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WALLACEBURG ARTS: Looking beyond the usual, everyday Christmas tunes

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Here we are, a precious few days before Christmas and I’m about to tell you to stop listening to the likes of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Jingle Bell Rock and Feliz Navidad, at least for now.

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They, as well as many others are classic Christmas tracks without question, but there is an entire world of great Christmas music that you may be missing.

Everyone, including myself, have childhood memories and favourite Christmas songs dripping with nostalgia, but I’ve always “looked beyond” to find great, overlooked music.

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Short of Arthur Fiedler’s ubiquitous “Sleigh Ride” and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Carol of the Bells”, the world of commercial radio almost completely ignores the world of beautiful instrumental music.

Many years ago, my dad’s good friend Peter Spalding stopped by the house for a game of cribbage and, knowing my love of music, suggested I listen to a CD put out by a collection of artists on the Narada label.

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Narada was a music label created for New Age musicians and Peter lent me his copy.

Every track is by a different artist and the music is stunningly beautiful and largely “moving”. It is now a difficult CD to find but I highly recommend that you scramble to find a copy.

Back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, well-known conductors such as Percy Faith, Andre Kostelanetz and Montovani released a number of high-quality orchestral Christmas recordings.

Percy Faith’s orchestrations always set a standard of excellence few could match, and copies of each of his Christmas offerings (he released at least three albums) should be in everyone’s collection.

There were also several faceless orchestras such as the 101 Strings that made quality releases, but the finest recordings and arrangements in my opinion were made by the Living Strings.

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The Living Strings released many albums over the years that, while at the time were considered “budget recordings”, their quality is now widely recognized and are often highly sought-after recordings.

Associated with the Living Strings were the Living Voices. The two aggregations made both separate and combined releases and their “White Christmas” release is a must-have album.

The great news is that Real Gone Music has re-released all their Christmas recordings.

If you appreciate New Age arrangements with a different approach to traditional Christmas songs, one cannot ignore Chip Davis’ creation, Mannheim Steamroller, and their many Christmas albums.

I’ve long made a big deal of my love of vocal harmony and there are several Christmas recordings that I absolutely treasure but are very difficult to find now.

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I don’t know if any vocal group could make me smile like the Mills Brothers, and their Christmas album is a mainstay of my CD player. Aside from their crazy good vocal blend, I love the skeletal accompaniment which consists of merely an acoustic guitar, a 60’s Hammond organ, and upright bass which allows their great vocals to shine.

In a very similar vein, the Ames Brothers released a Christmas album with another beautiful display of brotherly harmonies. Ed Ames was the standout vocalist in the family group and went on to solo success, but the Christmas album with his brothers is a historic must-own Christmas recording.

A single track from a Christmas music compilation years ago piqued my interest in the music of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. Unfortunately, their recordings were among the many lost in the Universal Music fire of 2008 but fortunately, Real Gone Music has magically re-released their Christmas album That Holiday Feeling, and what amazing voices and arrangements!

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Andy Williams, as mentioned in previous columns is one of my all-time favourite vocalists.

His version of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is a staple of the airwaves and seems to grow in popularity each year (I resent Staples for using it in their Back-to-School commercials, however).

Andy Williams recorded at least four Christmas albums and I urge everyone not to forget the many other great tracks on those albums.

Nat King Cole’s recording of The Christmas Song is a classic and no-doubt the definitive version in most people’s minds.

I,on the other hand, will put Johnny Mathis’ version of The Christmas Song right alongside that of the “Natter” as I fondly refer to him, and again don’t neglect all of the other phenomenal recordings by Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole.

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I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the Canadian Brass present their Christmas music live several times and their Christmas recordings are incredible. They have many fine Christmas albums, but their very first titled “A Canadian Brass Christmas” is still my favourite.

My Christmas music collection has some phenomenal Canadian content, as well.

David and Martha Mann introduced me “An Oscar Peterson Christmas” many years ago. I will suggest that even if you are not a lover of jazz, you will be able to appreciate this album. His rendition of classic Christmas songs are exquisite and tasteful, and, of course, Oscar’s piano playing is second to none.

The late Hagood Hardy recorded a superb album back in 1980, and Celtic harpist/flute player Susan Scott from Victoria B.C. has a wonderful album titled “Christmas Dreams for the Celtic Harp”.

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I’m obliged to mention my wife’s hands-down favourite Christmas recording, “It’s Christmas”, by Canadian supergroup “Quartette”, featuring Sylvia Tyson.

Our Wallaceburg Arts Council brought Quartette to town twice in past years for sold-out performances at the Oak’s Inn and what incredible nights those were!

We were listening to this CD on a recent trip and I commented on just how perfect the subtle accompaniments on this album are and how they support the beautiful harmonies without taking away from them.

In the world of contemporary Christian music, no one has ever been bigger than Michael W. Smith. (I say contemporary, but we share the same birth date and he’s only one year younger than my 65 years)

As a keyboard player who began his career accompanying Amy Grant, his singing, playing, composition and arranging skills is the equal of any secular artist out there and he’s released at least three Christmas albums that are all must-owns.

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My late mom was a big fan of Michael W. Smith’s Christmas music.

And since I’ve already mentioned her, Amy Grant has several classic Christmas albums that much-like Michael W. Smith, usually contain a good mixture of secular and religious offerings.

I like a great deal of Country music as well, so don’t skip-over the Christmas recordings by artists such as the Oak Ridge Boys, the Statler Brothers, Merle Haggard, Kenny Rogers, Eddy Arnold, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers and Alabama.

Then there are all the classic artists like Bing, Frank, Perry and Dean. They each have a few classic recordings that are in constant rotation on the airwaves, but the lion’s share of their great output is largely ignored.

My space is now getting limited, but in venturing off the beaten path don’t forget the Christmas music of Manhattan Transfer, the New Christy Minstrels, the Anita Kerr Singers, the Johnny Mann Singers, John Denver, the McGuire Sisters, Tony Bennett, the huge world of Choral groups recorded in amazing cathedrals etc. etc.

There is so much unexplored great Christmas music out there that you owe it to yourself to check some of it out.

“And now, for your listening enjoyment …. Feliz Navidad.”

Merry Christmas everyone!

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