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Christmas Auld Lang Syne 2022

12/29/2022

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First, and most importantly, Happy New Year! I hope 2023 is your best year yet!

2022 has been pretty terrific for the Sounds of Christmas, and I wanted to say thank you for being a part of that, whether you listened to this station or to the Sounds of Christmas podcast. Or both.
The Sounds of Christmas podcast just passed one hundred fifty thousand downloads. While in the grand scheme of things, or at least as far as that goes in the world of podcasting, that may not be a lot. But it seems like a lot to me, especially since I only started the podcast in early 2021 (not quite two years ago).

While that milestone might give some the desire to pause and reflect, I’d rather look ahead at the year to come.
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For the podcast, I’ll continue posting episodes year-round. I have just posted an episode this week, after posting a new episode each day the week before. The frequency of new episodes will ease up now, going back to a similar schedule as last year. I’ll try to get one new one posted every Monday, but there may be a week or two where that just doesn’t happen.

I do have a wish list of people I’d like to have on as guests, including a lot of artists who had advertised on the Sounds of Christmas station over the years, but haven’t necessarily released any new Christmas music lately. I’d like to check in with them, see what they're up to, talk about the Christmas music they did release, and, knowing me, probably ask them about making some new Christmas music, too.
I have a couple surprises in store, at least I hope I do, with some people I’m working on scheduling for the next month or two, but I don’t have anything set, yet, so I can’t reveal anything at this point. I don’t mean to tease; I just want you to know that I am working on some things I think you’ll like.

The Sounds of Christmas station will continue on, playing the Best Variety of Christmas Music, commercial-free, through the end of September. Then, once again, I’ll switch things over for October, and we’ll be playing the Best Variety of Halloween Music.

Then, on November 1, 2023, a brand new season of the Sounds of Christmas will begin.
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Between now and October, I’ll do what I can to keep things fresh, including the addition of a bunch of songs that I didn’t get around to playing this past season. Some I just didn’t find in time. Others were released that last week leading up to Christmas. And others I just wasn’t able to fit in.

I’m writing this on New Year’s Eve Eve Eve, and I noticed that we still have people listening all over the United States and in at least fifty other countries. And while that’s nice to see, I know full well it probably won’t stay like that. And really, that’s fine.

I know I mentioned earlier that the Sounds of Christmas podcast just crossed the one hundred fifty thousand download mark, and I don’t mention that to brag. It’s more out of surprise and gratitude, which is the same feeling I have seeing all those who are listening to the station tonight.

I didn’t start doing any of this for the numbers, and I really hope it doesn’t sound like that’s the case. In fact, I fully expect the numbers on both the station and the podcast to drop significantly over the next week, with neither really going up much again until next fall.

And that is also fine.
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My only hope is that, at some point during the next year, when you feel like you could use a little Christmas spirit, that you remember that we’re still on and you can listen any time. And if you love Christmas music enough that you want to hear me and my guests talk about, I hope you remember the podcast is still chugging along, and if you’ve followed or subscribed on whatever podcast service you use, all our new episodes will be there waiting for you when you feel like checking back in.

Thanks so much for listening, to the podcast and to the station. It has been wonderful sharing part of the season with you, and I look forward to sharing more with you, whether it’s later in January, or April or July or next fall once the new season gets underway (or even if you wait to listen until next December).

Thank you for sharing the season with the Sounds of Christmas.

And may you always believe in Santa Claus.
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The 12 Days Of Christmas

12/25/2022

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Despite what the traditional radio stations, TV commercials and car dealerships tell you, the Twelve Days of Christmas actually come after Christmas. No, really. Those twelve days mark the time from Christmas Day to Epiphany. I'm not going to get into the weeds of the religious history, though if you're interested, you can check out the info on Wikipedia (among other places).
I always mention this fact, year after year, as it seems many people lose their enthusiasm for Christmas a day or two after.
For our first ten years, the Sounds of Christmas stayed on through January 6. And while there was a drop-off in listeners, it was surprising that so many people, in so many different countries, continued to listen.

Also, listeners sent in emails and messages, asking us to stay on all year long. That seemed a bit much, and I went back and forth on that. Finally, a few years ago, I decided to give it a try.

Surprisingly, aside from that initial drop-off after Christmas Day, thousands continued to listen, all over the globe.

Some people don't like the idea of year round Christmas music, and I get that. It's not for everybody. Some don't like it before Thanksgiving, or before December 1. And some don't like it at all. That's okay. No one has to listen.

But, for those who do enjoy it, the Sounds of Christmas is here for you. Any time you need some Christmas spirit, just click on the player (on the website or through the app) and enjoy it as the Sounds of Christmas turns the Twelve Days of Christmas into Twelve Months (well, eleven months plus Halloween).

As far as the song goes, there are lots of versions of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Not just different artists and different arrangements, but actual different versions, where the twelve items are in different orders, or the items are actually replaced with other things.

The song was originally published over two hundred years ago. 

12 Lords A Leaping
11 Ladies Dancing
10 Pipers piping
9 Drummers Drumming
8 Maids A-Milking
7 Swans A-Swimming
6 Geese A-Laying
5 Gold Rings
4 Colley Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
​And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
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Those lyrics were printed somewhere around 1800. In the early 1900s, the lyrics were published with a few changes. The four colley birds became four calling birds. Colley had meant black, so these were basically blackbirds. The change to calling birds made the subtle shift that these were songbirds, not necessarily blackbirds.

The Ladies Dancing moved from 11 to 9, Lords A-Leaping moved from 12 to 10, Pipers Piping moved from 10 to 11, and Drummers Drumming moved from 9 to 12. No one seems to know why these changes were made.

Briefly, in the mid-1800s, Pipers Piping became Fifers Fifing. Shortly after, the Pipers were replaced with Ships Sailing, the Ladies Dancing became Ladies Spinning, and the Lords A-Leaping became Bells Ringing.

While those all shifted back a few years later, other changes crept in. French Hens became Fat Hens, the Colley Birds became Ducks Quacking and the Gold Rings became Hares Running.

Then those changes went back, and the Geese A-Laying switched to Ducks A-Laying, the Maids A-Milking became Hares A-Running, and the Drummers Drumming were replaced with Badgers Baiting.

In the 1870s, the Badgers were replaced with Lambs A-Bleating, and the Lords A-Leaping became Lords A-Leading.

In the 1880s, the final five gifts were Hare’s A-Running, Bulls A-Roaring, Men A-Mowing, Dancers A-Dancing, and Fiddlers A-Fiddling.

In the 1890s, the Partridge was temporarily replaced with a Very Pretty Peacock, and the Lords A-Leading became Lads A-Louping.

In 1900, Squabs A-Swimming, Hounds A-Running, Bears A-Beating, and Cocks A-Crowing were all added.

A few years later, Boys A-Singing and Asses A-Racing were introduced.

In 1909, the standard that we hear today, for the most part, seemed to be accepted.

12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords A-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids A-Milking
7 Swans A-Swimming
6 Geese A-Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

When I mention all these changes that happened in the 1700s and 1800s, I should mention that there have been publications of those verses with those changes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they were preferred or more in use than other versions.

Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters are credited with recording one of the earliest versions of the song, and that was in 1949.

Perry Como recorded a version of it in 1953, but switched around the Lords A-Leaping, Ladies Dancing and Pipers Piping.

Many other artists have recorded in the years since, and the order of those last four or five gifts is often switched around. Pentatonix did that a few years ago, and I didn’t know the song’s history, and instead, just got annoyed at them for changing it around. I had no idea that all of these changes had been going on for hundreds of years.

​So, Pentatonix, if you’re listening, I apologize.
In 1984, the PNC Wealth management bank in the U.S. began publishing the Christmas Price Index, which computed the entire value of all the gifts in the song. However, this was only for the one gift mention on each new day in the song, instead of adding up all of the gifts (meaning that by the end, there were twelve partridges in twelve pear trees, since one was given each day).

They created a second index to reflect those totals, which they called the True Cost Of Christmas.

In 1984, the True Cost Of Christmas was determined to be $61,318.94.

In 2022, the True Cost Of Christmas has risen to $197,071.09.
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Regardless of how much you can spend on partridges and pear trees, or if there are pipers or fifers, the main thing I hope you take away from all of this is that the 12 Days of Christmas come after Christmas.

So don’t let anyone tell you that you should stop listening to Christmas music, even though traditional radio stations, and most stores and other places where music is played, have stopped.

In fact, since we’re on year-round, you don’t ever have to stop. If Christmas music brings you joy, we’re here for you, anytime you want to listen and get a little Christmas spirit, whether it’s December 29th or January 5th or, for that matter, March 5th or June 5th.

The Sounds of Christmas will keep playing the Best Variety of Christmas music, all year long. Well, except in October, when we play the Best Variety of Halloween music.
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Thank You 2022

11/25/2022

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Thank you.

This is based on a blog I've been posting around Thanksgiving every year for the last several years. I am gratefully updating it for 2022.

Running the Sounds of Christmas is a labor of love. It's not a big money-maker, nor was it ever intended to be. I love Christmas music, and felt that there was so much great Christmas music out there, and most of it was being ignored by traditional radio. I wanted to create a place that played it all (or, at least, a lot of it). I thought others who loved Christmas music probably felt the same way, and I wanted to make a station that would play as much Christmas music as possible, not just the "hits". Judging by the traffic this site gets, and the increasing number of listeners that find us and tune in each year, I'm not alone.

Lots of artists find us, too, and I am very grateful for that. Some record special announcements for us. Some simply send us their music for airplay consideration. And some elect to pay us to advertise their latest release. Some names you may know. Some you may only know because you've heard them regularly on the Sounds of Christmas. And some may be completely new to you.

I'd like to take a moment here to thank those that have chosen to support us this season.
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​Kenny Davies says his song "Christmas Rap" is the "true story" about Santa. He recorded it and posted it to YouTube around Thanksgiving 2012. And he's been sponsoring us season after season. In fact, he is almost always the first one to sign on for the next season, sometimes as early as Spring! You can click on the picture and download his song from iTunes. ​ 
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Michael Sinatra has been with us for several seasons. He's also been so generous with his time that he checked in with the Sounds of Christmas podcast for several episodes to take us along on the journey of creating his last Christmas album (and his plans for more Christmas music, hopefully some time soon)! Click on the picture on the right to stream and download songs from his second Christmas album, simply entitled Christmas. You can also order a signed copy of his first Christmas album, An Old Fashioned Christmas, on his website HERE!
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Actress and vocalist Brynn Stanley released Classic Christmas a couple years ago, added a bonus track last year and has now released the album on vinyl! Sounds of Christmas listeners may  also remember her earlier single "Selfie With Santa" from a couple years prior, though it's also included on Classic Christmas. Her video for the first single "Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" was voted the number one holiday video on Hip Video Promo. Click the picture on the left to get a copy of her album on vinyl while supplies last!
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Russ Lorenson first advertised with us in 2015, when he released his second Christmas album. Very happy to have him back with us again for In The Holiday Spirit's 7th anniversary (and the sixteenth anniversary of that first Christmas release, What I Want For Christmas). You can find out more about both of those albums, as well as Russ' other music, when you click the picture and go to his website.
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This year marks four-in-a-row for Suzanne's Band. Their second Christmas single, "Underneath The Tree", came out last year, and Suzanne was also kind enough to make time for our podcast, giving us updates on the journey that song took from creation to its release last November. You can check out both of Suzanne's Band's Christmas singles, and the rest of their music, by clicking on the picture on the left!
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Tommee Profitt is back with us for his third year in a row. His Christmas album, Birth Of A King, had been in the works since 2005. He created the concept of making an epic soundtrack to what many refer to as the Greatest Story Ever Told. And he assembled an amazing array of artists to bring his vision to fruition. Those artists include Avril Lavigne, Sarah Reeves and Chris Tomlin, just to name a few. You can find out more about Tommee and this project by clicking on the album cover.​
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Rosalie Drysdale is also back with us a third season. Her album Let Your Heart Be Light is her first Christmas release, and she has prolifically followed that up with more albums and singles, including her version of "Mary Did You Know". You can find out more about her and her music by clicking the album cover and visiting her website.​
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Laurie Berkner is back for her third time with the Sounds of Christmas. She’s just released her second Christmas album Another Laurie Berkner Christmas. Her previous Christmas album, A Laurie Berkner Christmas, came out around ten years ago, so she said she thought it was time for a sequel! You can find out more about her and her music by clicking the picture on the right!
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Paul Kelly is back this year for his second time! He released his first ever Christmas album, Paul Kelly’s Christmas Train, last year, which included an updated version of his popular classic "How To Make Gravy"! This year, he's adding a track ("Maybe This Christmas") to what was already a massive collection! Check it out by clicking the photo on the left!
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Cliff Beach is also back for his second season with the Sounds of Christmas. Last year, he released his first Christmas album, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year (filled with covers in several styles, along with the original title track), and this year he’s just released an a cappella version of “Jingle Bells”! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the right!
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Dan Ashley also returns for his second season! He has a great Christmas single, a cover of "My Favorite Time Of The Year" (and you may know the original by the Florin Street Band). He also hints to me that there might be a Christmas album in the not-too-distant future! Check out Dan's Christmas single, and his other music, by clicking the picture on the left!
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Linda Imperial is also back for her second season with the Sounds of Christmas. She has an original Christmas single called “Christmas You And Me” and she’s hoping to release her version of her favorite Christmas song soon (that’s “Little Drummer Boy”). Find out more about Linda and her music by clicking the picture on the right!
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Corinne Cook is also back for her second time. Her Christmas single is “A Soldier’s Holiday” and she hopes it shares the feelings a woman in the military has when the calendar turns to December. You can check out Corinne's Christmas song (and find her other music) by clicking the picture on the left!
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Liz Kennedy is back, too, also for her second season. Liz’s Christmas single is “Snowman Moon (A Christmas Crime), which she says she hopes captures that magic that is found in love and also at this very special time of year. You can check it out, along with the rest of Liz's music, by clicking on the picture on the right!
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And Deb Bowman returns for her second year with the Sounds of Christmas. Last year, she released her first Christmas album, “A Big Love Holiday”, which, I believe, Deb is planning to take out on tour in December. Find out more about Deb and her music by clicking the picture on the left!
As if that wasn’t enough, there are some super-talented, amazing singers and musicians joining the Sounds of Christmas this year for the first time.
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First is the collective known as All Star Kid. I just had a conversation with AdELA in the a late October episode of the Sounds of Christmas podcast, but for those who missed it, All Star Kid has released an album called “A Thankfully Spooktacular Christmas”, which features songs for kids about, as you might’ve guessed, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas! Check it out by clicking on the picture on the right!
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Singer-songwriter Stephen Winston makes his debut with the Sounds of Christmas this year. He says he hopes his single “Winters Breath Warms The Heart”, which recounts a childhood memory, helps everyone revel in the nostalgia of those warm memories of Christmas Past. Check it out by clicking on the picture on the left.
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Singer-songwriter Sarah Partridge joins us for the first time this year, following the release of her first Christmas album, “A Partridge In A Pear Tree”, which she said had to be the title, given her last name. You can check it out by clicking on the picture on the right!
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Also new this year is Mark Winter, formerly in the 80’s band Illusion. Mark has just released his first Christmas single “Christmas In The Air”. You can check out the single and find out more about Mark by clicking on the photo on the left!
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Similarly, the KEITH band is with us for the first time, following the release of their first single “Christmas Magic” (though they hint that their may be more Christmas music on the way - which is always something we like to hear)! Check them out by clicking on the photo on the right!
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American Roots Singer/Songwriter Grant Maloy Smith is joining us for the first time this year. His first Christmas album “The Christmas Heart” is just out (and you may also know Grant from his single a few years back, “Fly Possum Fly”! Find out more about Grant and his music by clicking on the photo on the left!
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Jazz/pop/standards vocalist Jane Monheit is with us for her first time this year, following the release of her second Christmas album The Merriest. Jane released her first Christmas album, The Season, in 2005, and a follow-up has been on her schedule for years, and when you hear it, you’ll know it was worth waiting for! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the right!
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Australian entertainer Rhonda Burchmore and Big Band leader Jack Earle join us for the first time, with their Christmas album A Red Hot Swingin’ Christmas, another Christmas project that was in the works for years, and once you’ll hear it, you’ll know it was worth the wait! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the left!
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Matt Molnar is also with us for the first time this year. Matt’s album Some Christmas Songs was picked for USA Today’s Holiday Album List, when it first came out a few years ago. You can check it out for yourself by clicking the photo on the right!
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Singer/songwriter Michael Brandmeier joins us for the first time this year, with the release of his single "I See An Angel". Listen for him on an upcoming episode of the Sounds of Christmas for the story behind this song. And check it out for yourself by clicking on the picture on the left!
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Guy Maeda is also with us for the first time this year. You may not recognize the name, but you've certainly heard him. He is a professional studio singer and musician and has performed in hundreds of movies, TV Shows, recordings, commercials, and concerts. "The Magic Of The Season" is his first single! You can check it out by clicking on the photo on the right!
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Singer/songwriter Blane Howard is also with us for his first season on the Sounds of Christmas. He just released his first Christmas album - Christmas In The Car. You can check it out wherever you stream and download music, and order a CD from his website! Check it out by clicking on the photo on the left!
I am so grateful to all of these artists for helping the Sounds of Christmas get on the air, and stay on the air this season. And while I do play songs from all of them, I also play lots of other songs (our library is over 15,000 and growing every day). Saying thanks to them all here doesn't seem enough, so I've set aside special hours each weekday to feature music from all of the artists that have been so kind as to support us this year, and in year's past (and you can find all of those on our links page above).

Anyway, each weekday at 1am and 7am, and 1pm and 7pm (Eastern), you'll hear an hour's worth of music featuring those singers and bands that have been instrumental in keeping the Sounds of Christmas going.

And while there are many worthy charitable organizations out there, I'm particularly grateful to the American Cancer Society, Feeding America and the Shelter Pet Project for letting me help spread the word about the wonderful work they do. You can click on each of their names to find out more about them. 

I also want to thank those that have been so kind as to donate to us through the PayPal link. I wasn't going to mention this, as I didn't want to sound like I was seeking donations, but there have been so many lately, that I couldn't let it go by without acknowledging and expressing my gratitude. I'm adding the link here because some have asked, but I really don't want anyone to feel like I'm asking for donations, or expecting them. The Sounds of Christmas is a free online Christmas music station, and you can listen without every giving us a nickel.
And now I've saved the best for last.

Thank you for listening. When I started the Sounds of Christmas back in 2007, I had no idea that it would still be going strong so many Christmases later. And it wouldn't be if you weren't tuning in.

Truth is, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed as I take a look at where listeners are tuning in on this Thanksgiving week...
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Thank you for the kind words, messages, Facebook posts and Tweets. It is a pleasure and an honor to get to spend at least part of the holiday season with so many all over the world. 

I hope the Sounds of Christmas brings you joy, makes you smile and enriches your holiday. Knowing you're out there listening certainly does that, and more, for me!

Thank you again. Thank you a million times. And then a million more.

And may you always believe in Santa Claus.

​Ken
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra Special Program

11/21/2022

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We are so excited to announce that we'll be airing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve Radio Special!

For an entire hour, we'll be presenting TSO's music, along with interviews from guitarists Al Pitrelli and Chris Caffery, along with drummer Jeff Plate!

They'll be talking about this year's tour, the music and the legacy of Paul O'Neill!

You'll have several opportunities to catch this special in December, with airings on the Sounds of Christmas on Sunday, December 4 at 8pm (Eastern), Saturday, December 10 at 10pm (Eastern) and on Sunday, December 18 at 11pm (Eastern).

If you want to see when the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is coming to a concert venue near you, just CLICK HERE to go to a special page on their website with info about all of their dates for the 2022 tour!
To get you in the spirit, here's a video TSO recently posted to their YouTube channel, offering up the complete narrated version of "The Lost Christmas Eve"!
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The Best Variety Of Christmas Music 2022

11/17/2022

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This is a variation of a blog I posted last year. I always say that the Sounds of Christmas plays the best variety of Christmas Music. But I think the word "variety" has been so over-used these days that it no longer means anything.

So I thought I'd show you what I mean. 

While I probably won't do this again until next year, here's a list of the artists we played on the first day of our new season, when we switched back to all Christmas music on November 1.
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1910 Fruitgum Company, 3 Doors Down, 3rd Echo, 4th + Main, 60's Invasion, 98 Degrees, A Fine Frenzy, A Great Big World, Aaron Neville, ABBA, Ad Libs, Adam Lambert, Aimee Mann, Air Supply, Al Green, Al Jarreau, Al Martino, Alison Moyet, Allen Tousaint, Alternate Routes, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Amanda Shires, Amber Weekes, America, Ames Brothers, Amy Grant, Ana Gasteyer, Andrea Bocelli, Andrew Gold, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Annie Marie Lewis, Aretha Franklin
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Ariana Grande, Ava Max, B.B. King, Backstreet Boys, Ball & Chain, the Band, Band Aid, Band of Merrymakers, Barbary Coasters, Barenaked Ladies, Barry Manilow, Beach Boys, Beatles, Bebe Rexha, Big Joe Turner, Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, Bing Crosby, bird and the bee, Blackmore's Night, Blues Traveler, Bob and Doug McKenzie, Bob Dylan, Bob Sirois, Bobby Helms, Bobby Vinton, Bon Jovi, Boots Randolph, Brenda Lee, Brett Eldredge, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Brian Wilson, Britney Spears, Bruce Springsteen, Brynn Stanley, 
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Bunny Sigler, Canadian Brass, Canned Heat, Carnie & Wendy Wilson, Carolyn Sills Combo, the Carpenters, Carrie Underwood, Charles Brown, Cheap Trick, Chicago, Chris Isaak, Chris Kamara, Chris Standring & Kathrin Shorr, Christopher Cross, Chuck Berry, Chuck Negron, Cimorelli, City Harbor, Classical Blast, Clayton Anderson, CLenz, Cliff Beach, Conan O'Brien, Corinne Cook, Crowder, CRYS, Crystals, Cyndi Lauper. Dan Ashley, Darlene Love,
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Darren Criss, Dave Barnes, Dave Edmunds Band, Dave Koz, David Archuleta, David Browning, David Foster, the dB's, DC Anderson, DCappella, Dean Martin, Death Cab For Cutie, Deb Bowman, Debbie Gibson, Delta Goodrem, Dennis DeYoung, Diahann Carroll, Dion, Dolly Parton, Don Cornell, Doris Day, Dukes of Daville, Eartha Kitt, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Money, Edwin McCain, Elizabeth Chan, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Engelbert Humperdinck, Faith Hill, Fiona Apple, 
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Francesca Battistelli, Frank Sinatra, Franki Belle, Franklin McKay, Gene Autry, Gloria Estefan, Goo Goo Dolls, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Grant Maloy Smith, Grass Roots, Harry Belafonte, Ike & Tina Turner, Ingrid Michaelson, Isley Brothers, J.B. Summers, the Jackson 5, James Robert Webb, Jamie Cullum, Jamie Fine, Jane Monheit, JD McPherson, Jeff Beck, Jeff Fowler, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Warnes, Jesse Belvin, Jewel, Jim Brickman, Jim Carrey, 
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Jim Croce, Jimmy Barnes, Jimmy Durante, Joel Kopischke, John Cougar Mellencamp, John Legend, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, Johnny Mathis, Jon Bon Jovi, Jon McLaughlin, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Butler, Josh Groban, Joss Stone, Karla Bonoff, Katey Segal, Katy Perry, KEITH, Kellie Pickler, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Davies, Kenny G, Kenny Loggins, Kimberley Locke, Kirk Whalum, Kristin Chenoweth, KT Tunstall, Lauren Daigle, ​
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Laurie Berkner Band, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack, Lena Horne, Leroy Anderson, Les Brown and His Band Of Renown, Letters To Cleo, Linda Imperial, Lindsey Stirling, Lisa Donahey, Lisa Kessler, Liz Callaway, Liz Kennedy, Lorrie Morgan, Los Lobos, Lou Rawls, Lukas Graham, Luke McMaster, Lyn Stanley, Lynn Anderson, Maddie Poppe, Madison Taylor Baez, Madonna, Mannheim Steamroller, Mantovani, Margaret Dorn and the Accidentals, Mark Winter, ​
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Martha Reeves, Martina DaSilva and Dan Chmielinski, Martina McBride, Mary J. Blige, Matt Molnar, Meghan Trainor, Memphis Ukulele Band, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Michael Brandmeier, Michael Bublé, Michael Jackson, Michael Sinatra, Michael W. Smith, Mitch Miller, Morgan James, Murphy's Law, 'N Sync, Nancy White, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, New Christy Minstrels, New Kids On The Block, Next Level, No Doubt, NOLA Players, Norah Jones, 
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Norine Braun, NRBQ, the O'Jays, Olivia Newton-John, Olivia Rox, Orleans, Otis Redding, Paul Kelly, Paul Young, Payolas, Peggy Lee, Percy Faith, Perry Como, Pete Hopkins, Plumb, Polyphonic Spree, Pomplamoose, Pretenders, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Rascal Flatts, Ray Charles, Regrettes, Rehya Stevens, Rhonda Burchmore, Richard Marx, Rick Astley, Robert Lund, Robin Trower, Roger McGuinn, the Ronettes, Rosalie Drysdale, Rosie Marie, Roy Holliday, 
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Royal Guardsmen, Russ Lorenson, Ryan Reynolds and the Spirited Ensemble, Ryanhood, Sarah Pierce, Sarah Reeves, Sarah Smith, Scotty McCreery, She and Him, Sheryl Crow, Sia, Sidewalk Prophets, Smalltown Poets, Steffi Denk and Flexible Friends, Stephen Bishop, Stephen Winston, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, Stevie Mackey, Stevie Wonder, Straight No Chaser, Suzanne's Band, Taylor Swift, Tequila Hounds, Terence P. Minogue, Thisbe Vos, Tina Lambert,   
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Tokens, Tom Hanks, Tommee Profitt, Tori Kelly, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Trouvere, Vanessa Williams, Vera Lynn, Vince Guaraldi Trio, Vince Vance and the Valiants, William Shatner and Winterbrook! 
Whew!

​Of course, that's not close to everything we'll be playing. Not by a longshot. But it gives you an idea of what we mean when we say, "The Sounds of Christmas plays the best variety of Christmas music!"

And if you don't see your favorites here, don't worry. This is just the line-up of artists that we played on the first day of this new season. There's a lot more to come!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and for sharing this early part of the season with us!

May you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken
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When Is It Okay To Listen To Christmas Music

11/12/2022

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Any. Time. You. Want.
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Listen To The Sounds Of Christmas 2022

11/1/2022

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The new season of the Sounds of Christmas has begun, and we're trying to make it as easy as we can to tune in!

​There are three pretty simple ways to tune in.

First, simply click on the player on the front page of our website. This way, you can listen to us as long as you're on that page, even if you open other windows.
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Second, you can click on the tree on our front page. That opens a pop-up player, so you can keep listening to us whether you stay on our website, or go to check your email, Facebook, etc. You can keep listening as long as you keep that pop-up player open.
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You can also do either (or both) of these steps on the LISTEN NOW page.

​And third, you can download our free app in the Google Play store (for your Android phone), and take us with you wherever you go!
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We know that you may not be ready for Christmas music, yet, but when you are, we're ready for you! We're playing the best variety of Christmas music, with all your favorite tunes and favorite artists, along with hundreds of brand new songs!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and for listening!

May you always believe in Santa Claus! ​
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Listen To The Sounds Of Halloween 2022

9/30/2022

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The new season of the Sounds of Christmas starts November 1. While we get ready for that, we're playing all Halloween music throughout October. We're also trying to make it as easy as we can to listen to the Sounds of Christmas (and the Sounds of Halloween).
There are three pretty simple ways to tune in.
​
First, simply click on the player on the front page of our website, or on the LISTEN NOW page. This way, you can listen to us as long as you're on that page, even if you open other windows.
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Second, you can click on the tree on our front page (between the embedded player and the News Headlines) or on our LISTEN NOW page. That opens a pop-up player, so you can keep listening to us whether you stay on our website, or go to check your email, Facebook, etc. You can keep listening as long as you keep that pop-up player open.
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And third, you can download our free app in the Google Play store (for your Android phone), and take us with you wherever you go!
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We'll keep the Halloween music going all the way through Halloween night! Then, on November 1, it's back to the best variety of Christmas music, with all your favorite tunes and artists, along with hundreds of brand new songs!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and for listening!

May you always believe in Santa Claus! And the Great Pumpkin!
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Creeps

9/19/2022

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The creeps I want to talk about today have nothing to do with Halloween, or with the podcast with that same name. It’s actually in reference to what some complaining people like to say, regarding any signs of Christmas that turn up before Thanksgiving (or even before October).
               
Since you're on this website, there’s a good chance you’re a fan of Christmas and Christmas music, and you’ve run across your share of these particular creeps yourself.

It seems to be that time of year again, I’ve started seeing articles, blogs and posts complaining about what some refer to as “Christmas Creep”. This is supposed to mean that retailers are rushing the season, starting to put Christmas items out earlier and earlier every year.

I think of it more as a “Grinch Creep”. It’s really about the people who like to complain about Christmas music, lights, presents, etc. And, of course, some are just people who like to complain, period. Sadly, we all know the type.

I remember working in the receiving department of a large, box bookstore almost thirty years ago. In early August, customers would start asking about Christmas books. This was not about books to give as gifts, possibly to someone overseas so it would take a long time to get there. This was about books that were about Christmas – decorating, cooking, etc.

And this was not just one or two customers, but multiple customers, asking daily when we would have our Christmas collections out.

I’m sure similar things happen at other retail stores. And while some Grinches like to complain about stores rushing the season, the truth is they’re simply trying to meet their customers’ demand. Seriously, if no one bought this stuff in August or September, would stores continue to give it the shelf space?

Despite these Grinches saying that Christmas is creeping into stores earlier and earlier every year, this is nothing new. 
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I remember when I was in college (and even high school), one of our local drug store chains always put out the first new batch of Bob’s Candy Canes on September 25. And that would have been back in the early 1980’s.

And it’s not just retail.
Remember the musical version of “Scrooge”? Albert Finney starred. It came out in 1970.  A few days after Halloween.
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Oh, sure, at least that’s November, right? Well, here are some things you can point out to any of these creeps that you come across, when they start complaining about you rushing the season.

Elvis Presley’s first Christmas album was released on October 15. And that was 1957. People at that time were upset that Elvis would dare perform these sacred songs in his rock and roll style. Irving Berlin himself tried to have the album banned from radio airplay.  

No one complained that it was only October. That could be because Frank Sinatra and Gene Autry both released Christmas albums a month earlier. Go back to the previous decade, and you’ll find that Gene Autry released “Here Comes Santa Claus” on October 6. And that was 1947!
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So over seventy years ago, no one complained that Gene Autry was rushing the season when his Christmas single hit store shelves in September. Kind of seems silly to be annoyed at Wal-Mart for promoting their new Layaway deals or Target for having a couple rows of Christmas lights (just past the aisles of Halloween costumes).

They wouldn’t do it if people weren’t buying it.

And for those creating Christmas-related things, the season starts even earlier. Mel Torme famously recorded “The Christmas Song” in the heat of summer, decorating the studio with Christmas lights to help get into the spirit. In the summer of 2021, Rob Thomas was working on his first Christmas album, and had a giant TV screen put in the studio, so he could watch Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel to help get into the spirit.

And on previous episodes of this podcast, you can hear Suzanne from Suzanne’s Band, Michael Sinatra and many other artists talk about all that goes into the creation of their Christmas releases.
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They aren’t rushing the season. And neither is your local Michaels’ just because they have Christmas decorations on their shelves before Summer has officially ended.
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The Sounds of Christmas launches its new season on November 1. I don’t expect everyone to drop what they’re doing and start listening. Likewise, everyone doesn’t have to run to Macy’s for new ornaments just because they’ve been put on display before Thanksgiving, or before Halloween.Or before the first official day of Fall.

But if you want to, you can.

Now, we do have listeners on November 1, hopefully enjoying their favorite Christmas songs alongside new music from singers and bands they may or may not know. And while we haven’t always been on year-round, we have always started our new season on the first of November.
Like the bookstores, Bob’s Candy Canes and even Frank Sinatra, I’m not trying to rush the season. I just love Christmas. And if you aren’t ready for Christmas music the day after Halloween, that’s okay. We’ll be on, ready for you whenever you are. In fact, whenever you need a little musical Christmas spirit, we’re here for you!

The point of all this is that no one is rushing anything. Christmas is ready for you to embrace it whenever you want, and it has been that way for a very long time.

In “A Christmas Carol”, Charles Dickens wrote “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

Those last three words are All the year. Not just in December. Not just after Thanksgiving. Not just at any particular time someone else decides is appropriate for you.

All the year.

And those words were written in 1843.
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That’s why, in the middle of September (which is when I’m posting this) you can watch Jim Carrey’s version of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” on HBO Max right now. Or It’s A Wonderful Life on Amazon Prime. Or all three of Tim Allen’s Santa Clause movies on Disney Plus.

You don’t have to watch any of those, of course. But if you want to, you can.

No one’s making you buy Christmas decorations or candy canes, either.

So whether it’s December or September, if you feel like reveling in some Christmas spirit, you don’t need anyone’s permission. And you aren’t rushing anything.

It isn’t up to anyone else to determine when you get into the Christmas Spirit. No matter what the creeps say.

​May you always believe in Santa Claus! 
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The Sounds of Halloween 2022

9/2/2022

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This is part of a blog I wrote years ago, but I revisit it and try to update it a bit each year.

​Like most families, Halloween and Christmas have always been big at our house. Lisa and the kids are on the Halloween side, while I'm with Santa.

I learned long ago not to try and convert any of them. I think what happened at Disneyland once illustrates it best. In one of the studios at California Adventure, you can use this machine to determine which hero or villain you are.

I was Tarzan. All three of them were villains.
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Oh, well. They love me, anyway.

So as we move toward October, I'm super-busy working on the new season of the Sounds of Christmas. While the station stays on year-round, it goes through a big change every October. The Sounds of Christmas becomes the Sounds of Halloween from October 1 through Halloween night.  

I admit, mostly, it's just for my family, while I kick the tires and otherwise make sure everything is set to go for the coming season. But I've found there are a lot of other people that love Halloween, too, so I've expanded the playlist and hope you have a good time with the Sounds of Halloween.

With all that said, what exactly is Halloween music?

Some of it is pretty obvious. Monster Mash. Purple People Eater. Ghostbusters. Songs about things you associate with Halloween - ghosts, monsters, werewolves, vampires and witches. Some are scary stories, and some are about candy or trick-or-treating.

I also include songs from scary movies and TV shows. Some of those are pretty creepy. And some are funny. Many are in-between.

While there are some kids' songs (like The Count from Sesame Street), a few of the songs do have bad language. And some of the themes of some songs are straight out of horror movies, and those probably aren't for little kids, either. 

On the Sounds of Christmas, I play many versions of many songs, so you won't just hear Bing Crosby's version of "White Christmas". You'll hear lots of different singers and bands, old and new, offering their wake on that classic. I do the same thing with the Halloween tunes. For example, I have well over a dozen versions of "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" (though I may not get to all of them this year, as I try to separate songs and artists so you don't hear the same songs and same voices over and over).

During the Sounds of Halloween, you'll hear from many of your favorite Christmas music singers and bands, including Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Mannheim Steamroller and even Bruce Springsteen!

There are songs about Killer Tomatoes, Black Magic Women and Haunted Houses. There are also songs about Alien Invasions, Invisible Men and over twenty takes on "I Put A Spell On You" (I probably won't get to all of those, either).

I play lots of Disney songs, from movie villains and from spooky shows on Disney Plus. I also have at least half a dozen songs from Mystery Science Theater 3000. 

To give you a better idea, here are a dozen of the songs I listened to from the Sounds of Halloween library as I put this blog together...

Molly Hatchet "Bad To The Bone"
The Cadillacs "The Boogie Man"
John Fogerty "Eye Of The Zombie"
The Who "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Buck Owens "(It's A) Monster's Holiday"
The Johnny Otis Show "Castin' My Spell"
Atlanta Rhythm Section "Spooky"
Florence + the Machine "My Boy Builds Coffins"
The Ramones "Pet Sematary"
Bonnie Tyler "I Put A Spell On You"
Johnny Cash "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky"
Tom Petty "Zombie Zoo"

Hope you enjoy this upcoming celebration of Halloween during the month of October! And then the new season of the Sounds of Christmas will be here!

May you always believe in Santa Claus (and also the Great Pumpkin)!

Ken

P.S. - To listen, just go to our home page (or click LISTEN NOW above) and click on the player. For some reason, the player isn't showing up on some browsers, so you can also just click on the tree which will give you a pop-up player. And you can search for us in the Google Play store and get our free app for your Android Phone and take us along with you!
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