Chapin Carpenter’s beautiful city song

Day 14, Christmas music Christmastime in the City Posted by linkmeister on 17 December 2018, 8:00 am 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 …

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Christmas in the Air by Carole King

Back in 2011 Carole King released her first studio album in a decade. Her daughter produced it and also co-wrote this song. It’s vintage Carole — bouncy and cheerful. A Holiday Carole Posted by linkmeister on 14 December 2015, 8:51 pm That’s the clever title of a now four-year-old album produced by Louise Goffin and …

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The tree isn’t the only thing needing decorations

Day 12, Christmas music Tree up, decorations next. Halls, Bedecked Posted by linkmeister on 10 December 2014, 8:26 pm This is Mannheim Steamroller, from their very first Christmas album in 1984. I remember my Dad bringing home this CD (I don’t have a clue where he got it) and us playing it for the first …

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What do we know from snow out here, you ask

Honestly, not much. But back in 2000 some slack-key guitarists released an album of holiday songs, and one of the tracks was this beautiful instrumental version of “Winter Wonderland.” Winter Wonderland Posted by linkmeister on 19 December 2018, 8:00 am I haven’t lived where it snowed since 1968. Even in Japan I was too close …

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James Taylor does Christmas

Day 8, Christmas music JT’s Christmas hopes Posted by linkmeister on 7 December 2015, 8:46 pm This album has a weird history. It was originally issued and distributed by Hallmark Cards in 2004. In 2006 Taylor’s longtime label Columbia reissued it with a new title and a revised track listing; “Deck the Halls” was omitted, …

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Fate strikes Guaraldi for second time

Day 7, Christmas music. Jazzed-up Peanuts Posted by linkmeister on 8 December 2012, 6:00 am Vince Guaraldi had already won a Grammy for his 1962 composition “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” when television producer Lee Mendelsohn heard it and got the pianist’s phone number. Mendelsohn needed a pianist to compose and play a score …

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I hope to be home

Day 5 of Christmas music: Home is the sailor, home from the sea Posted by linkmeister on 3 December 2019, 6:00 am “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was written in 1942 or 1943 by lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent. An additional writing credit was given to The Platters’ Buck Ram after a lawsuit. …

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