I haven’t lived where it snowed since 1968. Even in Japan I was too close to Tokyo Bay for snow to stick even if it fell, and I don’t remember it doing so in the two winters I spent there. I still remember the incredible silence of a snowfall, though. Cindy Combs plays a slack …
Peter, Paul and Mary sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” from a 1981 concert for the benefit of the NY Choral Society. From 1981 to 2008 NYCHORAL presented A Holiday Celebration with Peter, Paul and Mary conducted by Music Director Emeritus Robert De Cormier. This popular program was broadcast for many years on PBS.
Mary Chapin Carpenter sings “Christmas Time in the City,” from her “Come Darkness, Come Light” album. It was released in 2008, so I’ve been promoting it for 10 years and will probably do so another ten, if I live that long. It’s a beautiful album, half original compositions by Carpenter, some with guitarist and co-producer …
Elvis Aron Presley sings “Silver Bells.” He recorded it for his second Christmas album, “Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas,” released in 1971.
The Moody Blues sing about winter in “A Winter’s Tale,” from their 2003 album “December.” That was their last studio release and the first album to include non-original material since their first one in the 1960s. The group still tours, although Ray Thomas retired in 2002 and died last January. Mike Pinder left the band …
Ingrid Michaelson sings “Looks Like a Cold Cold Winter,” which has a retro feel, as was noted back here when I mentioned new Christmas albums this season. This is from her “Songs for the Season” album.
No, no, no. Leaping Lords, not lizards! Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” on a 1949 Decca release. From Wikipedia: The song, published in England in 1780 without music as a chant or rhyme, is thought to be French in origin. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” has a Roud …
Brenda Lee sings her most enduring hit, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Startlingly, she was only 13 years old when she recorded it in 1958. It didn’t sell well originally, but her record label Decca kept trying, and in 1960 it became a hit. It was aided that year by Lee’s release of her biggest …
I know my East Coast and Southern friends are digging out from under, so I hope they don’t hate me for this. Eric Clapton plays and sings “White Christmas” in a way you’ve never heard before. The song has a fascinating history: Irving Berlin wrote it in either 1940 or 1941. The first public performance …
Julie Andrews sings “Deck the Halls.” The melody was written in 15th-century Wales, and the original lyrics had nothing to do with Christmas or decorating, but were well wishes on the New Year. The English lyrics were written in the 19th century by a Scotsman named Thomas Oliphant and were first published in 1862. You …