Category: Charity

SOFIA TALVIK - CLOTHE YOURSELF FOR THE WINTER

11/21/2016

Talk about traditions, Sofia Talvik has been a part of my Christmas for a decade, now. And, I swear, she just keeps getting better and better. You can read about my Christmas history with Sofia here (and then add in 2015). Sofia's music makes my winters brighter and warmer.

"Clothe Yourself For The Winter" is yet another brilliant Sofia Talvik original. Sofia sees the song as a metaphor, noting that we seem to be entering some dark and disquieting times all around the globe. And, if winter is coming to the world, we need to be prepared for the cold. In essence, "Clothe Yourself For The Winter" is a call for all (but especially targeted groups) to stand by each other--draw others (who might also be targeted) close around you as a winter coat. In particular, Sofia has always been supportive of women, and especially supportive of women who receive little to no support from other quarters. Along those lines, she asks--as the song has been posted as a free download--that you make a donation to Planned Parenthood, if you can. "Planned Parenthood," she notes, "was founded on the revolutionary idea that women should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams--no ceilings, no limits." Healthcare, which is what Planned Parenthood provides, should not be political.

Musically, I particularly like the use of the cello in "Clothe Yourself For The Winter" (played here by David Floer). Helping to continue the Americana journey Sofia's been on for the past few years, Tim Fleming provides the pedal steel guitar. Lyrically, there is one particular stanza which I felt was especially biting.

You said you wanted a change
And so the world is changing for you
You said you wanted a break
And now the world has broken in two

"Clothe Yourself For The Winter" is, as noted, available as a free or "name your price" download from Bandcamp (as are most of Sofia's previous Christmas singles). What's more, Sofia has another Christmas song coming this year. "When It Rains On Christmas Day" releases Thursday. This is a commercial release (meaning it isn't free) and, given all the free Christmas (and other) music she's given us over all these years, I think that's more than fair. As yet, we do not have anything beyond the :30 preview clip at Amazon, but it sounds about as brilliant as a :30 preview clip can sound, and we only have to wait a couple more days before we can hear it all.
UPDATE: "When It Rains On Christmas Day" is a "name-your-price" download after all. We'll speak of this again after Thanksgiving.

1 Comment

WEEKENDS WERE MADE FOR SINGLES

11/18/2016

0 Comments

I'm sure you know by now that the Killers released their Christmas album and final single. It's a bit anti-climatic since they didn't write a new song. Instead, they paid tribute to Christmas in the not-quite-so-old West with a spoken word introduction to "I'll Be Home For Christmas" sung (initially) by 86 year old Mr. Hansen, who was Brandon Flowers' 4th grade teacher. The collection, "Don't Waste Your Wishes" is up on iTunes.

We've got to deal with the limited edition vinyl from Canada's Sloan. Sloan have kicked the Christmas song tires before. The Alt Rock/Power Pop band, which has managed to maintain their independence from major label servitude for 25 years, dropped a charity single of "The 12 Days of Christmas" in 2011. And, in 2012, they posted a cover of Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" as a free download on their web site.

But Sloan's Christmas single this year is something different in that both songs are Sloan originals. The "A" side is "Kids Come Back Again At Christmas", which features the group's trademark harmonies and is described as a "galloping, acoustic driven future-holiday-classic". The flip, "December 25", is described as "a snowy piano song suitable for a slow skate". The single is pressed on red vinyl and will be limited to 500 copies. The purchase price, which might seem a bit steep, also includes the digital download and several artistic Christmas cards you can use or save. Sloan's double-sided Christmas single is expected to ship on December 1. Pre-orders began last week, so there's no telling how long they'll last. So decide on your level of interest ASAP.

Here's another reason I love international Christmas music. Zoe is Austrian singing a Christmas song in French after just having participated in the big Eurovision competition in Sweden and charting in Belgium. And, as of today, you can purchase her Christmas single here in America. I may be warped (ok, ok, I know I'm warped), but I think that's cool. Europe being what it is, being a multi-national artist is kinda built in.

Zoe turns 20 on December 1. She's been singing since she was 6, when she was featured in a song recorded by her parents. Don't know that it'll mean anything to most of you, but her parents were the very cool Folk Pop group Papermoon, which, as it happens, was one of those a-little-off-the-beaten-path groups that I always loved. Still trying to get my hands on their 2006 CD "Christmas Unplugged" (the digital album is available from iTunes in Austria....but not in the US).

Sorry I got sidetracked. Zoe's single is "La Nuit Des Merveilles" (The Night of Wonders) and it's in that mid-tempo Pop Vocal style that plays so well overseas. A little bit AC for the states, but nice in a Christmas song. Pick it up via Amazon.

Time for a little Jazz break.

That's just a little teaser for Jason Klobak's Christmas single, "Hark The Herald", which officially arrives on Monday. Downloads all around the usual spots (Amazon, iTunes, etc.) and limited edition hard copy CD singles from Jason, himself.

Jason's out there in Denver where, as I recall from my visits there, the Jazz scene is thriving. There are certainly other places where Jazz thrives but, let me tell you, eastern North Carolina ain't one of 'em.

Most of Jason's recorded work to date has been with the Jason Klobnak Quintet (which I'll be getting back to in a sec), but "Hark The Herald" is a solo effort (in spite of the big sound) and that keeps Jason's trumpet work very much in the foreground. "Hark The Herald" also has a more Modern Jazz or Crossover Jazz feel than the JKQ records, and it should therefor appeal in multiple formats (no reason Pop, AC, or FM outlets shouldn't give it some play). What I like especially, though, is that, even with a more modern sound, the Jazz didn't disappear. I think about some crossover Jazz artists I liked before they crossed-over.... Alright, what the hell, I'll name names. George Benson, OK? The guy was an awesome Jazz guitarist. He was a Jazz guitar god. "Body Talk"? "White Rabbit"? Brilliant stuff that you could lose yourself in for days. And even the early hits were fine. But then he turned into a Pop singer and the Jazz was just gone. "Turn Your Love Around"? Big hit. Not the best of George Benson. Just sayin'.

So I could jam to "Hark The Herald" and still appreciate the Jazz of it. Truly enjoyed it. But now it's time for a twist ending. (Don't do it Stubby)

So I'm writing up this paragraph and I almost always listen to the tune as I'm writing. It's a process. Not important. And I get to the point where I'm gonna mention the Quintet. And I'm thinking, well, I haven't actually heard the Quintet. Sweet Mother of God! That is manna from heaven. That is where I live. Sweet Jesus! Great googly moogly. Let me just hip y'all to one track from the most recent JKQ album, "New Chapter". It's called "Today's Forecast: Sunny, High of 80 Degrees and a Chance of Snow". Yes, that's the title. No, its not a Christmas or even seasonal track (although...in North Carolina...I've seen December forecasts like that). Just check it out (or anything else from the album). Please.

So, Jason, I apologize. I really like "Hark The Herald", which is coming Monday or, if you prefer the limited CD single , it'll be in your mailbox before you know it.. Yes, I really like "Hark The Herald", but I am head over heels in love with "New Chapter".

Jo Dee Messina looked around her and saw all the Country Christmas releases this year and she wondered why she didn't get the memo. So, to make sure that she's a contributor to the Country Christmas Tsunami of 2016, Jo Dee has gone and cut the single "Noel". The song was written by Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin & Ed Cash. I'm not familiar with Mr. Cash, but those other two fellas are about as much CCM power as you're likely to fit into a single room, so you know it's not a tune about Santa and Rudolph. "Noel" was released November 9 on Messina's own Dreambound label and you can find it at Amazon, iTunes and Google Play.

Alright, now, we're going to play "One of these things is not like the others". Ready. Take a look at this picture. Notice something, um, unusual? That's right, one of those people is a kid. He's frickin' 12 years old. I hate precocious kids. As if his being in a band at 12 wasn't enough to make me feel like a failure, the band is sporting his name. Yep, he's Carson Peters. The adults are Iron Mountain. Oh, don't worry, he's got a solo career, too. Carson's a world class fiddler. He's been playing since he was 3. He was competing at age 4. He's been on national TV with Jay Leno (couldn't have been more than 8 at the time), and he's played the Grand Ol' Opry with Ricky Skaggs (and then again with his own band, Iron Mountain). Carson also writes original music. I think I was still struggling with tying my shoes at 12.

The good news is that we've got a brand spankin' new Bluegrass single from Carson Peters & Iron Mountain. "Christmas Time In The Country" was written by the bass and banjo players in Iron Mountain, Ben and Eric Marshall. Although there's no audio on line for it, the :30 clip at Amazon is enough for you to appreciate that this is real authentic Bluegrass. One of the most Bluegrassy Bluegrass Christmas songs I've heard in many a year. I mean, this'll take you back to The Stanley Brothers and The Country Gentlemen. For Bluegrass fans, "Christmas Time In The Country" rates as a must buy. But its pretty close to that for obsessive Christmas collectors who like to hop genres in their annual mix. Digital only, at the moment. Available wherever fine downloads are sold.

Amazon is doing another one of those long-ass playlists of mostly new holiday tunes as they continue to try to suck people in to Amazon Prime (which is probably a good deal, but I still refuse to have a cell phone, so... ) Anyway, I bring it up because there's a brand new Train Christmas song on it, which I had earlier assumed was a single. It's called "I Miss You, Christmas" and it gets added Monday (although it might be an "album only" deal. Don't know). Frankly, I still haven't forgiven them for that Christmas Coca Cola tune.

Had to find you some Blues, didn't I?

I know what this is. I mean, I think I know what this is. And I hope, if I'm wrong, that the band doesn't take it as an insult. Not at all intended to be. But you may recall that I used to manage a Blues band in my younger days and this is awfully familiar to me. Let me first tell you a bit about the band.

The Blues DoGS are based in Colorado. They've been at it for 15 years or so. And they started out as a Christian Blues band. DoGS is an acronym for "Disciples of God's Son". It's a good sized group (they alter the size of the group as the occasion requires). They've got a horn section (known as the Horn DoGS, obviously. And the female vocalist on this particular tune is Mehgan Castor. "Blues 4 Christmas" is the title of the song and you can find it at the usual spots, including Amazon.

So, having managed a Blues band, this sounds to me like a straight up jam--pretty much improvised from start to finish. Maybe you've got a small piece of a lyric and a riff. Maybe not even that. The band I was with, at least, spent a lot of time getting the covers to sound just so--faithful to the original, yet our own. And you also work on the band originals where the music and lyrics are like the frame of a house and the frame has to stand intact, so you build around it. Again, its usually more work then it sounds like. So you take a break, every once in a while. And there are generally two things people in a band like to do on a rehearsal break...down a brewski and jam. Sometimes they just play, but sometimes you use those jams to write. (Although, as an aside, some of the band members hated the fact that I'd hear something in the jams that I wanted to keep for the show...which I get because its kind of like turning fun time into work time.)

But, anyway, I swear I can hear the Blues DoGS on a bit of a rehearsal break and someone says, "You know, we got those gigs in December. We probably ought to write a Christmas tune." Meanwhile, the guitarist is just playing a couple of licks, oblivious to the discussion. Then someone says, "That's nice, can you play around with that enough to do a whole song?" "Sure, that's easy. It's just a basic Blues thing." "What about lyrics? What should I be singing about?" "You know, jes Christmas." "Nothing about Santa and reindeer, OK?" "It's a Christmas Blues, that's all." "What are all Blues songs about? Your man done left you and you got the Blues for Christmas." And then they're off. We always recorded all of our rehearsals. Because you never know when something good is going to happen on the fly. And, if the jam was good enough, you just kept it as is. Why mess with it? It works. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Back to Canada we go for another Alt Rock/Power Pop group--The Odds. The Odds have been making music since the mid-80s and draw comparisons to Squeeze, XTC, Tom Petty, The Tubes, etc. "Love Is What You Get" is a charity single, with proceeds going to the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. That fund is all about bridging the gap between Canadians and the indigenous people in the Great White North (yep, we aren't the only ones who treat indigenous people like crap). No embeddable sound or video I could find (it may be on Spotify, but I can't do Spotify), but you can listen to it on The Odds web site (FYI, where it says "your price", the minimum is a dollar. It's for charity. Duh). If you prefer, it's also on Amazon. Great song, though. I think you'll like it. The Odds charitable work doesn't stop there. They'll be among the folks on the annual CP Holiday Train, which goes here, there and everywhere performing while raising money and collecting food for the local community food banks and pantries. It's cool, actually. They ask the people coming down to catch the entertainment to bring healthy foods with them to stock the food banks in their own community. They're figuring on 150 shows this year. Man, I'm tired just reading about it.

Gotta wrap this up and we've barely scratched the surface. I'll probably have to do more of these over the weekend.

Close this one out with the new Christmas single from Halestorm, the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band out of Pennsylvania. I don't think there's any question that Lzzy Hale has one of the best voices in Metal, if not in Rock. I don't know if there's been a better female Rock voice since Grace Slick was in her prime. I also think there's a consensus that Lzzy is the sexiest vocalist in Metal (although there's not a lot of competition in that regard).

Lzzy released "O Holy Night" several years back, but that was an a cappella home recording (it was beautiful, though). This new Christmas single is a fairly faithful cover of AC/DC's "Mistress For Christmas". I haven't listened to the "B" side ("I Like It Heavy"), but the single comes in "Clean" and "Explicit" and that's all about the flip. "Mistress For Christmas" shouldn't have any "bad" words.

0 Comments

OLD TOY TRAINS - MIKE ADAMS AT HIS HONEST WEIGHT

11/6/2016

0 Comments

Good Sunday to ya. Did you remember to change your clocks? I never do. So half the year I'm early and half the year I'm late. And I kinda like it like that. Just a quick bit of housekeeping. I still haven't done so with last year's stuff, but I did move this year's reviews to the Reviews page (except for the NOLA Players right below, but they'll get over there, too, at some point. Now when I say "moved", I didn't actually move anything. For labels and artists, whatever link you've used, if any, will still work. But it's easier to find things (like your review) on the Reviews page for people who otherwise wouldn't know about it. Stuff can kinda get buried on the front page after a while. Now back to the show.

I don't know if I've ever come across Mike Adams At His Honest Weight before. In this case, it worked out well for me because I came into his cover of "Old Toy Trains" with no expectations. Mike's usual sound (at least what I've sampled so far) is much more in an Indie Rock and Pop bag. Brooklyn Vegan described it as "left-of-the-dial pop music" and that's a brilliant description. Wish I'd said it. Great stuff, mind you--but quite a bit different than the stripped down feel on this gorgeous cover of the Roger Miller classic.

Turns out that Mike is a huge Roger Miller fan. The folks at Flannelgraph Records gave Mike the opportunity to record a Christmas song and there was no other choice to be made. As in the world of Dirk Gently (oh, hell, yeah, I'm watching that), everything is connected. We already knew wrestler Mick Foley was a Christmas music obsessive and he says "Old Toy Trains" is either his favorite or second favorite Christmas song of all time. So Flannelgraph gave Mick the B-side to chat about it.

Put it all together, press it to limited edition red and green with snowflake splatter vinyl and, son, you've got yourself a Christmas single. The song is short, certainly, but beautifully done. I fell in love with it immediately. And just look at that purdy vinyl. Whoo-wee! And, just so you know, profits from the single will be going to Toys For Tots (exactly as they should). The pressing is limited to 529 (which may or may not be a significant number). You can certainly get the digital version, if you prefer. You'll find both on Bandcamp.

0 Comments

CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART - HEART DANCE RECORDS (REVIEW)

10/16/2016

0 Comments

1. Joy to the World -- Louis Landon
2. Angels We Have Heard On High -- Thano & Lolo
3. The Gift -- Art Patience
4. Away In a Manger -- Chris Burton Jacome
5. Light to the World -- Amber Norgaard
6. First Light -- Jocelyn Obermeyer
7. Jingle Bells -- Sherry Finzer, Darin Mahoney, Will Clipman
8. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman --Greg Starr
9. Ave Maria --Tatum Stolworthy
10. What Child Is This? (Greensleeves) -- John Calvert
11. Silent Night --Voyager Tom Moore
12. The Huron Carol -- Nathan Tsosie
13. O Come O Come Emmanuel -- Amy Faithe

HEART DANCE WEB SITE
PURCHASE CD FROM HEART DANCE RECORDS
PURCHASE CD FROM AMAZON
PURCHASE CD OR DIGITAL FROM BANDCAMP
PURCHASE DIGITAL FROM iTUNES

Here's another one of those things you're probably tired of me repeating: New Age music gets a bad rap. I blame that partly on Kenny G, partly on Smooth Jazz, and partly on the fact that lots of folks just don't realize the variety of sounds standing beneath that New Age umbrella. I'll even take on some of the blame myself because I'll immediately slap the New Age label on "Christmas From The Heart" knowing full well that the label itself is enough for some to close their minds to the music. Still, I'm going to call it New Age because it gives me a frame of reference. You can get into whole existential arguments about New Age, what it is, when it began. Let's not. OK? I'm not one of those people who dwells on the "spirituality" or "healing properties" or any of that. I just like the way it sounds when its done well. And its done well on "Christmas From The Heart", which officially releases Friday (October 21).

Heart Dance Records is based in Arizona and they specialize in New Age and "contemporary instrumental music". Their stable of artists is made up of those who either live in Arizona or spend a good deal of their time playing there.

THANO & LOLO

"Christmas From The Heart" begins like a late Autumn snow shower--the kind that begins slowly and unexpectedly in the middle of the day. There's that single flake. You're not even sure it is snow at first, but you watch it fall in slow motion...you follow it all the way down. Then you look up and here come all its brothers and sisters. Louis Landon's "Joy To The World" starts out with the delicacy of that first snowflake--a bit like a music box actually--then builds to a richer and fuller shower, before tapering off and ending much as it began. Sweet. Perfect way to begin an album.

Next up are Thano & Lolo. These two are nothing short of magic. Thano Sahnas is the guitarist while Lauren is on the harp. Their sound collects up influences as disparate as Classical and Classic Rock. Together, they weave a fetching version of "Angels We Have Heard On High" that, every now and then, is going to zig when you expect it to zag. It's a bit of a snowflake ballet that should capture your heart and put a smile on your face. Even as their sound is completely unique, it is also what exceptional New Age sounds like. Truly wonderful and probably the artists I'm most happy to have discovered through "Christmas From The Heart". It's a shame I can't find very much more Thano & Lolo on the web (though there is this video of "He Said, She Said").

From the name Art Patience, I was expecting an artsy group thing. But, no, Art Patience is a single name. He plays harmonica in ways I hadn't really thought about before. It's clear he has the talent to turn a single note into a symphony. The only other person I know who could pull something like that off is the late Toots Thielemans (whom I already miss far too much). "The Gift" is a delicious piece of Ambient that I hope gets heard far and wide.

AMBER NORGAARD

Chris Burton Jacome follows with a brief Spanish Guitar take on "Away In A Manger". It's a perfect palate cleanser that puts you in the perfect mood for what follows--the first vocal track on "Christmas From The Heart"--Amber Norgaard's "Light To The World". It's an exceptionally well crafted song that ties the birth of Christ from ancient times all the way into contemporary times, taking something that we think of as a unique story and (hopefully) helping us to understand that, in many ways, the story is universal. In any time or place, women give birth and, in worlds often far darker than we'd wish, those children are the light and the hope. Musically, "Light To The World" would stand out in virtually any format I can think of. It's a truly beautiful song, beautifully done and, if you happen to be a DJ, I'd encourage you to add it to your Christmas rotation. I sure would.

"First Light" from Jocelyn Obermeyer is an engaging piece for harp and a perfect selection to follow "Light To The World". In the given context, I actually get a Christmas Day feel from "First Light". It could be me--y'all know I'm crazy--and I'm certain it was the farthest thing from what Ms. Obermeyer intended, but I kinda visualized a youngster on Christmas morning, here. Whaaa...? Hmm. Forget I said anything and we'll speak of this no more.

If you were hoping for something a little lighter and more buoyant, Sherry Finzer, Darin Mahoney and Will Clipman perform "Jingle Bells". Sherry Finzer is the artist playing the flute and, usually, I'm a sucker for anything with a flute. And I've listened to some of Sherry's other work and she's masterful. But "Jingle Bells" felt a little out of place to me. At least it did the first time through, though it's grown on me some since. If I view the record as one continuous suite, then I get it and it works. If I view the record as a gathering of songs, then it's a bit of a mood breaker for me. Your mileage may vary.

TATUM LYNN STOLWORTHY

Greg Starr's "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", a solo piano piece, is very much in the style I think of when I think of New Age. It's a mellow and meditative take where the time signature takes a back seat to exploring every note and every space between them. Greg, by the way, has had quite the career. He's worked with everyone from Steve Allen to Mr. Rogers. And, if you sign up to his mailing list, there's a free download of "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" in it for you (and a couple of other tunes, too).

Tatum Stolworthy (or Tatum Lynn, as her website bills her) is one of those people with boundless talent and energy who has probably accomplished more in the last year than I have in 60. She sings, she dances, she mentors youth even though she's still a teenager herself, she even-- Hey, you know what? We've gotten this far into the record and I haven't even mentioned that 10% of the proceeds from sales of "Christmas From The Heart" will go to the Music AS Therapy non-profit. Three guesses who started that charity and the first two don't count. Yep, Tatum did that. On the record, Tatum provides the second vocal track, "Ave Maria". And it's breathtaking. Of course, it would be. And, by the way, recorded perfectly; so whoever was running the board for that one, your work, too, was outstanding.

As it's nearly 5 in the morning, I'm going to rush through the rest (apologies). John Calvert's "Greensleeves" is some sweet fingerstyle picking that deserves the paragraph it's not getting (Sincere apologies. Here's his website; go pay him a visit). Voyager Tom Moore does space age Ambient justice to "Silent Night". And Nathan Tsosie's "Huron Carol" is exquisite and haunting Native American flute playing.

DARIN MAHONEY & SHERRY FINZER

Amy Faithe closes the record with "O Come O Come Emmanuel". I believe I mentioned in our earlier write-up that Amy used to sing Jazz and Blues (and she may still, for all I know). And you know how much I love Jazz and Blues. So I hope you realize that it means something when I say that THIS is the music Amy Faithe was born to sing.

Sometimes I approach an album with high expectations and that usually doesn't end well. I was desperately thirsty from some good new New Age and so, yes, my expectations for this one were probably a lot higher than they should have been. But I'm happy to report that "Christmas From The Heart" met my expectations easily, and surpassed them by quite a bit. There are some truly brilliant artists on the record from whom I most definitely want to hear more. Thano and Lolo are beyond amazing; I hope Heart Dance or someone else is thinking about a full album from them (and soon). Art Patience is the Ambient artist I've been waiting for. Amber Norgaard is a bright star shining. And Amy Faithe blows me away. And that should not be taken to mean that I think any less of the other artists here. "Christmas From The Heart" reminds me of the early days (what I call the early days, anyway) when New Age was the new thing and you'd grab your first Windham Hill compilation, or your first Narada compilation, or your first Higher Octave compilation--excited to discover 10 or 12 or 20 new artists in the genre who would each transport you to a different place. And all this is going on in Arizona, huh?

The CD packaging is beautiful, for those who care about that sort of thing. Obviously, the music is beautiful as well. As I've noted before, compilations can be tough to sequence to achieve just the right flow to carry you gently through the journey. Rarely do I hear a comp where I don't at least once, mentally, reposition the tracks. (Yeah, I know; at times my ego is completely out of control.) But this record is sequenced perfectly. Every track is exactly where it needs to be. That takes a skill requiring your ears, your head and your heart all working together. So A+ on that score as well.

"Christmas From The Heart" will be officially released this Friday (Oct. 21). If you happen to love New Age and Ambient as I do, I would tell you to buy this album immediately. If you happen to enjoy some New Age, I would tell you that you're going to want to buy this album sooner or later, so you might as well get it now. And, if you don't happen to like New Age or Ambient at all, I would ask you to keep an open mind and heart, check out the songs or samples on line and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Of course, if you're a Christmas music obsessive, I probably don't have to tell you anything.

And while I'm here.... I'm a total idiot sometimes. When I was doing one of my runs through Amazon's digital listings, I fell in love with this album from Dulce VAS, "Christmas Picante". It's harp and flute (and I told you I'm a sucker for flute). The record is a little bit Jazz, a little bit Classical and a little bit Pop. Great stuff. I've been grooving on "Carol of the Bells" from that record quite regularly this fall. Hearing the flute and harp go all Jazzy like that, to me, is like winning the lottery and finding out you don't even have to pay taxes on it. Had I scrolled down Amazon's listing, I'd have seen that "Christmas Picante" was a Heart Dance release and that it's Sherry Finzer on the flute (VeeRonna Ragone on the harp). DOH! They do a killer "O Holy Night", too. Check it out if you get the chance.

0 Comments

WHAT'S UP DOWN UNDER (AND ELSEWHERE)?

10/16/2016

0 Comments

Once again, no audio from the actual upcoming Christmas record. This performance is from the "Two Strong Hearts Tour" in 2015.

She's back! Olivia Newton-John is either head over heels for the holidays or she's trying to make up for that disaster with John Travolta, but she'll be coming 'round for Christmas this year with John Farnham. If you know Farnham at all, you're either from Australia, a Christmas music obsessive or you remember the Little River Band in the years after lead vocalist Glenn Shorrock left (i.e. the years without any hits). Farnham's quite the institution in Australia, hitting the charts in assorted incarnations since 1967 or so. And he's been known to drop a frequent Christmas tune or two down the down under chimney (several turning up on the Myer/Salvation Army "Spirit of Christmas" collections). Their upcoming Christmas album is "Friends For Christmas" and follows closely on the heels of the successful and exhaustive "Two Strong Hearts Tour". I haven't seen a domestic listing for the CD as yet, so you may have to settle for the digital version or order the album as an import. Release is scheduled for November 11.

1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
2. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
5. The Christmas Song
6. Winter Wonderland
7. Baby, It's Cold Outside
8. Silent Night
9. White Christmas
10. The Little Drummer Boy
11. Silver Bells
12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

DIGITAL FROM AMAZON
DIGITAL FROM iTUNES

Speaking of the Myer/Salvation Army "Spirit of Christmas" collections, we've got our first look at this year's cover. This is, I believe, the 22nd year that Myer and the Salvation Army have teamed up for this Christmas album, proceeds raised going to support the work of the SA. They're usually released in conjunction with the annual parade down there (much like our Macy's Thanksgiving parade) and that's usually late November/early December. Of course, if you want the CD, you'll either have to go to Australia or keep an eye on eBay. But, in recent years, the digital version usually gets a domestic release. Too early for a track list, but we do know that some of the artists participating this year are Russell Morris, Jimy and Mahalia Barnes, Marina Prior and Mark Vincent, Justice Crew, Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, Lee Kernaghan, Kate Miller-Heidke and Waleed Aly and Gorgi Coghlan.

1. Last Christmas
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. Stille Nacht / A Child Is Born
4. Happy
5. Jingle Bells
6. My Favorite Things
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Winter's Heart
9. Leise rieselt der Schnee
10. Will You Be Home on Christmas Eve?
11. Es wird scho glei dumpa

SABINA HANK WEB SITE
PURCHASE DIGITAL FROM AMAZON

I love Jazz. I enjoy pretty much anything. I could spend days listening to just Motown or Johnny Cash or Blues or Bubblegum. I hate to say I favor any of my children more than the others. But Jazz just...gets me. That said, I'll probably surprise you because this album only reaches me sometimes. At others, it loses me completely.

Sabina Hank is an Austrian Jazz singer/songwriter. Lord knows she's got the chops and a sweet honey-dipped voice that's nearly impossible to dislike. "Blue Notes On Christmas" was released last year overseas (or possibly 2014), but is just making its way to these shores (in digital form) this year. And it's part of a trilogy--or, at least that was the original plan. Add in Bob Mintzer, who I love, and it should be an album I was born to die for.

It's entirely a matter of personal taste, but I just didn't like the arrangement of "Last Christmas". And I really didn't like the arrangement of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". And "Winter Wonderland"? That arrangement is, well, "bleak" is the kindest word I can think of. I listen to those three and I wonder if there's any hope for world peace, after all.

Now, the originals are great, I think. "Happy", "Winter's Heart", "Will You Be Home On Christmas Eve"--I love those. But its hard to cuddle up to a record that takes you from love to hate and back again. As I say, its strictly a personal taste issue. The singing, the playing, the quality of the recording...it's all exceptional. So I leave it to you to make your own call on "Blue Notes On Christmas (Vol. 1)". Me, I'll be dining a la carte. The digital arrives at Amazon November 11.

Garth Hewitt is a British Christian Folk singer. And by Folk singer, I mean in the grand tradition of protest singers like Pete Seeger. These days, Folk is used to describe just about anything acoustic (and sometimes not even). But Garth is Old School. And that's why I dig it. Aren't a lot of the old protest singers left. We needed some new ones. And is their anything more Old School than singing for "Peace At Christmas"? Garth's web site says the record is "Now Available" and that notice just went up in the last day or so, so I'm marking it down as an October 14 release. Check the song samples at the Gingerdog link below.

1. Peace At Christmas
2. In The Bleak Midwinter
3. Making Holy Dreams Come True
4. Child of Christmas
5. Candle Of Hope
6. Bethlehem Is Calling
7. Don't Blame God For Christmas
8. Little Boy Down
9. Nothing But A Child
10. Shine On
11. Silent Night
12. Prayer For Christmas Eve
13. One Of Us
14. Light A Candle In The Darkness

GARTH HEWITT WEB SITE
PURCHASE CD FROM GARTH HEWITT
DIGITAL VERSION FROM GINGERDOG

0 Comments

JANE LYNCH NOW HAS MY FULL ATTENTION

10/13/2016

1 Comment

Gotta be honest. I was not looking forward to this one. But now I am.

Jane Lynch is someone pretty much everyone knows by now. She was one of the stars of "Glee", hosts "Hollywood Game Night" and has a slew of movie and television credits to her name. But she's also an actress who has tread the boards in many a musical and has been touring with a cabaret show in recent times. "Swingin' Little Christmas" will likely be a bit like a Christmas version of her cabaret show. So we get the whole cast--Kate Flannery ("The Office"), Tim Davis (a vocal arranger who also worked on "Glee") and the Tony Guerrero Quintet.

"Swingin' Little Christmas" will feature new arrangements of 10 songs you know (all Public Domain, so no "Santa Baby", "Blue Christmas" or "Baby Its Cold Outside", thank goodness) and 5 you don't--new songs written by Tony Guerrero that we're told sound like they were written in the 50s. And, if the video of "A Swingin' Little Christmas Time" is any indication, that boast is fact. It's obviously going to be kitschy...or, as one of my favorite lines from "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" goes, "a whole lot of hoot and just a little bit of nanny".

Still waiting on cover art and a track list, but we know the record is due to bow on November 16. So far, the early press only speaks of a digital release so, until we hear otherwise, we've posted it as a "digital only" on The List. When it's out, Jane's holiday album will be available through iTunes for sure, probably Amazon, and, naturally, from Jane Lynch's web site.

While I was writing the bit below on BlackHawk, I remembered that I forgot to check on this year's exclusive from Kohl's. This is (I believe) the 17th annual Christmas CD from Kohl's. They're usually released in the first week of October. I don't think they've had any exclusive tracks in a while, but that's not even the point. The Kohl's CDs are just 5 bucks and every penny of profit goes directly to Kohl's Cares--a charity focused on children's health, wellness, and education. So stop buy your local Kohl's or order a copy through their web site. You get a cheap CD and the kids get the profit. Everybody wins. This year's set is "Home For The Holidays".

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams
"Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley
"A Marshmallow World" by Dean Martin
"Sleigh Ride" by Johnny Mathis
"Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry
"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" by Perry Como
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" by Frank Sinatra
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love
"Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano

The Country Rock band, BlackHawk, who had their biggest run of hits in the 90s, are working on a Christmas album. They were hopeful of getting it out this year, but they've been so busy touring, the window for this year closed for them. They're well along, though, so it should pop up next year. They describe the record as "hip and groovy and far out". Cool.

BlackHawk do have one Christmas song in circulation. "We Three Kings" was included on the "Star Of Wonder" compilation in 1996 and, later, on a 1998 Kohl's Cares For Kids collection. And here 'tis (with a bonus Christmas light show).

1 Comment

PUDDING FOR EVERYONE !

10/11/2016

1 Comment

1. All I Want for Christmas Is You by Keli Rutledge
2. Christmas Is Finally Here by Analog Outlaws
3. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town by John Caufield
4. What Child Is This by Vintage Wednesday
5. Christmas Time by Jam Now
6. Baby Please Come Home by Callie Young
7. Dear Santa by Ironkill
8. Last Christmas by People Who Could Fly
9. Christmas Is the Time by Kailin Kay
10. Rockin' around the Christmas Tree by Good Boy Daisy
11. Hallelujah by Elizabeth Tighe
12. Jingle Bells by Innocent Elaine
13. Little Drummer Boy by Night 3 Nations
14. Song for Winter by Aaron Honda

Every year, Alice Cooper throws a rock n roll charity bash he calls Christmas Pudding. Alice lives in Arizona, so that's where the event is held. I suspect that there's a digital download album every year as well, but they always get by me for whatever reason. In spite of the big name talent Christmas Pudding draws, the "Taste of Christmas Pudding" releases primarily (if not exclusively) showcase the local talent. If there are hard copy CDs, I imagine they'd be given to the artists or, at most, available for attendees, but I've never seen a hard copy CD, so I'm gonna take a leap and say its strictly a digital thing. At least the 2016 edition didn't get by me. "Alice Cooper's Taste of Christmas Pudding 2016" was released October 4 and you'll find it on all of the usual platforms, including Amazon.

With the Alice Cooper name, you gotta figure the album is Rock N Roll, but that leaves plenty of room for variety. Ironkill gives us a Death Metal "Dear Santa" right next to Callie Young sounding just a bit like Dolly Parton on the Spector classic "Baby Please Come Home". And I gotta say my personal favorites were the one above by Analog Outlaws and Good Boy Daisy's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree". Just sayin'. Also, A+ on the cover art. That's awesome.

You might remember us telling you, some time ago, about the Dutch Americana band Hidden Agenda Deluxe that was touring with one of America's treasured resources Carter Sampson. We pointed you towards a free sampler of the Christmas record they were working on which, almost immediately, was no longer free. Well, we've got the relevant information on the album, now, and we can pass it along. "Christmas From Amsterdam to Oklahoma" releases overseas on December 2. Best case scenario is that Amazon U.S. might get the CD a week later or the digital version around that time. There's also a chance they'll have it available through Bandcamp, but they don't as yet. "Christmas Eve In Amsterdam" (above) is the rough mix and the same tune I used in the earlier piece, but I really really like that tune. Based just on those early samples, this one is definitely going to be worth looking for.

1. I'll Be Home For Christmas
  2. Coming Around
  3. For Saviour's Sake
  4. Drivin' Home For Christmas
  5. Hard Candy Christmas
  6. Snow
  7. Blue Christmas
  8. Christmas In Oklahoma
  9. I Shall Be Released
  10. Christmas Eve In Amsterdam

HIDDEN AGENDA DELUXE WEB SITE
CARTER SAMPSON WEB SITE

1 Comment

IT AIN'T NECESSARILY NEW

9/14/2016

0 Comments

I've spoken, I think, about my radio training. The format that I fell in love with--that taught me to open my mind to every kinda music there is--was a forward looking format. They "required" a heavy dose of new releases. It's been a few years and I tend to tell people the requirement was 75%, but I think it was actually higher than that--80% at least. Now me, I was well known for breaking format just about everywhere I went. My logic, which didn't always save me from getting fired, but did on occasion, was that stations heavily format because what they're after is a particular "sound". And you could rarely trust a DJ to deliver that "sound" unless he was heavily formatted. But I understood the "sound". I'd look at the format and understand what they were really going for. And I felt I could better deliver the actual "sound" they wanted by being a little loose with the format. And, yeah, yeah, I won't rule out that I'm a delusional ego maniac, but I really believe that that's what I was doing and that I was very good at it.

What does all that have to do with this blog? Not much.

Oh, yeah, the cult of the NEW. So I wasn't painting too far outside the lines. If they wanted 80% new, I probably gave them 75% (60% on a good night), but I definitely gave them the "sound" they wanted. But, like Pavlov trained his dog, they trained me well enough that I wanted to play the new stuff. And, forever thereafter, I wanted to play the new stuff. But I've always wondered if that keeps me from discovering amazing old stuff I missed. More importantly, whether I'm keeping you from discovering amazing stuff I missed. Tons of times, I'm following the Google rabbit hole to a destination that is one or two years old or more. And I immediately pull up stakes. "Well, that's it, then. Not new. Gotta move on." It's a crime, I tellz ya.

JERRON "BLIND BOY" PAXTON

Case in point, a nice little New Orleans comp from 2014. That's my favorite from the comp, right there, Blind Boy Paxton singing "Catfish Ain't Biting Blues" (with it's nice little shout out to Hanukkah).

New Orleans is a town so full of music, you could spend a couple of years there and not hear half of the artists. And there are several excellent compilations of New Orleans Christmas music featuring the Crescent City's A-Team of musical stars...The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Aaron Neville, Earl King, Dr. John, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Johnny Adams, Michael Doucet, etc., etc. And you won't have too much trouble finding recordings of the artists who aren't quite on that level of fame and fortune.

But "Best of Street: New Orleans X-Mas" features a cast and crew you may never have encountered on the many excellent compilations of New Orleans Christmas music. These are some of New Orleans' finest street musicians. And they are awesome! You'll get a broad sampling of sounds from Louisiana Hillbilly Country to Dixieland Jazz to Hokum Blues. There's even a Calypso cover of one of the greatest Christmas songs ever written, "Seven Skeletons Found In The Yard" (we encountered a version of it last year from Three For Silver) from Maddy & Her Calypso Friends (Maddy has Jazz Friends, too).

TODD DAY WAIT OF TODD DAY WAIT'S PIGPEN

Time was, you hear an awesome street musician or band and you dropped a dollar in the cup or bowl or guitar case. People don't do that as much anymore. So Best of Street records the musicians, gets their music out there and then turn over the lion's share of the profits (90%, I think) from records sold and release party shows to the musicians. And some of the artists they bring to light get signed by real labels. How cool is that?

Now the good thing about something a little older is that you don't have to wait to get it or hunt around looking for it (not yet, anyway). The digital version of "Best of Street: New Orleans X-Mas" is at Amazon and iTunes. And, if you want hard copy on dat dere, jus' pass by ta Louisiana Music Factory 'n'em. Say, "I'll take me a CD of dat dere." Den you gotta pay fit. Visa, Masta Cort... It don madda, Cher. (Phew, N'awlins slang is a lot harder than I thought).

Where yat? Oh, OK. So it ain't necessarily new, but "Best of Street: New Orleans X-Mas" is the kind of record I'm always looking for. And I suspect it's the kind of record that a lot of y'all are always looking for, too (that's a North Carolina y'all, not a New Orleans y'all). In that regard, this record sells itself. And I should add that Best of Street isn't stuck in New Orleans. They have or are planning records for Orlando, New York, Chicago, Boston and Austin. If you want to keep up, you should go like their Facebook page. Good people doing good stuff for good people. And isn't that what Christmas is really all about, Charlie Brown? Yeah you right!

One last video for you, below the album info. I'd be inclined to give you another from Blind Boy Paxton, but I think it's only fair I share the love and give you a taste of Jenavieve Cook & The Winding Boys and "I'm Going Back Home".

BEST OF STREET FACEBOOK
AMAZON (DIGITAL)
LOUISIANA MUSIC FACTORY (CD)

Christmas Morning Blues – Smoking Time Jazz Club
Just Because – Dixie Belle And Her Stoop Stompers
You’re Mean One Mr. Grinch – Shine Delphi with Blind Boy Paxton
Dirty Ol’ Christmas Blues – Yes Ma’am with Blind Boy Payton
I’m Going Back Home – Jenavieve Cook And The Windin’ Boys
Catfish Ain’t Biting Blues – Blind Boy Paxton
Baby It’s Cold Outside – The Kentucky Sisters
Seven Skeletons Found In The Yard – Maddy And Her Calypso Friends
I’m Trimming My Christmas Tree With Teardrops – Todd Day Wait’s Pigpen
O Holy Night – The Original Pinettes

0 Comments

COMING ATTRACTIONS (COUNTRY FREE)

8/21/2016

0 Comments

As promised in the previous post, we're going to attempt a Coming Attractions post featuring assorted music genres, but not Country. Not that I've got anything against Country music, but Country fans have already got their hands full (and their wallets empty) with all the major artists who have announced their projects.

And some might argue that I'm blowing the whole non-Country thing right up top by showing the cover of Jimmy Buffett's new Christmas album, "Tis The Season". Certainly some of Jimmy's early hits charted Country, but I think its fair to think of his music as Pop, as much as anything. And Jimmy's getting a tad clever, here. It isn't really "Tis The Season"...it's "Tis The Sea, Son".

"Tis The Season" arrives October 28 and you can pre-order the CD from Mailboat Records. Further details are on the way.

I wanna update you on Elizabeth Chan's new album and, while we don't have any audio, yet, I like having music playing while I write and while you read. And it disturbs me that, in my doddering old age, I seem most attracted to the disco/dance flavored "Vixen" from "Christmas In The City". But, instead, I'll go "Fa La La" from last year's "Red & Green" as there's a Spanish version of that on the new record.

OK. So. We've previously told you that the new record from Elizabeth Chan--her fifth--is "Five Golden Rings", and that the release is scheduled for September 30. But now we've got the cover art and the track list. And I think the big news, here, is that Liz is going to grace us with some traditional Christmas music along side her festive originals. And, let me say, I like that she's doing that. A lot. I love the fact that Elizabeth is out there trying to write a new holiday standard. But, let's think about this for a second. Say, like me, you find Liz's singing voice to be just about perfect--just a cozy fit for the holidays--smooth as honey and very light on the nutmeg. So you set yourself up a Liz Chan listening party and you work your way through five EPs and albums and there's not one of the old familiar carols? I dunno. Maybe it's me. I'm always attracted to the new songs of the season, but I still want some familiar in the mix...just a few sprinkles of cinnamon in my apple cider. And I'd wager I'm not the only one who has wanted to hear Liz sing a Christmas song or two that she didn't write (not that she should stop writing...God, no).

That said, I'm not a fan of "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" and I would've loved to hear Liz sing "Silent Night". Minor quibble. There look to be plenty of carols I do enjoy ("Adeste Fideles" and "Deck The Halls" will do nicely) and, as always, some brand new Liz Chan holiday magic. 17 tracks in all, "Five Golden Rings" weighs in at 53 minutes--no skimping on this holiday feast. And I can't say for sure (because I have no idea), but I see "Jingle Bells" on the playlist and I have to wonder if that's the Taylor Swift "Shake It Off" parody--one of my favorite videos from last year. Keep tabs on the Queen of Christmas via Facebook and her website.

1. Sleigh
2. Concrete Tears
3. Ghost of Christmas Past
4. Home
5. Deck the Halls
6. Jingle Bells
7. Jolly Old St. Nicholas
8. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
9. Joy to the World
10. Angels We Have Heard On High
11. We Are the Stars
12. Adeste Fideles
13. The Prayer
14. Fa La La (En Espanol)
15. City Christmas
16. Cancion de Navidad
17. Best Gift Ever (Remix)

Gentri is a trio of tenors based in Utah. They're classically trained and their debut record last year made its biggest mark on the Classical Crossover charts, but they describe their sound as Cinematic Pop. And, while I have a whole different sound in mind when I hear the term "Cinematic Pop", I can understand where they're coming from when they say that, having sampled a bunch of their music on Soundcloud. I don't see them touring with the Stones anytime soon, but their sound does have an appeal beyond the Classical market. It especially works on Christmas music as last year's EP and Christmas special demonstrated.

Gentri follows up the "Merry Christmas" EP with a full album, this year, and I'm anxious to hear some audio on the new tracks. In the meantime, there is the EP and a handful of Christmas songs from last year's special. Enough to pique the interest. "Finding Christmas" is due out on October 14.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)
Silent Night
Finding Christmas
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Little Drummer Boy
Ave Maria
O Holy Night
What Child Is This?/I Wonder as I Wander
The First Noel
In the Bleak Midwinter
O Come, All Ye Faithful

From the sublime to something else entirely.

Every year, Cleopatra Records drops a compilation or two or three--thematically drawn together by genre. They're always a little bit off the wall. There's always old stuff and new stuff and they never tell you which is which. This year's first announced set is "Black Santa Claus" which stirs up a brew of mostly modern Hip Hop with some more standard Soul tunes tossed in for reasons I don't really get. I mean, you know, I get the whole idea of a set of Christmas Hip Hop. Kool Moe Dee and Kurtis Blow next to Onyx and Trick Daddy. I get that. But to then toss Freda Payne's "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in there? Maybe it works better in practice than in theory.

But, at the end of the day, I know this is exactly the kind of record a lot of Stubbys regulars look for. Something--with apologies to Monty Python--"completely different". And I knew this one was coming, too, since Cleopatra noted earlier this year when Onyx delivered their track (the working title, at the time, appeared to be "Urban Christmas Tales"). "Black Santa Claus" drops like it's hot on October 28. I don't want to be premature, but I'm guessing there will be a Parental Advisory on this one.

1. Cam'ron - They Know Me
  2. Onyx - Jingle Bells, Shotgun Shells
  3. Luniz - Deck the Halls
  4. Az Yet - Angels We Have Heard on High
  5. Rose Royce Feat. Kenny Copeland - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
  6. Chingy - Chingy's Christmas
  7. Ready for the World - O Come All Ye Faithful
  8. Bonnie Pointer - Merry Christmas Baby
  9. Afroman - Christmas Time
  10. Kool Moe Dee - Surviving Christmas
  11. Club Nouveau - the Twelve Days of Christmas
  12. Anita Ward - O Holy Night
13. Styles P Feat. Tyler Woods & Fortes - Ghetto Christmas
  14. Masta Ace - Black Santa Clauz (Toys, Toys, Toys)
  15. Freda Payne - O Little Town of Bethlehem
  16. Force MDS - I Can't Wait Till Christmas
  17. Karyn White - What Child Is This?
  18. Blu Cantrell - Joy to the World
  19. Nelly Cel - It's Still Christmas
  20. Project Pat - the Nightmare Before Christmas
  21. J-Kwon - Silent Night
  22. Camp Lo - Star of the East
  23. Baby Bash - Christmas Treez
  24. Trick Daddy - It's Christmas
  25. Kurtis Blow - KB Christmas Delight

ONYX VISITS CLEOPATRA

Alright, Stubby, what else you got in that big bag of yours? This one just kind of came out of nowhere, which makes it a prime target for my interest.

That version of "The Huron Carol" on the Native American flute by Nathan Tsosie just happened to be the only track on this album with a video (not saying this is the same as the track on the album). But don't get the impression that "Christmas From The Heart" is all Native American flute. Far from it. "Christmas From The Heart", on Heart Dance Records, is a compilation of (mostly, I'm guessing) newly recorded New Age and Ambient music from Arizona musicians.

Leaving aside my automatic affection for "Local Artist" comps, the roster offers enough diversity to keep my attention. I think the most intriguing character to me, after what was an admittedly brief investigation, is Amy Faithe. Amy has been out there singing for awhile, now, but mostly as a Jazz and R&B performer. She says the New Age music she's making now has always been there, so this wasn't a departure or transition for her. To me, Amy singing New Age sounds much more "authentic" than Amy singing Jazz and R&B. She's a good enough Jazz and Soul singer, but the New Age sounds to me like who she really is.

Other impressive performers, here, include Trialogue (Sherry Finzer, Darin Mahoney and Will Clipman) and Thano & Lolo. I can't speak for the record (no audio as yet), but the artists have diverse approaches and instrumentation. And I should also mention that 10% of the proceeds will go to the non-profit organization Music IS Therapy. "Christmas From The Heart" arrives October 21.

1. Joy to the World (Louis Landon)
2. Angels We Have Heard On HIgh (Thano and Lolo)
3. The Gift (Art Patience)
4. Away in a Manger (Chris Burton Jacome)
5. Light to the World (Amber Norgaard)
6. First Light (Jocelyn Obermeyer)
7. Jingle Bells: Trialogue (Sherry Finzer, Darin Mahoney, Will Clipman)
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman (Greg Starr)
9. Ave Maria (Tatum Stolworthy)
10. Greensleeves (John Calvert)
11. Silent Night (Tom Moore)
12. The Huron Carol (Nathan Tsosie)
13. O Come O Come Emmanuel (Amy Faithe)

We're not done yet, though we're getting close. So I just want to thank you for hanging with me on the longer form pieces. And I've got a little something for you. I know we said we'd ride Country free today. But this bit of Americana is well worth bending those rules a bit. Besides, the little taste we're going to give you is FREE (well, name-your-price anyway). So, on a technicality, I could always say...this is Country...FREE.

Much as I love me some Americana, I'm still a bit surprised it's been such a big hit overseas. I shouldn't be. After all, all of America's music seems to be bigger overseas than domestically. Maybe we just take it all for granted. Anywho, there's a Dutch Americana band, Hidden Agenda Deluxe. They are superb, by the way. So Hidden Agenda Deluxe was touring Europe will Oklahoma's own Carter Sampson. And whatever the spirit was that moved them (perhaps it was that they will again be touring in December), Carter Sampson and Hidden Agenda Deluxe recorded a Christmas album. Some standards and covers, of course, but also some original material. Now the full album still has to be mixed, mastered, and pressed to CD. And, when it arrives in earnest, it won't be free. But the band has posted 3 of the rough mixes and a trailer with some other bits and pieces to Bandcamp. "Xmas In June Minor", as they call it, includes the best "Hard Candy Christmas" I've heard since Dolly's and the amazing "Xmas Eve In Amsterdam" (also "I Shall Be Released"--totally excellent in its own right). Go grab it while you can and, by the time Christmas rolls around, I'm betting you'll be thirsty for more.

We always get a collection or two from Jasmine Records. I usually wait for the cover art, but, looking over the track listings, this may be the first time that I've already got all of them. But you may not and it is always handy to have it all on a single (or double) disc. Collection one is "Christmas 'Round The Jukebox", featuring vintage R&B, Blues and Doo Wop. Collection two is "A Rock And Roll Christmas Party" featuring vintage Rock and still more R&B and Doo Wop. Both sets will be released September 9. Click on the titles below to pre-order.

CHRISTMAS ROUND THE JUKEBOX

1. Christmas Date Boogie (Joe Turner)
  2. It's Christmas Time (The Five Keys)
  3. Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry)
  4. White Christmas (The Drifters)
  5. Please Come Home For Christmas (Charles Brown)
  6. Hey Santa Claus (The Moonglows)
  7. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (The Cadillacs)
  8. Christmas Time (Jimmy McCracklin)
  9. White Christmas (The Ravens)
  10. Silent Night (The Ravens)
  11. Can This Be Christmas (The Falcons)
  12. I Want My Baby For Christmas (Jimmy Liggins)
  13. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (Mabel Scott)
  14. Merry Christmas Baby (Charles Brown)
  15. Lonesome Christmas - Part 1 (Lowell Fulson)
  16. Lonesome Christmas - Part 2 (Lowell Fulson)
  17. Christmas Eve Baby (Johnny Moore's Three Blazers)
  18. Hello Santa Claus (Cecil Grant)
  19. How I Hate To See Christmas Come Around (Jimmy Witherspoon)
  20. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (The Harmony Grits)
  21. Christmas Time Blues (Roy Milton)
  22. Christmas In Heaven (The Dominoes)
  23. Let's Make Christmas Merry Baby (Amos Milburn)
  24. May Every Day Be Christmas (Louis Jordan)
  25. (It's Gonna Be) Lonely Christmas (The Orioles)
  26. We Want To See Santa Do The Mambo (Big John Greer)
  27. Christmas Celebration (B.B. King)

A ROCK AND ROLL CHRISTMAS PARTY
1. Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms)
  2. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee)
  3. Doing The Santa Claus (Huey Piano Smith & The Clowns)
  4. Santa Claus Is Back In Town (Elvis Presley)
  5. Santa Claus Is Watching You (Ray Stevens)
  6. Twistin' Bells (Santo & Johnny)
  7. Papa Noel (Brenda Lee)
  8. Rock And Roll Santa (Huey Piano Smith & The Clowns)
  9. (I Want A) Rock And Roll Guitar (Johnny Preston)
  10. Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) (Elvis Presley)
  11. Merry, Merry Christmas Baby (Dodie Stevens)
  12. Rockin' Santa Claus (The Martells)
  13. Yulesville (Edd 'Kookie' Byrnes)
  14. Merry Twistmas (The Marcels)
  15. They Shined Up Rudolph's Nose (Johnny Horton)
  16. I'm Gonna Lasso Santa (Brenda Lee)
  17. I'll Be Walking The Floor This Christmas (Ernest Tubb)
  18. Blue Christmas (Elvis Presley)
  19. Reindeer Boogie (Hank Snow)
  20. I Want A Boy For Christmas (The Del Vetts)
  21. It's Christmas Time Once Again (Frankie Lymon)
  22. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (Huey Piano Smith & The Clowns)
  23. White Christmas (Elvis Presley)
  24. A Not So Merry Christmas (Bobby Vee)
  25. Christmas In The Congo (The Marquees)
  26. Who Said There Ain't No Santa Claus (Ron Holden & The Thunderbirds)
  27. Christmas In Jail (The Youngsters)
  28. Happy New Year Baby (Jo Anne Campbell)
  29. What Are You Doing New Year's (The Orioles)
  30. After New Year's Eve (The Heartbeats)

THE ORIGINAL COVER

Time for this little doggie to get to bed. Gonna close with something I think I missed last year. Sorta. It's one of those deals where I already had the CD, but they added a tune. I hate when that happens. On the other hand, the CD I had was from 2009 and we weren't around to tell you about it at the time. (I'm not deliberately trying to be cryptic and annoying; I'm just like that naturally).

Andy Goldberg. Do you know the name? You should. Andy's day gig is as an attorney, but music has always been his one true love. Specifically Power Pop that sounds an awful lot like the music the Beatles used to make. In college, he put together a band called The Sun Kings. The band didn't last (though they occasionally still play together), so Andy began recording as The Goldbergs. Among fans of Power Pop, Andy is universally acknowledged as a genius. In 2009, Andy collected up his holiday repertoire (Sun Kings and Goldbergs) and released "Jingle Jangle Pop", an EP I immediately bought for the brilliant "Chanukah Guy". A few years back, Andy got back into the studio with his latest band, The Honeymoon Stallions. And, last year, Andy released a revamped version of "Jingle Jangle Pop". I'm going to have to check the CD later to see if they dropped anything, but they definitely added "Snowbirds" by The Honeymoon Stallions. I don't think the original is still available anywhere, but the newer version can be had from CDBaby. And it's still got "Chanukah Guy".

Good night, everybody. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

0 Comments

HOLLY & A CHRISTMAS BELL

8/4/2016

0 Comments

HOLLY ARBALLO

I never tire of hearing new voices (and I mean that in the larger sense--"voice" as in someone who has something to say, musically, someone with their own unique perspective) and here's one who is very promising. Holly Arballo (pronounced, if I've got this right, arr-bī-yo) is originally from Vermont but currently based in Utah.

Holly's a singer/songwriter whose sound is a mix of Indie, Alt Folk and Jazz. Honestly, she seems to me to have Jazz in her heart, which she's just starting to let free...but I could just be projecting. At the moment, there's not much of her music on the digital platforms (just one song that I could find--"October" on a 2015 CrowdCare compilation, raising money and awareness in the battle against cancer), but she does have a number of videos on YouTube. And there are some song samples on her web site.

Holly is currently working on a Christmas album, which will feature a full band. It's mostly songs you know, with her own arrangements and her Indie/Folk/Jazz "voice". And there will be one original (at least) in the mix. The one song she mentioned by name is Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here" from the Charlie Brown special. The record is expected to be completed for a release at the beginning of November this year.

Keep tabs on Holly via Facebook, if you like good music.

An aside to Holly and other artists who have written me recently. I do/did reply, but my webmail is broken (I can receive, but can't send). So I use my personal email to reply (which I'm not about to post here for every spam mailer and SEO company on the web, but it does have "stubby" in the address if you want to look for that. Or not.). Just sayin'.

This one was released last week and immediately struck a chord with me. I think you have to hear it to get it, so....

Here, try another...

THE REX BELL TRIO

I don't know a thing about Rex Bell (or his trio mates, Joe Vick and Dave Rogers), but he's got something going on here. From "Sleep, Baby, Sleep", you can tell it's very much a Jazz record. But, with a track like "Bells Across The Snow", you can easily imagine this record striking just the right note with folks more interested in traditional "Lite" or "EZ" Christmas music from the 50s and 60s. And it's all infused with Gospel and dripping in modern Christian spirituality. Really a very winning sound, I think, and something that is at once completely new and original, yet completely familiar and comfortable. Clearly, Rex's piano work is front and center, but the record would not be what it is without the vocals (thank you Mary Anne Robinson and Eric Chesher). Although there are different "textures" to those vocals, track to track, I tend to refer to that overall style or sound as "jingle singing". That's probably taken as an insult by professional vocalists, but it isn't intended as such. Its just that I first became acquainted with lush "close harmony" singing via the jingle packages heard on AM radio in the 60s. Anyway, "Hommage To Christmas" might not ring your Christmas bell as it does mine, but its definitely worth checking out. And, if you dig the Jazz but aren't down with the vocals, Rex and his Trio recorded an album for you back in 2013. "The Christmas Scene" is straight up Jazz featuring the more familiar songs of the season. Digital downloads of music from the Rex Bell Trio are at all the usual outlets, with hard copy CDs available from CD Baby.

And as long as we're in this neck of the woods, let me call your attention to Kasie Lunsford, an Arkansas vocalist who has been backed by the Rex Bell Trio from time to time. Nice range--Jazz, Blues, standards--and she has a number of Christmas tunes for sale via Facebook and/or ReverbNation (not sure of the year recorded, but good stuff). Just tossin' it out there.

1. Beautiful Mother
2. Have You Seen His Face?
3. Sleep, Baby, Sleep
4. Cradle Song
5. The Peaceful Night
6. So Long Ago
7. Mystery Divine
8. Seven Angels
9. Bells Across the Snow
10. The Light We See

PURCHASE FROM CD BABY
PURCHASE FROM AMAZON MP3

I prefer doing my Coming Attraction posts with 7 or 8 or 9 items, reason being I like to try to have something for everyone. But my current schedule has kind of forced me into these one or two item posts. It ain't a bad thing. It gives you and I a reason to visit more frequently. I say this to tell you that I've got a whole crapload of stuff I need to lay on you soon. Likely some time this weekend. I'm mostly talking about albums coming to vinyl this year and vinyl classics coming to CD (some for the first time). I suspect it'll be more a list that a write up (there's just such a crapload--or it seems like a crapload--and, for the most part, no release dates or purchase links as yet). So be sure to check back soon so you can identify the ones you're going to want.

That said, I gotta close with this one today, 'cuz it's a hoot and a half--nay, a literal Hoot N. Annie.

Jean Luc Picard has gone Country! Well, actually, Sir Patrick Stewart (a brilliant actor). I can't even say he's gone where no Starship Captain has gone before, given Shatner's forays into music. Now the teaser video below makes out like Stewart has recorded several albums. He hasn't (that's part of what makes it a hoot). On the other hand, first time I saw the video, I thought the whole thing was deliberate farce. It isn't. There actually IS a five song EP--"Patrick Stewart's Cowboy Classic Sampler". And one of those songs is "Here Comes Santa Claus". And you know you're going to need that in your arsenal (although, personally, I'd buy it for "Ringo" and "Buttons & Bows" and I wish they'd included "Rawhide"). No digital on this one--just a CD--but proceeds go to the International Rescue Committee which is a great cause. CD Baby has a slightly lower price than Amazon, right now.....although sometimes differences in shipping costs can even things out a bit. In this case, I'd probably go with CD Baby. Just sayin'. Now let's everybody have a good time and a good laugh watching Cowboy Pat's teaser video (btw, there's a false ending in the video; it ain't over 'til the Christmas song).