If you've listened lately, you've probably noticed the music's much different than what is normally played on the Sounds of Christmas. Throughout all of October, we're the Sounds of Halloween, playing spooky songs for the current season while we get hundreds of new Christmas songs loaded and ready to go.
The philosophy behind the Sounds of Christmas is that there is a lot of great Christmas music out there, and most traditional radio stations stick to a tired, short list of songs that get played over and over. We play a very wide variety, and in addition to your favorites, we also play some artists and some versions of songs that you may not be familiar with.
We also do the same thing in October with Halloween music.
For example, we play Burl Ives' version of "Ghost Riders In The Sky". Released in 1949, that was one of the first versions of that song (the original by Stan Jones was first). We also play versions by artists very familiar to Christmas music fans, like Bing Crosby and , Dean Martin. And we more recent covers by Concrete Blonde, Spiderbait and the Blues Brothers. And we play everything in between, including versions by the Outlaws, Scatman Crothers, Marty Robbins, Jeff Bridges and the Tubes.
As another example, we play Screamin' Jay Hawkins' original version of "I Put A Spell On You" (which he wrote and released in 1956). We also play versions by Nina Simone, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bryan Ferry (who all had hits with this song). And we play lesser-known versions, including Joe Cocker, Leon Russell and Manfred Mann. Plus, we have more recent versions, including duets with Buddy Guy and Carlos Santana, and Jeff Beck with Joss Stone.
So it's quite possible that you'd tune in and hear a version of "Monster Mash" that sounds different than what you were expecting. You may not even know that the Beach Boys used to perform it in concert. Or that Stephen Bishop recorded it (with Andrew Gold and Linda Ronstadt).
We have five other versions of "Ghostbusters" besides the huge hit by Ray Parker Jr., including versions by Pentatonix, Run DMC and Fall Out Boy. And we have at least nine versions of "Bad Moon Rising", including versions by Bo Diddley, Ann Wilson of Heart, Jerry Lee Lewis, Storyville and Juliana Hatfield.
There are lots of songs from Disney movies and shows. And lots of songs from horror movies and scary TV shows, alongside sillier songs from parodies and comedies. Even some Broadway showtunes.
I think the oldest song in rotation this October is Robert Johnson's "Cross Road Blues". The newest might be the Rolling Stones' "Ghost Town" from earlier this year.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I hope you enjoy listening, and that you don't have to worry about hearing "Purple People Eater" over and over (either by Sheb Wooley or George Thorogood or Judy Garland).
I'm looking forward to the new season of the Sounds of Christmas, and sharing tons of new music with you. But for now, I hope you have fun with the Sounds of Halloween!
The philosophy behind the Sounds of Christmas is that there is a lot of great Christmas music out there, and most traditional radio stations stick to a tired, short list of songs that get played over and over. We play a very wide variety, and in addition to your favorites, we also play some artists and some versions of songs that you may not be familiar with.
We also do the same thing in October with Halloween music.
For example, we play Burl Ives' version of "Ghost Riders In The Sky". Released in 1949, that was one of the first versions of that song (the original by Stan Jones was first). We also play versions by artists very familiar to Christmas music fans, like Bing Crosby and , Dean Martin. And we more recent covers by Concrete Blonde, Spiderbait and the Blues Brothers. And we play everything in between, including versions by the Outlaws, Scatman Crothers, Marty Robbins, Jeff Bridges and the Tubes.
As another example, we play Screamin' Jay Hawkins' original version of "I Put A Spell On You" (which he wrote and released in 1956). We also play versions by Nina Simone, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bryan Ferry (who all had hits with this song). And we play lesser-known versions, including Joe Cocker, Leon Russell and Manfred Mann. Plus, we have more recent versions, including duets with Buddy Guy and Carlos Santana, and Jeff Beck with Joss Stone.
So it's quite possible that you'd tune in and hear a version of "Monster Mash" that sounds different than what you were expecting. You may not even know that the Beach Boys used to perform it in concert. Or that Stephen Bishop recorded it (with Andrew Gold and Linda Ronstadt).
We have five other versions of "Ghostbusters" besides the huge hit by Ray Parker Jr., including versions by Pentatonix, Run DMC and Fall Out Boy. And we have at least nine versions of "Bad Moon Rising", including versions by Bo Diddley, Ann Wilson of Heart, Jerry Lee Lewis, Storyville and Juliana Hatfield.
There are lots of songs from Disney movies and shows. And lots of songs from horror movies and scary TV shows, alongside sillier songs from parodies and comedies. Even some Broadway showtunes.
I think the oldest song in rotation this October is Robert Johnson's "Cross Road Blues". The newest might be the Rolling Stones' "Ghost Town" from earlier this year.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I hope you enjoy listening, and that you don't have to worry about hearing "Purple People Eater" over and over (either by Sheb Wooley or George Thorogood or Judy Garland).
I'm looking forward to the new season of the Sounds of Christmas, and sharing tons of new music with you. But for now, I hope you have fun with the Sounds of Halloween!
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