Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
THE CHRISTMAS ATTIC
Today's post concludes my odyssey through the murky depths of my Christmas CD collection.
I'm sure many of you are getting tired of Christmas stuff, so tomorrow will begin my series on Martin Luther King Day albums.
The last title I will look at this year, before packing the box back up and storing it in the back of the closet, is from a band featured in the December 15 Battle Of The Bands contest, Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
I don't think I gave them enough face time, and today I will remedy that.
The brainchild of producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, he brought together former members of Savatage to record a series of holiday-themed concept albums.
Today, we're going to take a closer look at The Christmas Attic.
THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE
THE MARCH OF THE KINGS/HARK
THE HERALD ANGEL
JOY OF MAN'S DESIRE/ANGELS
WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
MUSIC BOX BLUES
And that brings my journey through The Christmas Closet to a close.
I am not a wise man, but I know when it's time to take the frankincense and hit the road.
I hope some of you were introduced to something new-I would love to know if one of these posts actually prompted anyone to buy something new.
At a minimum, it was an excuse for me to listen to a lot of Christmas records I'd squirreled away, and now back they go until next Thanksgiving weekend!
This is also going to be my last post for the foreseeable future.
Although I plan to make the rounds for your BOTB posts, I do not plan to participate with posts of my own.
Thanks for stopping by, thanks to those of you who commented-hope 2015 brings you all you are hoping for!
I'm sure many of you are getting tired of Christmas stuff, so tomorrow will begin my series on Martin Luther King Day albums.
The last title I will look at this year, before packing the box back up and storing it in the back of the closet, is from a band featured in the December 15 Battle Of The Bands contest, Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
I don't think I gave them enough face time, and today I will remedy that.
The brainchild of producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, he brought together former members of Savatage to record a series of holiday-themed concept albums.
Today, we're going to take a closer look at The Christmas Attic.
THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE
THE MARCH OF THE KINGS/HARK
THE HERALD ANGEL
JOY OF MAN'S DESIRE/ANGELS
WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
MUSIC BOX BLUES
And that brings my journey through The Christmas Closet to a close.
I am not a wise man, but I know when it's time to take the frankincense and hit the road.
I hope some of you were introduced to something new-I would love to know if one of these posts actually prompted anyone to buy something new.
At a minimum, it was an excuse for me to listen to a lot of Christmas records I'd squirreled away, and now back they go until next Thanksgiving weekend!
This is also going to be my last post for the foreseeable future.
Although I plan to make the rounds for your BOTB posts, I do not plan to participate with posts of my own.
Thanks for stopping by, thanks to those of you who commented-hope 2015 brings you all you are hoping for!
Monday, January 5, 2015
JAZZ TO THE WORLD
Continuing my trip through my Christmas CD collection, right up to the Catholic celebration of the Epiphany on January 6.
For today, let me just start off by saying, "I don't like jazz."
Actually, jazz is a varied musical style, with a lot of sub-genres, so while I do not care for some jazz there is much that I do enjoy, although I will always be a rock guy at heart (too much money invested in concert tee shirts for me to go all sophisticated now).
The same people who brought us the "Very Special Christmas" series also put out a jazz edition, also in benefit of Special Olympics.
While this is a good compilation on its own, it also serves as a good launch pad for making other discoveries.
One highlight for me was Holly Cole, who had done a couple of albums of Tom Waits' covers that were quite good. Let's give her contribution a listen.
HOLLY COLE-CHRISTMAS BLUES
And everyone likes a little sax for Christmas...
DAVE KOZ-WINTER WONDERLAND
THE BRECKER BROTHERS with STEVE KHAN
THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ
For today, let me just start off by saying, "I don't like jazz."
Actually, jazz is a varied musical style, with a lot of sub-genres, so while I do not care for some jazz there is much that I do enjoy, although I will always be a rock guy at heart (too much money invested in concert tee shirts for me to go all sophisticated now).
The same people who brought us the "Very Special Christmas" series also put out a jazz edition, also in benefit of Special Olympics.
While this is a good compilation on its own, it also serves as a good launch pad for making other discoveries.
One highlight for me was Holly Cole, who had done a couple of albums of Tom Waits' covers that were quite good. Let's give her contribution a listen.
HOLLY COLE-CHRISTMAS BLUES
And everyone likes a little sax for Christmas...
DAVE KOZ-WINTER WONDERLAND
THE BRECKER BROTHERS with STEVE KHAN
THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ
Sunday, January 4, 2015
A LOVEMONGER'S CHRISTMAS
Continuing my trip through my Christmas CD collection, right up to the Catholic celebration of the Epiphany on January 6.
Every red-blooded male who was in high school in 1977 drooled over the covers of the first couple of albums from the Wilson sisters (aka Heart).
Back then they rocked! While I liked their 80's output just fine, it was a little different when they were doing Diane Warren songs than when they were singing tunes like "Magic Man" and "Barracuda."
Well their Christmas album is a lot closer to the radio-friendly 80's sound than the heavy hitting "Barracuda," but it is still a nice listen.
This is another title than has been reissued a few times, so be careful not to buy it twice (although the initial issue was quite elusive-I'd had it removed from my collection along with a bunch of other titles when someone was watching my house once while out of town.
So this one I did buy twice, but intentionally.
HERE IS CHRISTMAS
THE LAST NOEL
OH HOLY NIGHT
Every red-blooded male who was in high school in 1977 drooled over the covers of the first couple of albums from the Wilson sisters (aka Heart).
Back then they rocked! While I liked their 80's output just fine, it was a little different when they were doing Diane Warren songs than when they were singing tunes like "Magic Man" and "Barracuda."
Well their Christmas album is a lot closer to the radio-friendly 80's sound than the heavy hitting "Barracuda," but it is still a nice listen.
This is another title than has been reissued a few times, so be careful not to buy it twice (although the initial issue was quite elusive-I'd had it removed from my collection along with a bunch of other titles when someone was watching my house once while out of town.
So this one I did buy twice, but intentionally.
HERE IS CHRISTMAS
THE LAST NOEL
OH HOLY NIGHT
Saturday, January 3, 2015
A ROCK 'N' ROLL CHRISTMAS
Continuing my trip through my Christmas CD collection, right up through January 6.
Today's title is another compilation, this one entitled A Rock 'N' Roll Christmas.
There were two of these titles issued in the 90's (the follow-up being uncharacteristically titled A Rock 'N' Roll Christmas 2), and as you might imagine it featured rock artists of the day performing renditions of Christmas songs, many of them appearing here on CD for the first (in some cases only) time.
What's Christmas without a little George Thorogood?
And can you go wrong with Bob Seger?
Who doesn't remember this one from The Waitresses?
Or this classic from The Kinks?
Today's title is another compilation, this one entitled A Rock 'N' Roll Christmas.
There were two of these titles issued in the 90's (the follow-up being uncharacteristically titled A Rock 'N' Roll Christmas 2), and as you might imagine it featured rock artists of the day performing renditions of Christmas songs, many of them appearing here on CD for the first (in some cases only) time.
What's Christmas without a little George Thorogood?
And can you go wrong with Bob Seger?
Who doesn't remember this one from The Waitresses?
Or this classic from The Kinks?
Friday, January 2, 2015
A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
Continuing my trip through my Christmas CD collection, right up to the Catholic celebration of the Epiphany on January 6.
The tag line "The Voice Of Rock" has been used for quite a few singers, but one could argue that Glenn Hughes wears the title most effortlessly, having left his first band (Trapeze) to take over bass and share lead vocal duties in Deep Purple, and then later Black Sabbath.
Along the way, Hughes has released 28 albums as a solo artist and another 17 records with various bands, most recently as part of Black Country Communion (four albums between 2010 and 2012) and 2014's excellent California Breed.
And in 2000, Glenn released A Soulful Christmas, and I am sure you can guess by the title what kind of record this was.
THIS CHRISTMAS
SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
WINTER WONDERLAND
Surprising to think of this guy as a former lead singer for Black Sabbath, right?
Finding this one on CD may be difficult, but it is available as a digital download (a used copy is listed on Amazon for $167.40 versus $8.99 digital).
The tag line "The Voice Of Rock" has been used for quite a few singers, but one could argue that Glenn Hughes wears the title most effortlessly, having left his first band (Trapeze) to take over bass and share lead vocal duties in Deep Purple, and then later Black Sabbath.
Along the way, Hughes has released 28 albums as a solo artist and another 17 records with various bands, most recently as part of Black Country Communion (four albums between 2010 and 2012) and 2014's excellent California Breed.
And in 2000, Glenn released A Soulful Christmas, and I am sure you can guess by the title what kind of record this was.
THIS CHRISTMAS
SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
WINTER WONDERLAND
Surprising to think of this guy as a former lead singer for Black Sabbath, right?
Finding this one on CD may be difficult, but it is available as a digital download (a used copy is listed on Amazon for $167.40 versus $8.99 digital).
Thursday, January 1, 2015
BOTB-NEW YEAR'S DAY
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In keeping with the season, here is a New Year's themed BOTB post, timed to be posted as the ball drops.
Just in case you forget how this works...it's not really that difficult.
I post two versions of a song.
You listen to them.
You pick the one you like best and say why in the comments.
Since you're up, and obviously sober enough to work a computer, check out these other bloggers who are doing the same thing.
Far Away Series (the one to blame for all of this)
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Tossing It Out
Your Daily Dose
Curious As A Cathy
The Creative Outlet of Stratplayer
The Sound Of One Hand Typing
Since it is the dawn of a new year (2015 if you can believe it) the song today is New Year's Day.
First, the original classic by U2...
and next, a cover from Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple, Flying Colors, as well as a boatload of solo material)
Listen, vote, get back to the party.
Happy New Year!
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