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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 9, 2022 14:07:11 GMT
Sheriff John Stone's Spotlight On Christmas..."It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" by Andy Williams
Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 - September 25, 2012) recorded 43 albums of which 15 went gold and 3 were certified platinum. Andy was nominated for six Grammy Awards, hosted a television variety show from 1962 to 1971, and sold over 45 million records worldwide.
Andy Williams was born in Wall Lake, Iowa, and had three older brothers - Bob, Don, and Dick Williams. The Williams Brothers became a singing quartet, performed on several radio broadcasts, appeared in films, performed in nightclubs, and recorded several singles and albums. Andy Williams' solo career began in 1953, and he became popular after becoming a regular on the TV show, Tonight With Steve Allen in 1954. Andy's biggest hits included "Butterfly", "Hawaiian Wedding Song", "Moon River", "Can't Get Used To Losing You", and "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story".
Andy was personal friends with Robert Kennedy, and sang "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic" at his funeral. When the Nixon administration attempted to deport John Lennon, Andy was outspoken in defending John. Andy is included in the montage on Ringo Starr's album, Ringo. Andy was one of the first entertainers to open a theater in Branson, the Moon River Theatre. Andy's ex-wife, actress/singer Claudine Longet, was charged and convicted in the accidental homicide of Olympic skier, Vladimir "Spider" Sabich. Throughout the trial, to support his ex-wife, Andy escorted Claudine to and from the courthouse. Andy said, "She is the mother of my children and we never stopped being friends. We just didn't want to be married anymore." From 1968 to 1987, Andy was part-owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA basketball team.
Andy Williams might be best known for his Christmas music. The Andy Williams Christmas Album (1963) and Merry Christmas (1965) are considered to be two of the greatest holiday albums. "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" appeared on The Andy Williams Christmas Album. The song was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" was not released as a single in 1963 ("White Christmas" was chosen as the single), but the song has gone on to become one of the most popular and well-known Christmas songs, appearing near the top of most "Best Holiday Songs" polls. "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" is one of my favorite Christmas songs, and it never mentions the word "Christmas". It wouldn't be the holiday season without hearing Andy Williams and "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" on the car radio, at the grocery store, in the mall, putting up the Christmas tree, or just relaxing at home enjoying Christmas music.
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Post by kds on Nov 9, 2022 14:50:18 GMT
Ah, it's nearly that time of year for the crooners to shine. Nat, Bing, Frank, Perry, Burl, Dean, Harry, of and course Andy, among others.
I, myself, am guilty of pretty much ignoring their music unless we get until about mid to late November.
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Post by kds on Nov 17, 2022 16:01:03 GMT
I was in the dentist chair this morning when Baltimore's 101.9 FM made the switch to Christmas music.
The first song - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams. How about that?
The sixth song also happened to be It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, but it was by somebody I didn't recognize (maybe Michael Buble?). I know it's a different version, but the fact that they played the same song twice inside of a half hour is a testament to the lack of imagination that station uses in their Christmas programming. But, on the plus side, the DJs will get a nice 5-6 week break from Adele.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 25, 2022 15:47:56 GMT
Sheriff John Stone's Spotlight On Christmas..."A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 - April 14, 1995) was an American musician, actor, and author. Burl began his career as a singer/guitarist with his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, in 1942. After serving in the U.S. Army in World War II, he became a folk singer and recorded such hits as "The Blue Tail Fly", "On Top Of Old Smoky", and "A Little Bitty Tear".
As an actor, Burl appeared first on Broadway, later moving into films including East Of Eden, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and The Big Country (for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor). In 1950, Burl was blacklisted as an entertainer with supposed Communist ties. In 1952, fearful of losing his source of income, he cooperated and testified with the House Un-American Activities Committee, ending his blacklisting. His testimony caused major riffs with many folk singers including Pete Seeger.
Burl wrote several books including his autobiography The Wayfaring Stranger, Tales Of America, and Sea Songs Of Sailing, Wailing, and Fishing.
In 1964, Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass chose Burl Ives to voice the part of Sam The Snowman for the animated Christmas TV-special, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Among the songs recorded for the project was "A Holly Jolly Christmas", written by Johnny Marks. Burl later re-recorded "A Holly Jolly Christmas" with different arrangements for his 1965 album, Have A Holly Jolly Christmas. In 1989, Burl Ives announced his retirement from show business on his 80th birthday. With a career in acting, writing, and several TV appearances that spanned over 60 years, Burl Ives is probably best known for his role as Sam The Snowman in Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, and for his recording of "A Holly Jolly Christmas", a Christmas classic to be sure!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 27, 2022 17:38:08 GMT
In reading the Wikipedia entry for A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, it says:
The album was recorded during September and October 1963. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys attempted to contribute his piano playing to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", but was rejected because of his low performing ability.
The Crystals' Dolores Brooks and Phil Spector. Oh, how I wish Brian was on that song and album!
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 17, 2022 15:23:07 GMT
On my drive to and from the grocery store this morning, I had on our local public radio pop music station. The show at this time, Teenage Kicks, is usually dedicated to a single year, or sometimes a theme. Today it was predictably Christmas music. And wow, quite a diversity of sounds. It seems like usually you'll get not much beyond Mariah Carey, Little St. Nick, and maybe half a dozen other standards. This was what played from when I left the house to when I returned home:
The Waitresses, "Christmas Wrapping" U2, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" Run DMC, "Christmas in Hollis" Ramones, "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" Bruce Springsteen, "Merry Christmas Baby" Erasure, "Gaudette" The Bangles, "Hazy Shade of Winter" Dave Edmunds, "Run Rudolph Run" The Brian Setzer Orchestra, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" The Flaming Lips, "A Change at Christmas" Prince, "Another Lonely Christmas" The Kinks, "Father Christmas" Matthew Sweet, "Baby Jesus"
Pretty diverse bunch! I had never heard a few of these, including the one that started me off, The Waitresses. In fact, I don't recall having ever heard of them (though doing some research I discovered they did "I Know What Boys Like," which of course I know). And I can't decide whether I absolutely hate or absolutely love this song.
Oh, and in case you want to check it out, here is their full show playlist (still ongoing as of now, 9:25 am CT; you can stream it if you want).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 17, 2022 15:29:40 GMT
Excellent mix! Some of the best rock & roll Christmas songs out there. And, The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping" has been gaining momentum for years as a Christmas music standard. I think in time it will become more popular than "I Know What Boys Like".
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Post by kds on Dec 17, 2022 22:11:41 GMT
Excellent mix! Some of the best rock & roll Christmas songs out there. And, The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping" has been gaining momentum for years as a Christmas music standard. I think in time it will become more popular than "I Know What Boys Like". I think its already more popular than I Know What Boys Like. Nice to see Bruce's version of Merry Christmas Baby (not the BB song) mentioned. I feel like his cover of that is often overshadowed by his cover of Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
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Post by jk on Dec 20, 2022 14:56:50 GMT
My Christmas album for 2022 technically isn't a Christmas album at all. Celestial Blue is a reworking by keyboardist Celia Garcia-Garcia (love that name!) of mostly familiar classical pieces for that magical instrument the celesta. Wonderful tinkly stuff -- you can almost feel the snow falling: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lGP-I0_mgoszQVzcyUhUCbCVUhjAm1DIATo find out who wrote what (YouTube can be infuriatingly vague at times), click here.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 21, 2022 15:17:27 GMT
Sheriff John Stone's Spotlight On Christmas..."O Come All Ye Faithful" by Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza was described by many music historians as having the greatest voice of the 20th Century, yet most people never heard of him. His story has been compared to a Shakespearien tragedy. Some have referred to Mario Lanza as the first real rock star.
Mario Lanza was born Alfredo Arnold Corcozza in Philadelphia, PA on January 3, 1921. He was the son of Italian immigrants, and when he began his music career, "Freddy" took the name Mario Lanza after the maiden name of his mother, Maria Lanza. In 1942, Mario started his career singing opera, and then served a short stint in the U.S. Army Special Services during World War II performing for the troops. After his army service, Lanza seriously studied voice and toured the U.S. performing operas. After seeing Lanza at a 1947 concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Louis B. Mayer signed Mario Lanza to a seven-year film contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Lanza made a few successful films, the two most popular being The Toast Of New Orleans and The Great Caruso. However, he also gained the reputation as being difficult to work with due to binge-drinking, huge weight gains/losses, excessive partying, and temper tantrums.
Mario Lanza was also a huge recording star, releasing several albums of both opera and popular songs. His biggest hit was "Be My Love" which was on the Billboard charts for 34 weeks in 1950, reaching No. 1 and selling over two million copies. Lanza also did several concert tours, performed for Queen Elizabeth II, and made a few TV appearances.
In the late 1950s, Lanza's career started to decline due to low-grossing films, cancelled concerts, and declining health. In 1957, Mario moved with his wife and four children to Rome to make the film, Seven Hills Of Rome. In 1959, Lanza suffered a mild heart attack, had double pneumonia, and was diagnosed with advanced phlebitis and acute high blood pressure. In October 1959, he admitted himself into a clinic in Rome to lose weight. He underwent controversial "twilight sleep treatment" where the patient was sedated and kept immobile for prolonged periods. Mario Lanza never left that clinic. He died on October 7, 1959. He was only 38 years old. The cause of death was listed as a pulmonary embolism. No autopsy was performed. Mario's widow, Betty, was completely devastated, and five months later she died from a prescription medication overdose. The four children moved in with Mario's parents.
Mario Lanza recorded two Christmas albums (the first one is the best). They are very spiritual, and Mario's voice is very inspiring. The 1956 Lanza Sings Christmas Carols was a Christmas music staple in my home growing up. While I am not a fan of opera, I love that album and I love Mario Lanza's voice. I find the one song that epitomizes Mario Lanza's Christmas catalogue is "O Come All Ye Faithful". For me, it's the definitive version of the song. Powerful!
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Post by kds on Dec 21, 2022 15:34:11 GMT
One of my favorite traditional carols, although I don't think I've ever heard that version. To be honest, I'm not really a fan of the operatic treatment of said carol, but still a good version.
I'd really have to think of my go-to version. I really enjoy Bing Crosby's version.
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Post by jk on Dec 25, 2022 22:49:36 GMT
It's that time of year again! Years ago, back at my "hobby forum", I devised this silly bit of Yuletide fluff which I drag out every Christmas. Christened "The Twelve Days of Beach Boys" by that forum's moderator, my late friend, it's set to this tune: For those with plenty of time on their hands (and/or no life) here are all twelve verses: On the first day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me A day in the life of a tree
On the second day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the third day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the fourth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the fifth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the sixth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Six surfers rocking Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the seventh day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Seven Hondas roaring Six surfers rocking Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the eighth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Eight showboats crawling Seven Hondas roaring Six surfers rocking Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the ninth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Nine monsters mashing Eight showboats crawling Seven Hondas roaring Six surfers rocking Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the tenth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Ten winds a-blowing Nine monsters mashing Eight showboats crawling Seven Hondas roaring Six surfers rocking Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Eleven Rhondas helping Ten winds a-blowing Nine monsters mashing Eight showboats crawling Seven Hondas roaring Six surfers rocking Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me Twelve Dennies drumming Eleven Rhondas helping Ten winds a-blowing Nine monsters mashing Eight showboats crawling Seven Hondas roaring Six surfers rocking Five gold discs Four Disney girls Three moon dawgs Two cuckoo clocks And a day in the life of a tree!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 28, 2022 12:43:25 GMT
A homage to The Beach Boys...
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 28, 2022 12:50:06 GMT
I immediately thought I recognized one of those women (the opening singer) ... and sure enough, it' Inara George, daughter of Lowell, one half of Bird & the Bee, and a solo artist (once worked with VDP on a beautiful album, An Invitation).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 28, 2022 12:54:14 GMT
I immediately thought I recognized one of those women (the opening singer) ... and sure enough, it' Inara George, daughter of Lowell, one half of Bird & the Bee, and a solo artist (once worked with VDP on a beautiful album, An Invitation). Good catch!
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