Classic Christmas albums #14 (of 29) - Russ Taff - A Christmas Song

Russ Taff is best known as the voice that brought the sometimes staid Southern Gospel quartet The Imperials kicking and screaming toward a more fresh, contemporary sound in the late 1970s. Taff departed the group after the release of the 1980 album Priority, establishing himself in the 80s as one of the most innovative solo artists in contemporary Christian music. Although Taff's acclaimed work did not often equal commercial success, its critical cachet earned him the right to record the roots-rock gem Under Their Influence, Vol. 1 in 1991 and the classic A Christmas Song in 1993. Dialing back the grit and swagger in his voice a few notches, Taff aimed for the swing and sass of singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole and the venerable Bing Crosby -- and scored a direct hit! If you've missed out on the delights of A Christmas Song, this link will take you to an Amazon page brimming with bargain priced CDs or a bit more expensive download.

Enjoy!

Classic Christmas albums #13 (of 29) - Big Rhythm - A Swingin' Christmas

A Swingin' Christmas is another long-time favorite, with a relaxed jazz groove that fits almost any situation you can imagine for playing Christmas music in the background. Yet if you focus on the fretwork by multi-instrumentalist James Hollihan Jr., you'll enjoy some of best Les Paul-influenced licks to come down the pike since the Wizard of Waukesha himself last cut Christmas tunes. Hollihan, Jr., a denizen of the Nashville studio scene, is best known as producer, songwriting partner and long-time band member of soulful Christian vocalist Russ Taff, whose own masterpiece, A Christmas Song, we'll bring you tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Classic Christmas albums #12 (of 29) - The Candy Store - Turned On Christmas

Here's another artifact from 1969 and yet another glaring attempt by some record marketing person to create a "hip record for all the kids to turn on to, man!" It's also a perennial among Christmas music sharing sites and a further example of one of those albums that has created its own myth due to the absence of much documentation about its history.

Groovy...

1. Jingle Bells
2. White Christmas
3. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
4. Winter Wonderland (Skips, I think)
5. The Little Drummer Boy
6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
8. Silver Bells
9. Frosty The Snow Man
10. Auld Lang Syne

Christmas 2009 - Mix #4

I'm pretty sure this is a remix of a CD I made for my daughter Naomi last year; that is, it started out that way. I thought I had prepared to post this yesterday, but the file disappeared from my hard drive. (Okay, it was likely user error...)

So this is actually a RE-mix of a remix. Hope you enjoy it!

1. Santa Claus Hides In the Phonograph – Ernest Hare
2. Ho Ho Ho – Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music Makers
3. Dance Mr. Snowman Dance – The Crew-Cuts
4. When Christmas Comes to Our House - Dottie Evans with the Brigadiers Quartet
5. Donde Esta Santa Claus - Augie Rios
6. Jingle Bells – The Manhattan Transfer
7. R2-D2, We Wish You a Merry Christmas - The Star Wars Holiday Special
8. Have a Holly Jolly Christmas – Harry Connick, Jr.
9. Little Drummer Girl - Alicia Keys
10. Little (Ghetto) Drummer Boy - Kirk & Kyle Whalum
11. Sleigh Ride - Relient K
12. I've Had a Very Merry Christmas - Jerry Lewis
13. Mrs. Santa Claus - Joy Electric
14. Wonderful Christmastime - Earthsuit
15. Winter Wonderland (Christian Prommer Remix) - Shirley Horn
16. It's Christmas Time - KJ-52
17. Ho Ho Hey a Way for Santa's Sleigh - Emery
18. Noel - Selah
19. O Come All Ye Faithful - tobyMac
20. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Jars of Clay
21. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Caedmon's Call
22. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Third Day
23. What Child Is This? - MercyMe
24. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Chasing Furies
25. Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) - Amy Grant

Classic Christmas albums #11 (of 29) - The Moog Machine - Christmas Becomes Electric

Let's keep the 60s groove going with this delightful period oddity, Christmas Becomes Electric, which dates to about 1969. By the end of that decade, experimental electronic music had permeated just about every facet of the music, advertising and film industries, and record labels were doing their best to exploit the trend before it fell out of fashion. The Moog Machine's album is actually one of the better offerings and remains a favorite of Christmas music sharing sites. As far as I can tell, despite its cachet among collectors, the LP has never seen a CD release.

Classic Christmas albums #10 (of 29) - KPM-1052 Christmas Party (Alan Moorhouse)

Those of you who have been following my blog for a few months will recall that I recently spent several weeks posting "Library Music" -- music composed and performed by studio musicians for the purpose of being sold directly to radio and television stations as well as film and commercial production houses. Well, it's only natural that KPM Music, one of the most prestigious library music firms, would create special music for the Christmas holiday as well. So today, we give you Christmas Party, a set of Swinging 60s takes on traditional carols that will make you the hit of your next office party or Christmas cocktail hour!

01 - Christmas Green (The Holly and the Ivy)
02 - Holy Night (Silent Night)
03 - Dance of the Herald Angels (Hark! The Hearld Angels Sing)
04 - Glory Shone Around ( I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day)
05 - Ode to Bethlehem
06 - The Feast of Stephen (Good King Wenceslas)
07 - The Merry Gent (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen)
08 - Little Lord Jesus (Away In a Manger)
09 - Festive Noel (The First Noel)
10 - Peace Be To All
11 - The City of King David
12 - Joyful and Triumphant (O Come All Ye Faithful)

Classic Christmas albums #9 (of 29) - Herman Apple - Stereo Percussion de Noel

Let's stick to what I imagine to be the "Swinging 60s" for tonight's release. Since even the best informed of my Christmas brethren -- The "King of Jing-a-Ling" and "Ernie (Not Bert)" have little info about this LP, guessing by style, most of us put its vintage anywhere from 1965 to the early 70s. But regardless of its original release date, Stereo Percussion de Noel has been a favorite of mine for many years.

Enjoy!

1. Vive Le Vent 2:10
2. Promenade En Traineau 2:50
3. Quand Il Neige Sur Mon Pays 1:40
4. J’ai Vu Maman Embrasser Le Père Noël 2:03
5. Petit Papa Noël 1:40
6. Greensleeves 1:59
7. C’est Noël Rock 1:38
8. Le Père Noël S’en Vient 1:54
9. Le P’tit Renne Au Nez Rouge 1:54
10. Noël Blanc 2:16
11. Le Bonhomme De Neige 2:14
12. Auld Lang Syne 1:56