<![CDATA[The Sounds of Christmas - News]]>Mon, 21 May 2012 16:38:28 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Alabama vs The Prisoner]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:59:23 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/05/alabama-vs-the-prisoner.htmlFrom Billboard.biz:

Australian singer-songwriter Allan Caswell is alleging in a lawsuit that the band Alabama stole its 1982 chart-topping hit, "Christmas in Dixie," from the song he penned as the theme for the 1980s Australian television soap, "The Prisoner."

What makes the case peculiar, besides litigation over songs created more than three decades ago, is that in Caswell's new lawsuit, he isn't suing Alabama, but rather his own music publisher, Sony ATV Music Publishing Australia, for failing to collect royalties from the alleged lift. Both Caswell and Alabama are signed to different divisions of Sony Music.

The dispute is being fought at the Supreme Court of New South Wales. 

"It's not a plagiarism lawsuit," Caswell told The Telegraph. "it's about getting my publishing company (Sony) to do their job." 

The fact that the songs were created so long ago might not matter in Australia, where a court two years ago determined Men at Work's 1980s megahit, "Down Under," illicitly incorporated a copyrighted children's song from the 1930s. 

According to the latest lawsuit, Sony had a musicologist examine the two songs in 2004 and concluded that the works "shared a level of similarity that went beyond what he would consider to be a random occurrence of sheer coincidence."

But this isn't a case alleging copyright infringement. Here's the twist: Both have Sony connections. 

"That's the problem," Caswell told a local TV station in Australia. "I'm signed to Sony ATV. Alabama is signed to Sony Music. So it's all in-house. There's no incentive for them to take action. They basically can't take action because they'd be suing themselves."

You can read the article in its entirety over at Billboard.biz

If you're curious about the two songs, give them a listen and see what you think.

Here's Alabama's :"Christmas In Dixie"...


And here's the theme to the Australian TV show "The Prisoner" (music starts about a minute in)...

]]><![CDATA[Rumors]]>Fri, 11 May 2012 14:32:41 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/05/rumors.html It’s still pretty early, but there are already some rumors and rumblings about new Christmas music for 2012!

Here’s what I’ve heard so far…

Pat Benatar is planning a Christmas album for this year.  She mentioned this last summer, and hopes to finish it this year after her summer tour.  She says she’s planning some classics and some originals, including her 9/11 charity single “Christmas In America”.
Rod Stewart is rumored to be in the studio this month finishing up his first-ever Christmas album.  Rod has a pretty full schedule on the way, including a tour this summer, and a stint in Las Vegas this fall.  Previously, Rod has recorded versions of a few seasonal songs – “My Favorite Things”, “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” and a duet with Dolly Parton on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.

Meat Loaf has also indicated that he has a Christmas release on the way.  His is to be called “Hot Holidays”, and he teased it on the radio this past December with a Children’s Hospital performance including “Silent Night”, “Run Rudolph Run” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”.
R&B legends Eddie Floyd and Percy Sledge are both planning their own Christmas releases, each of which were teased last December with singles.  Eddie released “I’ll Be Your Santa Claus” and “I Wish To All (A Merry Christmas)”, and Percy offered up a new version of his classic “My Christmas Wish For You” as well as a duet with Alabama’s Randy Owen on their song “Christmas In Dixie”.

Grammy-nominated Judy Pancoast has a new set on the way, a follow-up to her phenomenal “House On Christmas Street” album.  We were treated to “Mrs. Claus” from Judy last year, an exclusive that will be featured on the new album.

Jimmie Van Zandt, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Colbie Caillat and Ozzy Osbourne are also rumored to be working on new holiday releases, and Maria Carey is expected to release an expanded edition of her recent album “Merry Christmas II You”.

There are no definite dates for any of these, so it’s all just a best guess of what’s to come.  Hopefully, there will be some real news soon!  Really looking forward to this coming season!

May you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken

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]]><![CDATA[New Website!]]>Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:30:27 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/04/new-website.htmlHi All!

I'm in the process of building a new website, but don't worry, the Sounds of Christmas isn't going anywhere.

The new site is more like a central hub, connecting all my different projects and social media sites in one handy location.

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If you'd like to take a look at the work in progress, just click on the logo on the right to check it out!

Ken
]]><![CDATA[Top Christmas Movies That Aren't About Christmas]]>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:49:14 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/02/top-christmas-movies-that-arent-about-christmas.html I love Christmas.  That probably doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you.  After all, I run a Christmas music radio station and a Christmas music record label.

I also enjoy watching Christmas movies, though they’re a little scarce this time of year.  Not completely scarce, as I’m watching “Jingle All The Way” on one of the STARZ channels as I type this.  Some would argue that that isn’t really a Christmas movie, but I think it is, since the whole movie revolves around the attempts by a father to get his son a Christmas present.  Plus, it’s also filled with Christmas music.

There are lots of lists of top Christmas movies (though I doubt “Jingle All The Way” is at the top of too many of those).  Some are arranged by box office grosses, while others are by popularity, either by the fans or by various critics.

Many of those movies really have little to do with Christmas.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is frequently at the top of many of those lists.  It originally flopped at the box office, but has become an annual favorite.  And while it certainly gets across the theme of “Good Will Towards Men” and the belief that “It’s Better To Give Than Receive”, it actually has very little to do with the holiday.

George’s backstory has nothing to do with Christmas.  And his present-day problems don’t, either.  He leaves his home on Christmas Eve, has his none-Christmas experiences with Clarence, and returns home with his faith restored. 

Nevertheless, “It’s A Wonderful Life” is almost always at the top, or near the top, of most Best Christmas Movie lists.

So is “Home Alone” (and “Home Alone 2”).  They’re set at Christmas time, and there are decorations and presents.  There are even Christmas songs, which “It’s A Wonderful Life” also lacks. But both of the “Home Alone” movies are really about young Kevin’s battles with the Wet Bandits.  Christmas is just window dressing.  His family could just have easily left him behind at Easter, or for a summer vacation.

Still, “Home Alone” is considered by many as one of their favorite Christmas movies.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Home Alone” (even “Home Alone 2”).  But I’m pretty sure almost everyone considers them Christmas movies.

There are many more, also set around the holidays, that don’t get that distinction.  But if you love Christmas like I do, and you want that seasonal fix without getting ridicule from others about watching a Christmas movie in February, I’ve put together a list of my Top Ten favorite Christmas movies, that don’t aren’t really about Christmas.

Michael (1996) – Christmas has a very minor role in this one, but still, I think it’s my favorite Christmas movie that’s not really about Christmas.  Three tabloid reporters are sent out to get the story about a woman who claims she is living with a real angel.  Near the beginning of the film, there’s a large Christmas tree being set up (like the Rockefeller Christmas tree in New York).  There are a couple of mentions of Christmas, though it isn’t connected to the plot at all (and seems to go away by the end of the movie, though their experiences with Michael take place over the course of just a few days).  Plus, there’s Dion’s version of “Winter Wonderland”.  Warning, there’s a good chance that at a certain point in this movie, you will want pie.

Trading Places (1983) – Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in a terrific 1980’s comedy that starts just before Thanksgiving and ends just after New Year’s.  There’s a Christmas party scene, and Dan Aykroyd as a somewhat-deranged Santa Claus.  It doesn’t really have to take place at this particular time of year, other than the climactic scene at the Stock Market, which is supposed to be just after New Year’s Day.  “Getting Even” isn’t really a Christmas theme, but there is lots of Christmas-related stuff in the background through most of the movie, for those wanting that holiday fix!


The Sure Thing (1985) – John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga go coast-to-coast during college winter break.  There are several mentions about when this is taking place, though there isn’t a lot of actual Christmas in it.  Except for a bar scene that finds John Cusack singing a little of “The Christmas Song” with some new friends.

Better Off Dead (1985) – Another John Cusack movie, and it’s even from the same year as the last one!  This time, Cusack is back in high school, dealing with being dumped by his girlfriend, a skiing rivalry and the foreign exchange student across the street.  A couple Christmas songs (Darlene Love, the Carpenters).


Serendipity (2001) – John Cusack one more time.  Here, he meets Kate Beckinsale when they both reach for the same pair of gloves at Macy’s.  They go out and spend the evening in New York at Christmas.  This sets up the tone, and the conflict, for the entire movie, as they each try to find the other over the course of several years.  The movie begins and ends at Christmas, and we also get Louis Armstrong’s “Cool Yule”.


Gremlins (1984) – Hoyt Axton gives his son an early Christmas present, and when the boy proceeds to break the three important rules about caring for his new pet, little monsters are unleashed on the town.  This movie is almost anti-Christmas, including a terrible story from Phoebe Cates about what happened to her father when he dressed up like Santa Claus.  More tension and violence than in most Christmas movies, but there are Christmas presents and decorations everywhere, and a couple Christmas songs (Darlene Love, Johnny Mathis).


Catch Me If You Can (2002) – Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks in a true story that has nothing to do with Christmas.  However, several key scenes take place during Christmas, including many of the interactions between the two stars.  Plus Christmas songs from Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole.


Batman Returns (1992) – The Penguin and Catwoman take on Michael Keaton during Christmas time in Gotham City.  Lots of decorations in the background, and near the end, Alfred and Bruce Wayne wish each other a Merry Christmas.


When Harry Met Sally (1989) and Sleepless In Seattle (1993) – These two kind of go together, and I don’t think it’s just because they both include Meg Ryan.  “When Harry Met Sally” didn’t have much Christmas in it, beyond a scene where Meg Ryan drags a Christmas tree home.  The climax for that one is on New Year’s Eve, which doesn’t really count, either.  But it’s significance here is that it introduced the world to Harry Connick Jr. (and his first Christmas recording – “Winter Wonderland”).

“Sleepless In Seattle” has a plot that begins on Christmas Eve, as Meg Ryan is driving to be with her fiancée and his family on Christmas morning and Tom Hanks’ son is setting things in motion by calling into radio talk show.  And while there’s lots of great classic music, the song I most enjoyed hearing (of y Rogers and Dale Evans’ take on “Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride” (on one of the many stations Meg Ryan is listening to in her car).

1941 (1979) – John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd head an all-star cast to save Hollywood days after the Pearl Harbor attack.  History dictates that this has to take place a couple weeks before Christmas.  And there are decorations, including a wreath that sends Ned Beatty’s house off a cliff.  And let’s get out these lights!


So if you need that Christmas movie fix, any of these should be able to give you a little something to tide you over. 

Got any suggestions for more Christmas movies that aren’t about Christmas?  Feel free to add them in the comments!  And for those who want to know where “Die Hard” (and “Die Hard 2”) are, all I can say is that I liked these movies better.  Feel free to make your own list!

]]><![CDATA[A Christmas Story, Too!]]>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:58:58 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/01/a-christmas-story-too.html Picture
I came across this story in a couple places, so I thought I'd pass it along.

There's a casting call for a sequel to "A Christmas Story", which has the working title of "A Christmas Story, Too".

This time around, Ralphie is a teenager, and he wants a certain, special convertible for Christmas.  Since it's been almost thirty years since the original movie came out, none of the original cast members would be the right age. And, of course, Darren McGavin, who was fantastic as Ralphie's father, passed away a few years ago.

The original movie was based on the writings of Jean Shepherd.  Several stories from his collection "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" were used, and Jean actually served as the film's narrator, too.  Sadly, Jean passed away in 1999.

There's no word on whether this new film will be based on other writings by Jean Shepherd, or if it's a completely new story.  It's much too early in the process to really know much of anything,beyond the announced casting call.

I know it's rare that a sequel lives up to expectations, or comes close to equaling the original.  But personally, I'd love to check in on Ralphie's family at another Christmastime.  For that matter, I think it's time the Griswold's took another Christmas Vacation, too.

You can find out a little more about casting here, where you can also read about the previous sequel "It Runs In The Family", which also had a completely different cast (and had nothing to do with Christmas).
]]><![CDATA[The Sounds of Christmas Top 100 For 2011]]>Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:51:30 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/01/the-sounds-of-christmas-top-100-for-2011.html_The calculations are finally done, and out of the thousands of songs we played this year, here are the top one hundred!  These are the most-requested and highest-rated songs from the Sounds of Christmas 2011! 

1) Stevie Wonder "What Christmas Means To Me"

2) Huey Piano Smith and the Clowns "White Christmas Blues"

3) David Bowie and Bing Crosby "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy"

4) REO Speedwagon "Deck The Halls"

5) Chris Squire "Run With The Fox"

6) Harry Connick Jr. "Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers"

7) Lisa Kessler "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

8) Mannheim Steamroller "Catching Snowflakes On Your Tongue"

9) David Crowder Band "Carol Of The Bells/Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)"

10) Hipwaders "Yes, It's Christmas"

11) Carpenters "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

12) Yule Logs "Northpole 45789"

13) Richard Marx "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day"

14) NRBQ "Christmas Wish"

15) Beatles "Another Beatles Christmas Record (1964)"

16) Vanessa Peters "The Christmas We Hoped For"

17) Katharine McPhee "Silver Bells"

18) John and Yoko "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

19) Al Jarreau "The Christmas Song"

20) Harry Connick Jr. "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"

21) Kenny Vance and the Planotones "Doo Wop Christmas"

22) Marshall Crenshaw "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me"

23) Motels "Santa Baby"

24) Pretenders "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

25) Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Nutrocker"

26) Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping"

27) Laura Vane and the Vipertones "Christmas Day With Me"

28) Josh and the Empty Pockets "Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home"

29) Mulberry Lane "Christmas In The Car"

30) Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Siberian Sleigh Ride"

31) Percy Sledge "My Christmas Wish For You"

32) Embers "I Love Christmas Music"

33) Sheryl Crow and Eric Clapton "Merry Christmas Baby"

34) Tina Lambert "Gabriel's Message"

35) BarlowGirl "Carol Of The Bells/Sing We Now Of Christmas"

36) Ben E. King "The Christmas Song"

37) Newsboys "Winter Wonderland"

38) Sheryl Crow "The Christmas Song"

39) Trans-Sibierian Orchestra "A Mad Russian's Christmas"

40) Bing Crosby "Good King Wenceslas"

41) Mulberry Lane "Happy Holidays"

42) Ronnie Spector "It's The Time (Happy Holidays)"

43) Beatles "The Beatles Christmas Record 1963"

44) Cheap Trick "Come On Christmas"

45) Harry Nilsson "Joy To The World"

46) James Brown "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"

47) They Might Be Giants "Santa Claus"

48) Tommy James "The Christmas Song"

49) Carolyn Sills "George Bailey"

50) Dean Martin "A Marshmallow World"

51) Guster "Tiny Tree Christmas"

52) Bob Sirois and Rachel Taylor "Christmas Like A Lullaby"

53) Louis Armstrong "Zat You Santa Claus"

54) She and Him "Little Saint Nick"

55) Bette Midler "Cool Yule"

56) Drifters "White Christmas"

57) Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"

58) Jack Sheldon "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

59) Monkees "Christmas Is My Time Of Year"

60) Royal Crown Revue "Christmas Lights"

61) Elvis Presley "If Every Day Was Like Christmas"

62) Honeymoon Suite "I Believe In Father Christmas"

63) Lisa McClowry "Before The Tree Comes Down"

64) Northern Light Orchestra "Gloria"

65) Pretenders "Happy Christmas"

66) B.B. King "Christmas Love"

67) Carole King :Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday"

68) James Taylor "Deck The Halls"

69) John Mellencamp "Teddi's Song"

70) Wilson Phillips "Christmastime"

71) Chicago with Steve Cropper "Rocking and Rolling On Christmas Day"

72) Glasvegas "A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)"

73) Katharine McPhee "Christmas Is The Time"

74) Bryan Adams "Christmas Time"

75) She and Him "Christmas Day"

76) Belinda Carlisle "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

77) Brian Setzer Orchestra "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag"

78) Carole King "Carol Of The Bells"

79) Stephen Colbert "Another Christmas Song"

80) Blondie "We Three Kings"

81) Coldplay "Christmas Lights"

82) Otis Redding "Merry Christmas Baby"

83) Roy Holliday "Christmas Time On The Beach"

84) Tina Lambert "O Christmas Tree"

85) Mannheim Steamroller "Little Drummer Boy"

86) Brian Wilson "Christmasey"

87) Jean Meileur "Driving Home For Christmas"

88) Jennifer Cella "Come Home For Christmas"

89) Lisa Kessler "Christmas Vacation"

90) Michael Keaton "Frosty the Snowman"

91) Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"

92) Billy Joel "Christmas In Fallujah"

93) Chris Rea "Driving Home For Christmas"

94) Eagles "Please Come Home For Christmas" (Live)

95) Robbie Robertson "Christmas Must Be Tonight"

96) Tommy James "I Love Christmas"

97) Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Promises To Keep"

98) Ella Fitzgerald "The First Noel"

99) Frank Sinatra "Christmas Memories"

100) Puppini Sisters "Here Comes Santa Claus"

Thanks again for listening!  And we're looking forward to spending next Christmas with you, as we plan to be back on the air again on November 1!

All our best for you and yours for all of 2012!  And may you always believe in Santa Claus!
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]]><![CDATA[Happy Birthday, Elvis!]]>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:02:18 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/01/happy-birthday-elvis.htmlAnother one of our most-requested songs this season was this live version of "Santa Claus Is Back In Town"and "Blue Christmas'

Happy Birthday, Elvis!


]]><![CDATA[Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me]]>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:02:11 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2012/01/stevie-wonder-what-christmas-means-to-me.htmlI'm working on building a jukebox of the most-requested and highest-rated songs from the past season on The Sounds of Christmas.

In the meantime, there's always YouTube!

Here's Stevie Wonder, with the number one song on the Sounds of Christmas 2011!
]]><![CDATA[Sean Quigley's 'Little Drummer Boy' is on a roll on YouTube]]>Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:31:30 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2011/12/sean-quigleys-little-drummer-boy-is-on-a-roll-on-youtube.html
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Another Canadian teen drummer is stealing a bit of Justin Bieber's thunder this holiday season with his own hip version of Little Drummer Boy.

High school junior Sean Quigley, 16, of Winnipeg, posted his rock rendition of the famous Christmas song on YouTube three weeks ago, and now the video has gone viral, attracting more than 1.3 million views.

Quigley produced, played the instruments and sang on the track, and directed, starred in and edited the video, which looks professionally done. He's appeared on Canadian news shows, gotten calls from the The Rosie Show, launched his official website and even hired a talent manager after the video hit nearly 40,000 views overnight.

Read the rest of the article here --> http://www.dailyrecord.com/usatoday/article/52172224?odyssey=mod_sectionstories

Check out Sean's website here --> http://seanquigleyband.com/?p=238

And check out the video below!

]]><![CDATA[USA Today Rounds Up Their Picks For The Best Christmas Releases of 2011]]>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:22:33 -0800http://www.soundsofchristmas.com/1/post/2011/11/usa-today-rounds-up-their-picks-for-the-best-christmas-releases-of-2011.html
_The annual sleigh-load of new holiday music ensures enough variety of seasonal strains to satisfy every branch of the family tree. But wading through that yule tide can be tough sledding. USA TODAY music critics Elysa Gardner, Edna Gundersen, Steve Jones, Brian Mansfield and JerryShriver offer sound advice on selecting sonic stocking stuffers.


FOR YOUR CROON-CRAVING MOM

Michael Bublé, Christmas

When the weather outside is frightful, Bublé's creamy bari-tenor can smooth away all the rough edges. The Canadian adult-contemporary favorite approaches a range of golden oldies with his usual mix of playfulness and reverence, putting a jazzy New Orleans spin on Blue Christmas and turning Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You into a power ballad. He's joined by a children's choir on Silent Night and by Mexican siren Thalia on a flamenco-flecked Feliz Navidad. Other guests: fellow traditionalists the Puppini Sisters (Jingle Bells) and a slinky Shania Twain (White Christmas). There's also a Bublé original, the earnestly romantic Cold December Night (co-written with Alan Chang and Bob Rock). — Gardner

Also consider:

•Paul Anka, Songs of December

•Tony Bennett, The Classic Christmas Album

•Dean Martin, My Kind of Christmas

FOR YOUR TWEEN NIECE

Justin Bieber, Under the Mistletoe

Dismiss Bieber if you want, but kids have made many of Christmas' most enduring records, from Brenda Lee to the Jackson 5. And Mistletoe, which sold more than 200,000 copies in its first week alone, is a solid addition to the canon of youthful, R&B-oriented holiday albums. The choice of material often plays to Bieber's burgeoning skills as a romantic balladeer, and he brings in guests with cross-generational appeal, including Boyz II Men (a cappella Fa La La), Mariah Carey (All I Want for Christmas Is You) and Usher (The Christmas Song). Only the silly couplets in a rap version of Drummer Boy— "Playing for the king, playing for the title/I'm surprised you didn't hear this in the Bible" — seem like an obvious misstep. Maybe Mistletoe won't have the timeless appeal of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, but they probably said that about the J5's Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, too. — Mansfield

Also consider:

•Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2

•Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring David Archuleta, Glad Christmas Tidings

•The Sing-Off: Songs of the Season

FOR YOUR HIPSTER SISTER

Scott Weiland, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The Stone Temple Pilots rocker takes an unexpected hiatus, shelving his flamboyant wail to reveal a silky baritone on lush arrangements of holiday classics. The spark for the collection was a performance two years ago on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, inspired by Frank Sinatra's 1957 recording. Weiland's sentimental set covers standards popularized by Bing Crosby (White Christmas), Perry Como (Winter Wonderland) and Nat King Cole (The Christmas Song). But it's not all croon tunes. He enlists steel drums on a reggae rendition of O Holy Night, jazzes up What Child Is This?, adds a bossa nova beat to Silent Night and submits his original Happy Christmas and Many More. — Gundersen

Also consider:

•She & Him, A Very She & Him Christmas

•Jack Johnson and various artists, This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday, Volume 2

•Shonen Knife, Sweet Christmas

Read the complete original article on USA Today's site right here

_

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