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Special Weekend Programming

11/12/2024

The Sounds of Christmas has some special events coming soon!

First, this coming weekend (11/15-11/17), it's a New Music Weekend. From Friday afternoon at 5:00pm through Sunday night, you'll only hear songs released in 2024! This will give you a chance to hear lots of the new music that's been released (or is going to be released) for this holiday season!

And the weekend before Thanksgiving (11/22-11/24), we're giving thanks to all the singers and bands that have supported us over the years - from those in our earliest days to artists supporting us for the first time this year! It's our way of saying thanks for helping us get up and running, and stay up and running!

The weekend after Thanksgiving (11/29-12/1), we're giving away special 20th anniversary editions of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's album "The Lost Christmas Eve" pressed on clear vinyl! Starting at noon (Eastern) on Friday (11/29), then all day Saturday (11/30) and Sunday (12/1) until midnight (Eastern), listen for songs from Trans-Siberian Orchestra. When you hear one, jot down the name of the song, along with the title and artist of the song that gets played next. Then email that, along with your name, to [email protected]. On Monday (12/2), we'll draw from all correct entries, and five winners will be announced later that week (once we've been able to contact them). Enter only once per TSO song played, but you can enter each time you hear a song from Trans-Siberian Orchestra!

And in December, each weekend you'll have the opportunity to catch our brand new exclusive special: Saturday Night Live - 50 Years Of Christmas Music - exploring most of the Christmas music that aired on SNL from that first Christmas episode in 1975 to the Christmas episode from last year! You'll hear from singers and bands, plus many performance by cast members and special guests!

This will air for the first time on 12/7 at 8pm (Eastern). Then the following Saturday (12/14) at 10pm (Eastern). And one final time the Saturday before Christmas (12/21) at 9pm (Eastern).

We're also working on one more special for December, and hope to have all the details soon! We'll also be updating this page with more specific info, especially for dates and times!

Thanks so much for listening and spending part of this wonderful season with the Sounds of Christmas, and we hope you enjoy some (or all) of the specials we have in story for you!

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The Best Variety Of Christmas Music 2024

11/2/2024

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This is a variation of a blog I posted last year (and the year before). 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.

3rd Echo, 98 Degrees, A Great Big World, Adam Lambert, Aimee Mann, Air Supply, Al Jarreau, Alexis Cole, Alice Cooper, Allen Toussaint, Ally Brooke, Alternate Routes, Amanda McBroom, Amy Grant, Andrea Bocelli, Andy Williams, Ann Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Art Garfunkel, Ashley Park, Astra-Lites, Aubrey Logan, Automatics, Backstreet Boys, Band Of Other Brothers, Bandana Splits, Barry Allen, Beach Boys, Ben Folds, Ben Levin,

Ben Platt, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, , Billy Squier, Bing Crosby, Blackmore's Night, Blenders, Boney M, Brandon Jenner, Braxtons, Brenda Lee, Brett Eldredge, Brett Young, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Buckinghams, Canadian Brass, Carla Thomas, Carnie Wilson, Carole King, Carolyn Sills Combo, Carpenters, Carpenters Legacy, Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans, Chipmunks, Chris Isaak, Cimorelli, Cindy Rella, Cliff Beach, Cloverton,

Commodores, Continentals, Courtney Lemmon, Crash Adams, Critical Mass, Dami Im, Dan + Shay, Dan Ashley, Danny Wright, Darius Rucker, Darlene Love, David Arkenstone, David Benoit, David Foster, David Lanz, Davy Jones, Dean and Britta, Dean Martin, Debbie Gibson, Dick Haymes, Dinah Jane, Doe, Dolly Parton, Donald Vega Trio, Donny Osmond, Doris Day, Dreams So Real, Drifters, Duke Ellington, Earcandy, Elizabeth Chan, Elizabeth McGovern, Elvis Presley,

Emerson Lake and Palmer, Enya, Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound, Errol Dunkley, Eva Cassidy, Faith Hill, Falcons, Fans Of Jimmy Century, Faron Young, Felix Cavaliere, Flashcats, Foghat, Francesca Battistelli, Franki Belle, Gaither Vocal Band, Gary U.S. Bonds, George Kahn Jazz and Blues Revue, George Winston, Gerry and the Gems, Glee Cast, Glen Campbell, Gloria Estefan, Good Lovelies, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Gordon MacRae,

Graham Gouldman, Grant Maloy Smith, Gregory Porter, Guy Smilee, Gwen Stefani, Hayseed Dixie, Home Free, Hot Toddies, Jack Johnson, Jack Jones, James Robert Webb, Jamie Carol, Jane Lynch, Jane Monheit, Jars Of Clay, Jason Alexander, JD McPherson, Jeff Lewis, Jennifer Warnes, Jim Brickman, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Junes and Nuclear Soul System, Joe Perry, Joey Sykes, John Lennon, Johnny Maestro and Brooklyn Bridge, Johnny Mathis,

Joseph James, Joss Stone, Judith Owen, Julian Ovenden, Kate Flannery, Kate Hudson, Kate Rusby, Katharine McPhee, Kathy Sledge, KEITH, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Davies, Kenny G, Kenny Rogers, Kevin Dias, Khalid, Kimberly Dawn, King's Brass, Kings Return, Kirk Franklin, Kirk Pasich Project, Kitaro, Kristin Amarie, Kylie Cantrell, Laura Byrna, Lauren Daigle, Laurie Berkner Band, Lea Michele, LeAnn Rimes, Leroy Anderson, Leslie Odom Jr., Li'l Ed, Linda Bull,

Linda Imperial, Lindsey Kraft, Lis Soderberg, Lisa Biales, Lisa Kessler, Little Big Town, Livingstone Brown, Liz Kennedy, Louis Armstong, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Luke McMaster, Luminare Christmas!, Luther Vandross, Madonna, Manhattan Transfer, Marc Martel, Mariah Carey, Martina McBride, Matt Nathanson, Matthew West, Maxi Priest, Meghan Trainor, Melissa Etheridge, Melissa Manchester, Michael Damian, Michael Penn, Michael Sinatra,

Michelle Malone, Mindy Gledhill, Molly Biggins, Muppets, Nancy Bodworth, Nancy Wilson, Nat King Cole, Natasha Miller, Naturally 7, New Christy Minstrels, New Found Glory, Next Level, NOLA Players, Norine Braun, Oh Hush!, Old 97's, Orla Fallon, Oscar McLollie and His Honey Jumpers, Ozie Ware, Patrick Page, Patti LaBelle, Paul Brady, Paul Jones, Paul Kelly, Paul Loren, Paul McCartney, Payolas, Peggy Lee, Petula Clark, Pomplamoose,

Posies, Pretenders, Quinn Hedges, Quinto Sisters, Rebecca Angel, Rehya Stevens, Remington Super 60, Renaissance Collective, REO Speedwagon, Reverend Horton Heat, Rick Braun, Rick Lang, Rifftrax, Robin Trower, Rock For Children, Roger Williams, Ron Halford, Roseate, Russ Lorenson, Salsoul Orchestra, Sara Evans, SaraBeth, Sarah Connor, Sarah Partridge, Scout Durwood, Sia, Sierra Boggess, Sister Sledge, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles,

Sonic Boom, Soupy Sales, SpongeBob Squarepants, Stan Freberg, Stephen Mougin, Steve Cropper, Stevie Wonder, Straight No Chaser, Styx, Sugar Chile Robinson, Sunita Mani, Surfaces, Suzanne's Band, Suzzy Roche, Switchfoot, T. Graham Brown, Taylor Swift, Tell Alls, Tim Davis, Tina Guo, Tina Lambert, Tommee Profitt, Tommy Byrne, Tony Bennett, Tracy Morgan, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Vika Bull, Vince Guaraldi Trio, Vince Vance and the Valiants, Vista Blue, Waitresses, WAR, Wendy Wilson, Wham, Whitney Houston, Will Ferrell and Yoko Ono!

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!

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Listen To The Sounds Of Christmas 2024

11/1/2024

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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.

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.

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!

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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The 2024 Season Of The Sounds Of Christmas

11/1/2024

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The new season of the Sounds of Christmas has begun!

I’m excited about playing all your favorites again this season, along with lots of new music. I’ve already added around a couple hundred new songs to our library, and it’s still early, so I imagine there will be plenty more new stuff to come.

You can click above on New For 2024, and that should give you a good idea of a lot of the new music we’re playing this season. That page covers a lot of it, but by no means does it cover it all. I’m sure there are releases I’ve already missed, and as things get busier and busier, there will probably be others that I don’t get a chance to post there. It’s not intentional, and my apologies for any that I have already missed, or that I miss over the next month or two.

I would like to also mention the singers and bands that are supporting us this season. The Sounds of Christmas doesn’t run a lot of commercials, and what we do run mostly just keeps the station going. It’s never been a big money-maker, and it was never meant to be. It’s just a way I can share my love of Christmas music with as many as I can, and if I can do that without it costing me a small fortune, all the better.

You’re going to have the opportunity, if you choose, to meet a lot of the singers and musicians who are supporting us this season on upcoming episodes of the Sounds of Christmas podcast, but I’d like to take a few moments and introduce them to you.

First, a huge thank you to those who are returning. These people have been with us for multiple seasons, and I’m very grateful that somehow we found each other and share our love of Christmas music!

This year, there are eighteen artists that are supporting us, and fourteen of them have been with us at least one time before!

I have to start with Kenny Davies. He 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. It’s possible that he’s been with us since that first year his song came out, but if not, it’s definitely been almost that long. In fact, he is almost always the first one to sign on for the next season, sometimes as early as Spring!

Russ Lorenson first advertised with us in 2015, when he released his second Christmas album, In The Holiday Spirit. Very happy to have him back with us again for In The Holiday Spirit's 9th anniversary (and the eighteenth anniversary of that first Christmas release, What I Want For Christmas).

I think this year marks six in a row for Suzanne’s Band. Their second Christmas single, “Underneath The Tree”, came out in 2021, and Suzanne checked in with us along the way to share that single’s journey from the earliest writing and recording stages, up through its release. There’s a rumor is we just might get new Christmas music from Suzanne next year

Laurie Berkner is back for her fifth time. Recently, she 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.

Lauren Daigle is also back for her fifth time. Recently, she collected all the tracks from her Christmas album Behold, added in the bonus tracks from special editions, along with some singles, for Behold: The Complete Set.

Paul Kelly is back this year for his fourth time! He released his first ever Christmas album, Paul Kelly’s Christmas Train four years ago, which included an updated version of his popular classic "How To Make Gravy"! And last year, he added two new songs to his album, “White Wine In The Sun” and “Cherry Tree Carol”, to what was already a massive collection!

Cliff Beach is also back for his fourth time. Last year, he released the original single “Christmas Day Funk”. The year before, he released an a cappella version of “Jingle Bells”, and the year before, 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 has a brand new single on the way, his cover of “O Come All Ye Faithful"!

Dan Ashley is also back for his fourth time! 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), and this year, he has released a new single “Put Up The Lights”. He has also hinted to me that there just might be more Christmas music in the not-too-distant future.

Liz Kennedy is back, too, also for her fourth time. She has a new original Christmas single just out called “Lizzy’s Christmas Sleigh”, and previously released the singles “Snow In San Francisco” and “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.

Linda Imperial is also back for her fourth time. She has a new original Christmas single called “Christmas In The Tropics”, and she’s previously released “Christmas, You And Me” and a version of her favorite Christmas song - “Little Drummer Boy”.

David Lanz and Kristin Amarie are back for their third year, with a new album called Ayres, which isn’t exactly a Christmas album, but there are some Christmas songs on it, including “Ave Maria” and “Gloria In Excelsis Deo” (with special guests Apollo Five), following recent releases of “Silent Night” and “Mary Did You Know”.

David Arkenstone is back for his second year, following last year’s release of the album Winterlüde. David has released around 80 studio albums in his amazing career, along with soundtracks and video game scores, including a number of songs for World of Warcraft. He’s also released many Christmas and Christmas-themed albums, and is heading out on his “Winter’s Eve” tour with David Arkenstone and Friends, which kicks off December 1!

Singer/songwriter Michelle Malone is back for her second year, following last year’s Christmas album with the Hot Toddies, called Toddie Time, which follows a previous Christmas single, a Christmas album (and lots of other Christmas goodies on her website)!

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.

Carpenters Legacy joins us with their first Christmas album, Christmastime With You, an amazing tribute to the Carpenters that includes all your favorites, plus the original title track, done in the style of the Carpenters, too!

Luminare Christmas! is also joining us with their second Christmas album Mistletoe Madness (due out 11/22). Led by a former member of Mannheim Steamroller, their sound can be described as a blend of Mannheim Steamroller’s holiday classic vibes, the high-energy rock of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and the cinematic atmosphere of Hans Zimmer.

Fans Of Jimmy Century, who you may already have met in a Halloween episode of this podcast, are joining us for their first time with the release of their first holiday album A Coupla Holiday Spirits (Halloween Perils and Christmas Carols). You probably heard tracks from the Halloween side of their album in October when we were the Sounds of Halloween. Now that the new season has started, you’ll get to hear their Christmas songs!

And finally, Judith Owen joins us with her latest Christmas release Judith Owen Swings Christmas, a very cool, jazzy album that will keep you moving throughout the season, It follows last year’s “Winter Wonderland” EP and the previous holiday release “Christmas In July”.

I’m very grateful to each and every one of these artists for supporting the Sounds of Christmas this season, and I wanted to mention them here, even though you’ll get the chance to meet most of them in upcoming podcast episodes (though quite a few of them have already made appearances on this podcast, and you can check those out right now, if you haven’t already). And, of course, you’ll get to hear their music on the Sounds of Christmas, now that our new season has begun!

I probably should take this opportunity to let you know, just in case you’re new to us (and also just in case you’re not new but you don’t remember), how to listen to the Sounds of Christmas.

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.

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.

Both of those options are also available on the Listen Now page. I also want to mention that some browsers don’t show the player, and in those cases, you’ll only be able to click the tree for our pop-up player.

And third, you can download our free app in the Google Play store (for your Android device), and take us with you wherever you go!

I know that you may not be ready for Christmas music, yet, but when you are, we're ready for you! The Sounds of Christmas is 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 your support! And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

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Special Weekend Programming

The Best Variety Of Christmas Music 2024

Listen To The Sounds Of Christmas 2024

The 2024 Season Of The Sounds Of Christmas

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