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.
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.
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.
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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) |
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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