempo Honky Tonk Country Christmas novelty record and this could finally be its year.

One day a few years back, I came across a song from 2006 while combing the holiday titles on the late lamented Amie Street. One listen to the song and I was hooked. It was very nearly a perfect track. To this day, I believe it to be the greatest modern Christmas record no one's ever heard. The song was "What I Want For Christmas" by the Massachusetts Synth Pop duo LEMON. If you had any affinity at all for the music of the 80s--particularly the New Romantic groups like Spandau Ballet and ABC--you need to run, not walk, and get this song immediately. Sure, they've slapped a new cover on it and dated it 2010, but it's still the same record. If, 20 years from now, I were doing the then equivalent compiling Rhino did for their mid 80s "Rockin' Christmas" series, "What I Want For Christmas" would probably be the first song I'd pick. Certainly one of the first three. (UPDATE: Please note in the comments, one of our readers discovered that "What I Want For Christmas" is available as a free download from LEMON's web site. Thanks for the catch.)

Well, LEMON has recorded a new Christmas song for 2011. And, while "Home For Christmas" isn't as awesome as "What I Want For Christmas", it's still a gorgeous thing that deserves to be heard far more widely than it will be. Check it out at Amazon and CDBaby.

Finally, let's get some Soul on up in here. Truthfully, I don't know much about Simone De. I know he's from Mobile, Alabama. I know he's a Capricorn. I know his debut album was released in 2005. And I know this cat can sing. I mean SING S-I-N-G sing.

I love Soul music almost as much as I love Blues. The closer to the Blues, the more I love it. I like the old soul, the southern soul, the Tyrone Davis/Percy Sledge kind of soul. Powerful, emotional Gospel soul. The kind of soul where the performer reaches down and gives you everything he's got...and then reaches beyond himself to give you just a little more. And that's what I hear when I hear Simone De singing "Merry Merry Christmas". This is a wonderful performance of a wonderful song.

Simone De wanted to share this song with the world. His record company wanted him to sell it. So they compromised, agreeing that they would give away 300 free downloads of "Merry Merry Christmas"--first come, first served. They've given away over 2000 free downloads to date. Eventually, the song will reach iTunes and people will be able to buy it. But, for now, it's free for the price of "a kind request". Please, please, please, go to Simone De's Facebook page and find his email address in the posts related to this song and politely inquire about a free mp3. I could give you the email address, but I want you to go there. You can get a lot of good things in this world. Sometimes, you just have to ask. Nicely. Tell him Stubby sent you.

Simone De, by the way, sings all kinds of Soul. From sweet smooth Soul to rhythmic R&B to the kind of Deep Soul featured on "Merry Merry Christmas". Check out Simone's most recent album, "Soul Enchantment" on Amazon or CD Baby. You'll thank me later.

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SUNDAY FULL OF SINGLES

11/27/2011

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A lot of the singles have videos today. Hope that's not a problem for anybody.

Hey, good news, Chipmunks and Chipettes! The Killers will again offer their unique musical perspective on the holiday previously known as Christmas (see, I thought I'd do a little Prince thing there and......no?). This year's Killers Christmas single is "The Cowboy's Christmas Ball", but nobody's quite sure yet whether the song is an original or a cover of the Michael Martin Murphy track. "The Cowboys Christmas Ball" (and accompanying video with cowboys and robots) will be released December 1 and is slated to be an iTunes exclusive. That last bit may be subject to change.

Also on December 1, The Killers will be releasing an EP collecting up all of their Christmas singles (I think we're at 6 at the moment). All profits from any of the Killers' Christmas music, past and present, is donated to (RED) and releases come on December 1 to coincide with World Aids Day.

If I'd have known about the hair, I'd have gotten to this one much sooner. 8^)

James Follette is a London based singer with a taste for the retro--old soul in particular, it seems. "Santa Baby" has long been the exclusive province of female vocalists. But put the two together and you get an old standard with a modern twist. True enough, Michael Buble employed a similar tactic on his version of "Santa Baby", but Follette beat him to it by a year--"Santa Brother" having been released in the UK in 2010. This year, we Yanks can have a go at "Santa Brother" as its finally been released in the states. And, truthfully, its less the gender twist and more the modern gift list and the Adam Ant-meets-Brook Benton vocal style that reach me. Aren't we a little past a "duplex and checks"? C'mon, Santa, let's have us a Lamborghini, shall we? Get this one on iTunes. And, while you're at it, check out some more music from James Follette on Soundcloud. Please note the free download arrow on "Tears", which has a nice Phil Spector-meets-Barry White vibe to it. I'm also diggin' these Victoria Wilson James & Waterson jams, but that's another deal for another day.

Christmas A Go Go has been kicking my butt all up and down the Interwebs this year. You should visit them. Often. Here's a great one that they posted Saturday.

You know, it's hard enough to find anyone releasing a CD single of anything these days. Nous Non Plus, which Christmas A Go Go describes as a "faux French" band, are releasing this one ONLY on CD single. That's right. No digital download copout for you, Mr. Christmas Music iPod man.

Of course the clincher is that it's a great song for a great cause. $1 from each single sold goes to Operation Homefront, an organization that provides emergency assistance and other support to the families of our service members. There are two songs for which the group has posted videos. The first, which appears to be the "A" side, is "Holiday", an upbeat and instantly irresistible track that, without being too overt about it, is about a soldier's homecoming. The other track, "(General, Please) Keep My Baby Safe This Christmas", is lyrically more direct and--though still an infectious pop number--burrows deeper into your heart. Like Guuzbourg at Christmas A Go Go, that's the one I'd pick to share with you here. But, since he already has, I'll send you there for that one and I'll give you the video for "Holiday".

To buy this wonderful CD single, you'll have to contact Nous Non Plus directly through their web site (by email; what a concept). Even if you don't want the single, please consider Operation Homefront when you're making your charitable giving decisions this year.

A little K-Pop for your weekend? The Boy Band MBLAQ have announced a Christmas single, "Carol", is upcoming in lieu of the full-length that was pushed to 2012 due to time constraints and performing commitments. MBLAQ stands for "Music Boys Live In Absolute Quality". I kid you not. It's right there on their web site..... Well, maybe it loses something in translation. So far, I haven't located a release date (early December's the best I got) or a purchasing link (try Yesasia), but now you know.

In the old days, businesses would put "AA" or "AAA" in front of their names for primo placement in the phone book. The Beau Brummels adopted their moniker specifically so their records would immediately follow the Beatles' records in the bins at record stores. Finally, we have a band that understands the modern equivalent.

They are The New Free. Think about that for a second. You go to Google looking for almost anything, what are the words you're most likely to use? New and Free, of course. The New Free are a fairly new Dublin based Celtic Rock band--their debut album won't arrive until Spring 2012. But their Christmas single, "Noelle's Burden", is out now. And, while Christmas isn't in the title, the band anticipated a google-holic like me typing the words "New Free Christmas single" in the search engine. Et voila! Good band. Good song. If you like Carbon Leaf or Mumford & Sons, you'll like this one. Pick it up (or load it down) at Amazon or iTunes.

"JB" over at The Fa has been pretty well on top of the Christmas singles, too. And, from him, we get tipped to a new one from Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall. "Happy This Christmas" will be available both as a digital download (December 9) and on CD-Single (on December 12). So far, Amazon US only has a listing for the hard copy, with an arrival date of December 20. Amazon UK has the hard copy and the mp3 versions. And you can also pre-order through Britain's Townsend Records. Presumably, the digital download will turn up domestically before too long. You can check the samples at Amazon UK, since the Soundcloud clip at Mick's site doesn't seem to be working.

Iceland has got a lot to make up to the world since they are at least partly responsible for inflicting Bjork upon us all, but they are well on their way with this sweet pop holiday duet "Jólin Koma Með Þér" ("Christmas Comes With You"). Sigga Beinteins and Paul Oscar have individually represented Iceland in past Eurovision contests, but they sound very nice together. The Christmas single was released on Thanksgiving Day (not a holiday in Iceland) and it's available through Tonlist, so far. It might be a while before it turns up at Amazon or iTunes US. Like....maybe.........never?

The Toy Dolls were always a bit of an odd duck. Formed in 1979, they were one of the few Punk Rock outfits that seemed to realize it's all one big joke anyway. Rather than angry songs about anarchy, The Toy Dolls donned funny sunglasses and sang songs like "Yul Brenner Was A Skinhead" and "My Girlfriend's Dad's A Vicar". They'd do covers and parodies and made liberal use of kazoos. Although the band has undergone frequent lineup changes and only one original member of the band remains, they've still managed to turn in a Christmas single that is as odd as it is undeniable. True to Toy Dolls style, you're never quite certain if you're listening to a real Punk Rock track or an incredible simulation. You're never quite sure if they're laughing with or at you...or, for that matter, with or at Punk Rock. There's even a campaign in the UK to make "Credit Crunch Christmas" Christmas #1. Definitely worth a listen. I'll leave the purchasing decision to you. At the moment, in the US, you'll have to turn to iTunes as Amazon doesn't have "Credit Crunch Christmas" yet.

Looking for something a little off-beat and perhaps a little less reverent? Yet still Christmasy? Might I recommend the Christmas single split from The Prisoners Of Mars and C. John Freeborn. Prisoners Of Mars are led by uber talented Bryan Shore and "I Don't Care If Santa Comes Around" has a Lo Fi Phil Spector feel to it with just a dash of psych. C. John Freeborn I know absolutely nothing about and the clip of "Not On Christmas Day" sounds a bit like Fuzzy Alt Folk with overtones of the Beatles. This single's got some nice pop melody without being all gussied up in overproduction. It's the girl next door of Indie Alt Rock Christmas singles and it grows on me every time I listen to the clips at Amazon. I dig the cover art, too. It feels as though there ought to be vinyl of this one, but I can barely find a mention of these two UK acts on line, let alone this single. This one arrives November 28.

Here's the new Christmas single from Esterlyn, the Christian Indie Rock band from Idaho. "Light That Was Born" will be released December 6 and you'll find it at Amazon MP3 and other digital retailers. This is an Esterlyn original, in case you hadn't figured that out already.

For the second year in a row, C.J. Snare is releasing a Christmas single. Last year, the FireHouse frontman released "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as his "Christmas gift". This year, Snare returns with "Oh Come Emmanuel". There's no question that Snare has one of the top voices in Metal, but these Christmas power ballads from CJ tend to be a matter of individual taste. Some love 'em. Some hate 'em. You'll find "Oh Come Emmanuel" on iTunes and at Amazon.

If you'd asked me even a few months ago, I'd have told you that there was no such thing as Power Pop Electronica, but a band called Jellyrox has proven me wrong. Jellyrox is the side project of Eleventyseven frontman Matt Langston. And, apparently, unbeknownst to me, Eleventyseven is also a Power Pop Electronica band--one that had a Christmas single in 2007 that totally got by me, "Christmas Magic Is Here". The new Jellyrox single is "This Christmas" and Amazon's got it.

Let's wrap up this Singles Sundae (see what I did there? I swapped in the.........no?) with a bit of an update from SandAid and the Blackpool musicians who are trying to beat back the forces of the possibly evil Simon Cowell in the quest for Britain's Christmas #1. (OK, to be fair, I don't know the man and he seems nice enough, although obnoxious; it's just that this death grip on Christmas #1 has got to stop. I think we're all agreed on that). "We've Still Got Christmas" is officially produced and ready for launch December 5th. No purchase links yet, but the Facebook campaign will keep you apprised. Nothing says "Go away Simon Cowell" better than an actual Christmas song from unsigned musicians taking Christmas #1. It's just a shame US sales don't count in the tabulations. Anyway, here's the full video for "We've Still Got Christmas".

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SCOTT MILLER - OLD TOY TRAINS

11/26/2011

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We've been periodically reminding you of some of our favorites from last Christmas season. Scott Miller produced one of our very favorites. Read our review of "Christmas Gift" and plan to pick up a copy or two. Speaking of two... I had the "Old Toy Trains" video bookmarked for a while but, when I got to YouTube today, I discovered that Scott Miller had posted another video--just this very week--for the song "Joyful Joyful", also from "Christmas Gift". So, today, you get a twofer.

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SANTASTIC 6 IS HERE!

MOJOCHRONIC - MERRY XMAS 2U

VERSAEMERGE - SANTA BABY

ALETHEIA TAMPA - CAME AS A CHILD

LOL

MIA ROSE - WHAT WOULD CHRISTMAS BE LIKE?

DANNY MITCHELL - A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME

SINGLES? AGAIN?

SUNDAY FULL OF SINGLES

SCOTT MILLER - OLD TOY TRAINS

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