No music in this post, as it's been a rather busy day. I do have a few more albums I want to post about, though, so I'll try to get at least one more post out before Christmas to wrap things up for the year.
I wanted to try something a little different today and ask a question to everyone who reads this: where does your love of Christmas music come from?
I came up with this idea earlier today when I was kneading bread dough and listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Eve and Other Stories for what is probably about the hundredth time. I got that album in 1997, and it was the first Christmas album I ever owned. I think I got another one or two albums that year, but that was really the one that started it all for me. The combination of traditional Christmas music with progressive rock and heavy metal was unlike anything I had ever heard before, and it fit perfectly with my taste at the time. The following year I really began collecting Christmas music in earnest, and at this point in my life it's something bordering on an obsession - I'm always on the lookout for new songs and new versions of old songs, hence all the music that I find and share with you here.
So does anyone else have a special album or song to which they can trace back their love of Christmas music? If so, please share it in the comments. I'd love to know where everyone who reads this blog is coming from musically.
I wanted to try something a little different today and ask a question to everyone who reads this: where does your love of Christmas music come from?
I came up with this idea earlier today when I was kneading bread dough and listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Eve and Other Stories for what is probably about the hundredth time. I got that album in 1997, and it was the first Christmas album I ever owned. I think I got another one or two albums that year, but that was really the one that started it all for me. The combination of traditional Christmas music with progressive rock and heavy metal was unlike anything I had ever heard before, and it fit perfectly with my taste at the time. The following year I really began collecting Christmas music in earnest, and at this point in my life it's something bordering on an obsession - I'm always on the lookout for new songs and new versions of old songs, hence all the music that I find and share with you here.
So does anyone else have a special album or song to which they can trace back their love of Christmas music? If so, please share it in the comments. I'd love to know where everyone who reads this blog is coming from musically.
6 comments:
Good idea for a post!
I remember being a kid in the 70s/early 80s and listening to records on the huge stereo hifi we had. One I remember well was Bing Crosby's Christmas album. Listened to it a lot.
As I got older and could buy my own stuff, I had a favorite in a country music cassette, with Alabama and Dolly Parton, loved it. And the Very Special Christmas cassettes, too. Also got Do They Know It's Christmas on 45 and listened to it, often.
Just kept loving it and adding more and more as time went on. Have quite a lot of holiday music now.
As a side note, I am an atheist who just loves Christmas, the music, movies, specials. Just celebrate in my own way. :)
Andy Williams' "Merry Christmas". It was a staple of my parents record collection and it's been the one album that I've listened to faithfully every season. Matter of fact, I'm listening to it now.
I think I was just the right age for the race to Christmas number one in 1973 between Slade and Wizzard. That may be something to do with it.
I currently have over three days worth of Christmas music on my iPod... is that too much?
Andy Williams album with the red cover and just his face. My parents played that all the time. TSO is a great experience live, by the way, although with the changes to the east coast tour, I'm not sure how it will be going forward. Love the blog, and thanks for your effort!
The first Christmas album I ever really loved was the Leonard Bernstein/Mormon Tabernacle Choir "Glory of Christmas", because it had Christmas music I'd never heard before (Lullay My Liking, La Virgen Lava Panales, Carol of the Birds [which is sadly lacking from the CD reissue]). A close runner-up was a Fred Waring album, the name of which I've forgottten, but which was built around the concept of a train trip home for Christmas.
Many years later, I ran across a link to FaLaLaLaLa.com, and I was off and running through the wonderful world of Christmas sharity, where I've found so much wonderful Christmas music that I never heard before.
Thanks for helping me find some of it.
Church.
Christmas hymns were sung the loudest because everyone knew them.
The mall.
Muzak piped in as we rode the escalator looking for Santa.
TV
Everyone had a Christmas special and the same song was done in very different styles: country, jazz, rock, lounge, pop, classical, Broadway.
Internet
I could never have found the variety and quality by shopping in stores alone. Your links and opinions blaze a cool trail for me to explore and find new things.
So thanks! and Merry Christmas the whole year 'round!
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