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Post by kds on Dec 29, 2022 20:26:20 GMT
A quick aside regarding Christmas music. Our FM station that went all Christmas Music on November 17 switched the Christmas music off immediately on December 26.
I know I typically cease all my Christmas listening after the December 25 celebrations conclude, but considering there's such a push to extend the season, it's a little surprising the FM station flipped the switch off so fast.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 29, 2022 21:05:44 GMT
A quick aside regarding Christmas music. Our FM station that went all Christmas Music on November 17 switched the Christmas music off immediately on December 26. I know I typically cease all my Christmas listening after the December 25 celebrations conclude, but considering there's such a push to extend the season, it's a little surprising the FM station flipped the switch off so fast. There are two main radio stations that I listen to for Christmas music in eastern/central Pennsylvania - Warm 103.3 FM in York, PA and Starview 92.7 FM in the Hanover/York/Harrisburg area. They are very good Christmas stations. They start right after Halloween/early November and they are still playing Christmas music 24/7. I try to extend the Christmas season until at least New Year's Day so I appreciate that.
I didn't give my annual report yet on Music Choice (on cable TV) so here you go. As usual, Music Choice started playing Christmas music (Sounds Of The Season) a few hours after midnight on Halloween night. I check it every year; it's a tradition. And, this year, it was terrible, and I mean the worst. They were playing almost all Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Justin Bieber, too much Pentatonix, and, well, you get the picture. There was barely any Bing, Mathis, Sinatra, Williams, Cole, Bennett, and Como. As I said, the mix was the worst ever, and I contemplated my annual Email/web site message to complain - which never does any good. But a funny thing happened. After about a week or so of that bad mix, things started to change. Many - MANY - of those aforementioned crooners started to appear, and the, um, younger generation artists, started to fade (substantially but not completely). I could actually listen to it for an extended period of time. Oh, there was still the occasional string of unlistenable stuff, but I'd wait it out and be rewarded. I have a feeling they got some negative feedback that first week or so, or maybe that was the plan, to work into the classic Christmas music/artists. Anyway, Music Choice was better this year. I still think there should be two Sounds Of The Seasons stations (oldies and newies). We'll see...
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Post by kds on Dec 29, 2022 21:08:40 GMT
I do miss when Music Choice had the two Christmas stations.
But, since we dropped Comcast for TV this year, we don't have access to Music Choice.
Our FM station isn't great. Not enough variety for me. They do a pretty decent mix of eras, but not enough from any of them IMO. But, it's pleasant enough to have on in the car while out running Christmas errands.
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Post by jk on Dec 30, 2022 22:01:27 GMT
This one always makes me giggle. Irwin Chusid (on p. 224 of his book Songs in the Key of Z) has this to say about Joseph Spence:
"Bahaman, acoustic guitar-picking master of the rhyming spiritual; lyrics often unintelligible, as if mumbling to himself. Spence (1910–1984) was acclaimed for his unique interpretations of native folk and dance songs, gospel, and disorienting American pop covers. He recorded extensively for Arhoolie, Folkways, Rounder, and Ryko from the 1960s through 1980s. His 'Sandy Craws is Comin' to Town' should be a seasonal staple on every jukebox in the frigging universe, and should replace every Mel Tormé record in existence."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 19, 2023 0:10:01 GMT
Johnny Mathis released a new Christmas album. So, what's so special about that? Well, for starters, Johnny Mathis is 88 years-old. The new album, Christmas Time Is Here, is Johnny's seventh Christmas album. His first Christmas album, the iconic Merry Christmas, was released 65 years ago in 1958! While this new album is comprised of all new recordings, seven of the ten tracks are songs that Johnny previously covered. Admittedly, that is disappointing. I realize there aren't a lot of Christmas songs left that Johnny didn't cover, but with a little creativity and searching, I think he/they could've come up with a few more "new" Christmas songs to record.
I was curious as to how Johnny's 2023 voice would sound in the studio. No problems. He sounds wonderful. Oh, some of the notes might be cut off a little quicker, and the famous "Johnny Mathis vibrato" is thinner, but he hits all the notes and his phrasing is impeccable. He is the consummate artist. Of all of Johnny's Christmas albums, Christmas Time Is Here might be his most intimate. Gone are the the Percy Faith-like large orchestral arrangements. Instead, most of the tracks feature a small quartet or quintet with the piano very prominent. There are touches of tasteful strings throughout the album. Johnny's voice is mixed very up front. He certainly isn't hiding. It's almost like his voice is being featured (duh ), like the most prominent instrument in the mix.
Quibbles? Other than the tracks being previously covered by Johnny, I think Christmas Time Is Here might be a little too laid back. Of the ten tracks, only two - "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "Merry Christmas, Baby" - could be considered "fun" or lively. Part of the success of Johnny Mathis' previous Christmas albums was his outdoorsy voice on fast-moving tracks like "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland". In addition, there was Johnny's powerful wailing (in a good way of course; that was his specialty) on songs like "O Holy Night" and "Do You Hear What I Hear". There's the occasional sampling of sleigh bells for the Christmasey effect, and Johnny does "go for it" in places, but he is mostly very laid-back and reflective. I think that was intentional. That is probably what he was going for with this release. No "All I Want For Christmas Is You" here.
But, hey, Johnny Mathis is still with us. He's healthy, he's touring, and he's releasing new Christmas songs. And with the world as crazy as it is right now, this is exactly what we need. Christmas Time Is Here indeed.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 17, 2023 13:35:14 GMT
Cher and Darlene Love reunite for Cher's new Christmas album:
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Post by kds on Nov 17, 2023 15:53:00 GMT
Bon Jovi released a Christmas single today called Christmas Isn't Christmas.
It could've been called "This Isn't Good."
I've stated before that I really do not care for much of Bon Jovi's 21st century releases. This is no different. Actually, if I didn't know this was BJ, I don't think I'd have guessed who was singing. The song itself sounds like a bit of a rehash of Please Come Home for Christmas, a song that Jon Bon Jovi actually covered about 30 years ago.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 19, 2023 14:06:21 GMT
Originally out of Fargo, North Dakota, now based in Minneapolis, Minnesota (maybe The Kapitan is familiar with them), The Blenders have been touring and recording for over 30 years. The Blenders have recorded a few Christmas albums and this song, "Do You Hear What I Hear", features an arrangement combining The Who's "Baba O'Riley" with the traditional carol. It's really well done and these guys can sing:
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 19, 2023 19:21:22 GMT
Originally out of Fargo, North Dakota, now based in Minneapolis, Minnesota (maybe The Kapitan is familiar with them), The Blenders have been touring and recording for over 30 years. Yes, although not particularly so. I'm definitely aware of them: they're around. But I haven't ever seen them or sought them out.
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Post by kds on Nov 27, 2023 18:46:41 GMT
A week or two ago, my wife mentioned checking out a Pentatonix Christmas show. Just so happens they're in Baltimore this coming Sunday night. And tickets were pretty cheap (at least as far as post COVID concert tickets).
I find their Christmas music pretty good. Not sure seeing them do it in person was high on my list, but happy wife happy life.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 20, 2023 12:43:20 GMT
A couple Beach Boys' Christmas songs - from the 1977 M.I.U. sessions - performed by Brian and Al:
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 21, 2023 15:05:44 GMT
I'm not a big Christmas music fan, but this morning I was introduced to this great 1948 bebop rendition of "White Christmas" by Charlie Parker, with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Al Haig on piano, Tommy Porter on bass, and the great Max Roach on drums, performed live on the radio on Christmas morning of that year. I like the syncopated, harmonized take on the melody that Bird plays with Dorham.
I love that in his solo, Bird quotes "Jingle Bells," too.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 21, 2023 22:01:08 GMT
Blondie Chaplin performs "O Holy Night":
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 22, 2023 1:54:05 GMT
Frank Sinatra is back on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Jingle Bells". I do question something the article says, though. It states that Sinatra's recording of "Jingle Bells" - the one that just charted - is from 1948. Yes, Frank did record "Jingle Bells" in 1948 for Christmas Songs By Sinatra. However, I'm almost certain the version of "Jingle Bells" that just charted is the more familiar one from Sinatra's 1957 album, A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra. You know the version, it's the one that starts out with "I love those j-i-n-g-l-e bells, oh, those holiday j-i-n-g-l-e bells..."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 22, 2023 13:48:47 GMT
It wouldn't be Christmas without a dose of Roy Wood's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", and here Roy stops by for a live performance of the song with a little help from Alfie Boe. Merry Christmas, Roy and Alfie!
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