An interesting short article in RollingStone regarding new Christmas albums.
Nothing surprising in the article (The Beatles released Christmas EPs for a reason). The article did seem to forget to mention that Christmas records can be fun and add happiness to your life.
Ask my daughters if Christmas music was fun in our house while they were growing up. We still share the memories of dancing to these crazy songs during the season. Phil Spector Christmas is a cultural achievement. Donāt see the need to intellectualize much more than that.
It sounds like you could use a bit more egg nog.
I find interesting 50+ albums of new Christmas pop music were released this year. Best line of the article:
āBut a lot of these albums feel like a gift that the singers are giving themselves rather than a gift they are giving to the world of Christmas music. Which is fine, but thatās also why so many people hate Christmas music.ā
ā¦egg nog is later tonight.
Last one for the day.
One of my favorite albums. John Mayer - Born and Raised. A very large step away from the pop tunes that made him famous. Iām mostly a digital guy, but thereās just something special about having a tangible album and this 180 gram double LP version from Columbia/Sony is top notch in quality throughout:
Really cool video showing how the artwork for the album was done:
Merry Christmas yāall. Thanks to everyone for keeping this the most civil and enjoyable place on the internet.
Merry Christmas, my friend!
I only play this once a year now. Todayās the day. A huge record in my life. My daughters remain in love with this record: me too!!
Though this is a pic of the LP, Iām listening to the new SACD from Mobile Fidelity Lab of Miles Davis āMiles Smiles.ā Sounds very very good. I was hoping for the original mix but apparently the tape isnāt in great shape and this is the Mark Wilder remix.
I hope that MFSL keeps releasing Miles Davis titles though the only one planned so far not released is āPorgy 'n Bess.ā Looking forward to that.
Miles Davis āMiles Davis at Fillmoreā Sony 20 bit SBM LP facsimile version, disc 1
I used to obsess over this album in the early 'seventies and stared at this album cover over and over. Hereās a photo of Miles with the beautiful gal on the cover, Marguerite Eskridge.
Iām trying a new set of voltage regulation tubes for my ampsā output tubes, Chatham OD3W. At the moment a bit aggressive but I think theyāll calm down some in the next few hours of use.
Awesome Mongolian rock band: The HU doing their song, āWolf Totemā
Seems only fair that the Mongols traded in the horses for Harleys . . . .
Duke Pearson (Big Band) āNow Hear Thisā Blue Note SHM-CD Japan.
Really nice date that deserves a wider audience. (Safe to say that of all of Dukeās albums).
So, Iām in the Mott moodā¦ Mott the Hoople - āHoopleā
Cassandra Wilson āBlue Skiesā on JMT Records (cd). One of my favorite Wilson records, standards done with her verve and skill.
