Three Takes On Auld Lang Syne

This is my final post of 2012. The Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll do another “alternative Christmas song blog” starting December 1, 2013.

Tonight though, I want to present three different version of Auld Lang Syne.

One from John Stewart (but not THAT Jon Stewart).

One from Bobby Darin.

And one from Pink Martini.

John Stewart was one of the original members of the Kingston Trio. He also had a long solo career and wrote several hit songs, including Daydream Believer (for the Monkees), and “Gold” and “Lost Her In The Sun,” as a solo artist.

In 1976, Stewart was between labels. His relationships with record companies were always rocky and he knew that he had to present something really good to get their attention. What he came up with was an album that he recorded in two days in November of 1976. When he presented it to the record company one of the minor executives let him know that it wasn’t anything that they would be interested in putting out. John left the building and threw a copy of the tape to his friend Tom DeLisle. That was the last of it that John cared to talk about.

The music later wound up on the underground distribution that John’s fans had developed. It was known as The Piano Album.

In 2008, thanks to Tom DeLisle the cd was released on the Neon Dreams label.

This is the final song from the cd Fire In The Wind.

Auld Lang Syne – by John Stewart

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Not sure the history behind Bobby Darin’s version of this song other than it was released as a single in October, 1960. It’s officially titled, “Christmas Auld Lang Syne.” (lyrics follow.)

When mistletoe and tinsel glow
Paint a yuletide valentine
Back home I go to those I know
For a Christmas auld lang syne.

And as we gather ’round the tree
Our voices all combine
In sweet accord to thank the Lord
For a Christmas auld lang syne.

When sleigh bells ring and choirs sing
And the children’s faces shine
With each new toy we share their joy
With a Christmas auld lang syne.

We sing His praise this day of days
And pray next year this time
We’ll all be near to share the cheer
Of a Christmas auld lang syne.

“Merry Christmas everybody and a Happy New Year!”

In sweet accord we thank the Lord
For a Christmas auld lang syne.

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Finally, Pink Martini (they of “Hey Eugene” fame). Pink Martini released a very unique Christmas CD in 2010 titled Joy To The World). It features many traditional Christmas songs but several sung different languages (and all with the distinct “Pink Martini” flare). Pink Martini’s rendition of Auld Lang Syne is sung in English, French and Gaelic (although the person who uploaded the video below  states it’s in Arabic — it’s not — that portion of the song is Gaelic).

That’s all — see you next year.

Tom

From The Folks Who Brought You “In Christ Alone”

In Christ Alone is a tremendously powerful song written by Keith and Kristyn Getty.

This couple put out a Christmas CD last year (Joy, An Irish Christmas). It’s very good and mixes traditional Christmas carols with traditional Irish carols and original music written by the Getty’s.

As we wind down 2012, I’ll feature “Magnificat (With Wexford Carol) from that CD.

Punch Brothers – O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Don’t know how I missed this one. But the Punch Brothers, a New York based progressive bluegrass band (their music is described as “bluegrass instrumentation and spontaneity in the strictures of modern classical”) added their take to O Come O Come Emmanuel to the wildly diverse collection of Christmas music, Holidays Rule.

Holidays Rule really is an odd collection of artists but is worth checking out (although you may not want to purchase all of it).

The tune from it you’ve probably heard over and over is Paul McCartney singing “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting…). But it also features The Shins singing McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,”  The Heartless Bastards covering “Blue Christmas,” and Calexico singing ”Green Grows The Holly.”

There are a lot of misses on this collection. However the beauty of purchasing digital music is you can pick and choose. Back when I was a kid, you bought the album and you were stuck with all of the crappy songs. And there are some crappy songs in this collection.

The song below is not one of the crappy tunes.

The Punch Brothers rival Bela Fleck in their use of progressive bluegrass. They even get out there a bit on this version of O Come O Come Emmanuel — it’s an interesting and well done alternative to this wonderful Christmas standard.

The Great Duke Ellington

In 1960, Duke Ellington released an album titled “The Nutcracker Suite,” featuring his interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s, The Nutcracker. The album was re-released on CD in 1990 as “Three Suites.” The re-release featured the original piece along with Ellington’s reworking of Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite” and “Suite Thursday,” his tribute to John Steinbeck.

If you have not had the chance to listen to Three Suites in its entirety, you can find it here. You can purchase Three Suites as a CD from amazon.com – or as a digital download at either amazon or iTunes. In my opinion, it deserves to be listened to off the CD (or even better, vinyl). The compressed mp3 files do not do it justice (but then that’s true for just about any piece of great music).

In the meantime, here’s the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra performing Ellington’s  Danse Of The Floreadores.

Did You Miss This Chrissie Hynde’s Other Christmas Song?

Merry Christmas — I hope you’ve been enjoying the 2012 “alternative” Christmas music blog. I’m going to attempt to keep it going through the end of the year.

What bothers me about the Christmas season is it gets started so early – and then, at midnight on the 25th, WHAM! We shut it down entirely.

The way we did it at my first radio station, was during the first week of December, we’d play one Christmas song an hour. Two in week two, Three in week three and then go full bore during the days leading up to Christmas.

THEN, in the week following, we’d scale it back slowly just to let everyone ease down a bit.

That was in the mid-80′s and times have changed.  However, during this week, up through New Year’s eve, I’m going to keep this going like we did at that country radio station in the mid-80′s.

Ready?

Back in October, 2010 Chrissie Hynde released a new CD, Fidelity – her first work outside of The Pretenders.

The new band is JP, Chrissie and The Fairground Boys.

It features a tune titled, “Christmas Soon.” It certainly isn’t the happiest tune ever written as it’s pretty much about a couple fighting and calling a truce for Christmas. If you’re familiar with the Robert Earl Keen tune, “4th of July,” then you’ll know the exact feel of this one. It’s certainly not what you would traditionally think of as a “hope and joy” Christmas tune. Nonetheless, it is a song of hope. And it’s a catchy little number.

Christmas Soon

Merry Christmas – Peace On Earth

Merry Christmas

Here’s Chris Rice’s Peace On Earth from his “Merry Chris Rice” CD.

One of these days I’ll learn how to play this

Two songs tonight — David Qualey’s rendition of “Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring” and “Eternal Gifts” from Leigh Nash.

I first heard David Qualey’s beautiful arrangement of Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring on the very first Windham Hill ‘Christmas’CD, “A Winter’s Solstice,” (released way back in 1986).

Several years ago I tried to figure it out on my own and attempted to learn it. I managed to get bits and pieces of it down but became convinced there were two guitars playing. It wasn’t until I watched this video that I discovered differently.

It’s just one guy — David Qualey,

He’s playing what is called a ‘quint guitar” and it’s tuned up five notes.

At some point I purchased the music for this from Qualey — and one of these year’s, I’ll learn it.

(You can still purchase all of the Windham Hill Christmas/Winter Solstice cd’s (at amazon.com and via iTunes). There were six initially. But several ‘collections” have been released under different titles yet with mostly the same artists – just compiled differently.)

Qualey’s arrangement and performance of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring is lovely and fitting for Christmas Eve.

Tonight’s second song  is a very simple tune with a powerful message. It’s titled “Eternal Gifts” and is performed by Leigh Nash (of sixpence none the richer - they of “kiss me” fame).  It’s from her 2010 Christmas EP, “Wishing For This.”

Wishing For This is pretty good — it features the Ron Sexsmith tune, “Maybe This Christmas,” and a good rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas,” (although I think Parton’s original is better).

“Santa knows what I want for Christmas
but Jesus knows what I need”

Can’t argue with that.

Eternal Gifts

Santa knows what I want for Christmas
but Jesus knows what I need
it can’t be purchased wrapped up and placed
under an eight foot tree

I need patience, kindness – virtues like these
to bend on my knee at the manger

Santa may bring things that last for a year
but eternal gifts come from the Savior

some days come where I’m playing selfish
I can’t think of no one but me
then I think of all that I’m blessed with
and that’s always best to give than to receive

I need faithfulness, love, generosity
to open my home to a stranger

Santa may bring things that last for a year
but eternal gifts come from the Savior

I need patience, kindness, generosity
to bend on my knee at the manger

Santa may bring things that last for a year
but eternal gifts come from the Savior

Santa knows what I want for Christmas
but Jesus knows what I need

Amazing Grace – How Sweet The Sound With Larry Carlton On Guitar

Fourplay is a jazz quartet featuring Bob James on keyboards, Larry Carlton on guitar (he replaced Lee Ritenour back in 1997),  Nathan East on bass and Harvey Mason on drums.

I would say they lean more towards smooth jazz  than traditional.

Quick word on Larry Carlton, in his heyday as a session musician, he would play on 500+ recordings every year. He’s been heard on albums ranging from Michael Jackson, the theme to Hill Street Blues, the Partridge Family to Steely Dan. If you’re a Steely Dan fan then you’ll know his lead guitar work on songs like Kid Charlemagne, Don’t Keep Me Alive and Josie.

In 1999, Fourplay released a Christmas CD titled, “Snowbound.” And it features of lot of outstanding Larry Carlton guitar work.

Tonight I’ll feature Fourplay’s take on Amazing Grace and a bluesy version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Amazing Grace

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

B.J. Thomas’ God Bless The Children from 1979

Way back when I was a Navy boy, a Christian record label (I don’t recall which one but I think it was at the time, Word Records or perhaps Myrrh),  released a Christmas LP featuring a young Amy Grant, the late Dan Peek (who had recently left the band America), B.W. Stevenson (the original singer of “My Maria,”) Reba Rambo and several others.

B.J. Thomas sang two songs on it — both rarely get played on the radio (even back then). Both songs carry a tremendous message. I’ll feature both tonight. The first is “God Bless The Children.” It’s followed by the title track,  ”On This Christmas Night.”

You can actually still pick up the entire CD at iTunes and can even find a VHS of a live concert featuring most of the same artists via amazon.com.

God Bless The Children

On This Christmas Night

The Penguin and The Chieftains Do Christmas

My generation knew Burgess Meredith as “the Penguin,” from the 60′s TV show, Batman.  Then as Stallone’s manager in the movie Rocky.

Back in 1991 he performed a traditional Irish Christmas song, Don Oiche Ud I MBeithil with the Chieftains on the CD, The Bells of Dublin.

In the song, Meredith speaks an English translation and is followed by Kevin Conneff singing the tune in Gaelic.

If you’ve never heard this version of Don Oiche Ud I MBeithil, it’s very pretty — Meredith’s telling is heartfelt.

I created a video for it back in 2010 doing the best I could to piece together an accurate translation of the Gaelic portion of the song. Hope you enjoy it.