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Post by kds on Dec 9, 2021 20:25:00 GMT
Queen actually released a non album Christmas single in 1984 called Thank God It's Christmas, but this gem from their 1995 swansong, A Winter's Tale, definitely fits the season. One of three truly new songs to appear on the posthumous release, the song never specifically says Christmas or Holiday, but the lyrics certainly paint a picture of an ideal December ("it's winter fall") day. Love it! Freddie sings his heart out. It's almost a heartbreaking listen in the right mood, giving that Freddie is singing about such beauty in the world, a he knew he wasn't long for.
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Post by kds on Dec 15, 2021 13:44:49 GMT
Copying from the Top Ten Thread
Here are my Top Ten Christmas Albums
1. Tran Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and Other Stories 2. The Beach Boys - Christmas Album 3. Blackmore's Night - Winter Carols 4. Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift for You 5. Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas 6. Brian Wilson - What I Really Want for Christmas 7. Bing Crosby - Christmas Classics 8. The Fab Four - Hark! 9. Trans Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve 10. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
The majority of the rest of my Christmas listening tends to come from various comps and playlists.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 15, 2021 14:28:19 GMT
I'll happily jump in!
01 Andy Williams - The Andy Williams Christmas Album 02 Perry Como - Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music (1956 Version) 03 Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas 04 Mario Lanza - Lanza Sings Christmas Carols (1956 Version) 05 Tony Bennett - Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album 06 Jack Jones - The Jack Jones Christmas Album (Kapp 1964) 07 The Carpenters - Christmas Portrait 08 Roger Whittaker - The Christmas Song 09 Nat King Cole - The Magic Of Christmas 10 Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You
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Post by kds on Dec 15, 2021 15:50:03 GMT
Thanks to Spotify, I've been able to listen to more Christmas albums in the last two years without having to buy them first. It's a nice feature, especially since I have Premium this year.
So, I've really enjoyed somewhat recent Christmas releases from Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues. I'll probably buy tangible copies of both of those albums at some point.
I also think that Johnny Cash's Christmas material is underrated. In the early 00s, I picked up a 11 track compilation of his Christmas songs, but in recent years, I've really enjoyed his 1963 album The Christmas Spirit, another that I'll likely add to my collection.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 15, 2021 16:10:34 GMT
Thanks to Spotify, I've been able to listen to more Christmas albums in the last two years without having to buy them first. It's a nice feature, especially since I have Premium this year. So, I've really enjoyed somewhat recent Christmas releases from Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues. I'll probably buy tangible copies of both of those albums at some point. I enjoy The Moody Blues' December. It has some interesting songs on there; it's not your traditional Christmas album. Hard to believe that December is - and probably will be - the group's last studio album, and it was released in 2003.
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Post by kds on Dec 15, 2021 16:21:01 GMT
Thanks to Spotify, I've been able to listen to more Christmas albums in the last two years without having to buy them first. It's a nice feature, especially since I have Premium this year. So, I've really enjoyed somewhat recent Christmas releases from Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues. I'll probably buy tangible copies of both of those albums at some point. I enjoy The Moody Blues' December. It has some interesting songs on there; it's not your traditional Christmas album. Hard to believe that December is - and probably will be - the group's last studio album, and it was released in 2003. Unless Justin and John decide to reform as The Moody Blues, you're probably right. I liked that they didn't do a ton of obvious songs, so it's a bit different. Although, while their version is passable, I can do without another cover of Happy Xmas (War is Over). Until recently, it looked like Jethro Tull's Christmas album was going to be the swansong for that band, but they're due to release a new album in 2022. The Tull Christmas album is similar in that it's not your typical late era traditional Christmas album.
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Post by kds on Dec 17, 2021 18:37:36 GMT
I was actually going to do a Top Ten here, but honestly couldn't come up with enough. Here are a couple artists who I'd love to hear (or have heard) do either a Christmas song or album.
David Gilmour - Gilmour, in particular in later Floyd albums and 21st century solo material, has released a lot of really good pastoral, guitar based songs. I'd love to hear him do some instrumental Christmas stuff. Perhaps one day the Merry Axemas album series will be revived and somebody could convince David to join in.
Iron Maiden - Why not? We've had Christmas offerings from Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Lemmy, Queensryche, and Rob Halford (two Christmas albums from Rob), I wouldn't mind hearing Maiden kick out a galloping Christmas tune, or even a slow build Christmas epic.
Poison - Seriously, how has this never happened?
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 17, 2021 19:06:53 GMT
Perhaps one day the Merry Axemas album series will be revived and somebody could convince David to join in. Damnit, are you trying to make me sentimental for the seasonal spirit? Fine, here's a great one from that series, by Eric Johnson. Nobody but nobody better represents the term "musical taste" than Johnson: his technique and virtuosity are way up there, but he's just so damn tasteful how he plays! Rarely far-out, never overdoes it. The kind of thing a non-guitar nerd can listen to and really enjoy ... and guitar nerds can listen to and turn green as the Grinch with envy.
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Post by kds on Dec 17, 2021 19:13:33 GMT
I enjoy that version quite a lot.
I actually need to dig up my CD of Merry Axemas Vol 1. Vol 2 is on Spotify (except one track), but only four tracks from Vol 1 are available. Comps and soundtracks on Spotify are kinda weird.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 18, 2021 13:35:32 GMT
How about a Country Christmas...from Loretta Lynn with a little help from John Carter Cash!
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Post by jk on Dec 18, 2021 14:54:37 GMT
I'll happily jump in!
01 Andy Williams - The Andy Williams Christmas Album 02 Perry Como - Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music (1956 Version) 03 Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas 04 Mario Lanza - Lanza Sings Christmas Carols (1956 Version) 05 Tony Bennett - Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album 06 Jack Jones - The Jack Jones Christmas Album (Kapp 1964) 07 The Carpenters - Christmas Portrait 08 Roger Whittaker - The Christmas Song 09 Nat King Cole - The Magic Of Christmas 10 Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You
I think I even prefer Johnny's gorgeous album, which I discovered thanks to you, Sheriff -- to A Christmas Gift.... The Boys' album is pretty good too.
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Post by jk on Dec 20, 2021 13:26:34 GMT
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 The Cincinnati Kid on Dec 20, 2021 13:58:51 GMT
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 20, 2021 16:28:29 GMT
Are you tired of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"? I am, but did you know that Mariah could rock, I mean really rock and roll? This song, "Lil Snowman", is from the Deluxe Anniversary Edition of Merry Christmas:
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Post by kds on Dec 20, 2021 16:45:56 GMT
That's not bad. To be honest, I really didn't used to mind her one big Christmas hit - All I Want for Christmas is You. But, I grew very tired of it due to overplay and hearing it anywhere I go in November and December.
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