Yeah, I'm bringing this back around. And I'm doing so because I still think back to those years when I was watching the Christmas music video show on cable in New Jersey. And, even though there's a VHS tape somewhere in my closet with some of those videos, I still think back and say, "Gosh, I wish I could watch those videos now." You're talking 25 years ago, when MTV was, at best, still in diapers. So you can imagine local artist music videos were fairly "no frills". But add in the fact that most of those tunes were never released on any medium--not vinyl, not cassette, not digital audio, and certainly not on CD.
So "A Band In Seattle Christmas" is out there for you to be had so that you needn't have those regrets 30 years from now. There's the digital record, obviously, but "A Band In Seattle" has also released a DVD featuring the 21 performances--mostly originals--from the Christmas special. Most were shot in front of a green screen with holiday images projected in later, but that gives it a kind of throwback cheesiness that appeals to me. And, if you haven't tired of limited edition Christmas vinyl, there's a package that includes a collectors grade 180 gram vinyl 12" single of the Staxx Brothers' "Slow Jams For Christmas" and an earlier recording of theirs "Cornrows For Christmas".
Not every song is going to appeal to every listener, but some of this stuff is really good and ought to be saved, lest it be forgotten. I like Whitney Monge, up top, who reminds me a bit of Tracy Chapman. And here's one a lot of other folks spoke highly of this year, The Furniture Girls with "Yule Tide".
So "A Band In Seattle Christmas" is out there for you to be had so that you needn't have those regrets 30 years from now. There's the digital record, obviously, but "A Band In Seattle" has also released a DVD featuring the 21 performances--mostly originals--from the Christmas special. Most were shot in front of a green screen with holiday images projected in later, but that gives it a kind of throwback cheesiness that appeals to me. And, if you haven't tired of limited edition Christmas vinyl, there's a package that includes a collectors grade 180 gram vinyl 12" single of the Staxx Brothers' "Slow Jams For Christmas" and an earlier recording of theirs "Cornrows For Christmas".
Not every song is going to appeal to every listener, but some of this stuff is really good and ought to be saved, lest it be forgotten. I like Whitney Monge, up top, who reminds me a bit of Tracy Chapman. And here's one a lot of other folks spoke highly of this year, The Furniture Girls with "Yule Tide".
If you haven't already surmised, pretty much every video from "A Band In Seattle Christmas" is available on YouTube a la carte, or you can watch the entire show here (or here). But the day will likely come when it isn't anymore. So, me, I wanted the DVD. It's not like its super expensive ($9.95 plus shipping) and, as it was taking a little while to get them pressed, I waited until mine arrived to post this. It arrived today and I dug it. I wish there was a lot more stuff like this out there. I realized we've entered an era when MTV doesn't show music videos anymore, and I think that's sad, frankly. I'd love me a nice DVD with all the Christmas music videos from back in the day. Wouldn't you? I've tried making them (and I know others have, too) and the old familiar issue of widely divergent volume levels keep such attempts from being watchable.
And making the point further, here is a song from those old cable shows I used to watch in New Jersey. It was called "Meadowlands Showcase" and this 1988 video from Hungry Dutchmen, "Lookin' For Santa", is one of the few that was released on CD.
And making the point further, here is a song from those old cable shows I used to watch in New Jersey. It was called "Meadowlands Showcase" and this 1988 video from Hungry Dutchmen, "Lookin' For Santa", is one of the few that was released on CD.
Those "Meadowlands Showcase" Christmas shows are now available on Amazon video for cheap. I'll warn you in advance that, if you didn't watch them at the time, they probably aren't going to mean all that much to you. But if you did see them then.... ah, memories. Amateurish? Sure. It's like something you made for your college AV class on a budget of $1.50 with cardboard and duct tape. But so was Uncle Floyd, really. And who doesn't love Uncle Floyd? For the time being, you can also watch them on YouTube. 1988, 1989, and 1990. And here's another one from the 1988 "Meadowlands Showcase Happy Holidays" show.
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