Blog Posts

I Put A Spell On You

10/5/2019

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 certainly 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 four other versions of "Ghostbusters" besides the huge hit by Ray Parker Jr. We also have at least nine versions of "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky", including Johnny Cash, the Outlaws and Peggy Lee. And also Dean Martin, Burl Ives and Bing Crosby. And Spiderbait.

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 Dove Cameron's "Good To Be Bad" from the latest season of Disney's "Descendants".

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).

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!

Listen To The Sounds Of Halloween 2019

10/1/2019

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. 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 (between the embedded player and the News Headlines). 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.

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'll keep the Halloween music going all the way through Halloween night! Then, on November 1, it's 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! And the Great Pumpkin!

The Sounds of Halloween 2019

9/30/2019

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

Like most families, Halloween and Christmas are 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.

Oh, well. They love me, anyway.

So as we move into October, I'm in a mad rush to get the new season of the Sounds of Christmas ready to go. While I've kept the station on year-round, I'm featuring Halloween songs up until November 1.

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 people that love Halloween, too, so I've expanded the playlist and hope you have a good time with the Sounds of Halloween.

This year, I'm planning to continue something else that's becoming a tradition. It's a little something extra for Halloween fans - War Of The Worlds!

On October 30th, at approximately 7:00pm (Eastern), I'll be playing the original broadcast from 1938 of "War Of The Worlds" as performed by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre On The Air.

That will be followed by Jeff Wayne's updated version of his musical adaptation of "War Of The Worlds" (which features Gary Barlow from Take That, Joss Stone and Liam Neeson).

And on Halloween night at approximately 7:00pm (Eastern), I'll be playing Jeff Wayne's original musical adaptation of "War Of The Worlds" from 1978, which featured Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, David Essex and Richard Burton.

Every year when I do play Halloween music in the run up to the new season of the Sounds of Christmas, I get messages from people asking what exactly is Halloween music. The answer is anything having to do with Halloween, including scary things like ghosts and monsters, creepy stories and songs about trick-or-treating or candy.

Here's an example, the last dozen songs that played while I wrote this...

John Fogerty "Haunted House"
Lou Rawls "Season Of The Witch"
Nina Simone "I Put A Spell On You"
Pentatonix "Ghostbusters"
Sofia Carson, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart and Mitchell Hope "Chillin' Like A Villain"
VoicePlay "This Is Halloween"
Mannheim Steamroller "Dark Shadows"
Margaret Whiting "That Old Black Magic"
Eartha Kitt "I Want To Be Evil"
David Bowie "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
Stevie Nicks "Moonlight (A Vampire's Dream)"
Los Lobos "Grim Grinning Ghosts"

Are you getting in the spirit? For either of these holidays? I'm going to continue to try and prepare for both, as I munch on this candy cane while trying to figure out where Lisa hid the Halloween candy...

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

Ken

P.S. - To listen, just go to our home page and click on the player. Or you can click on the tree for a pop-up player. You can also search for us in the Google Play store and get our free app for your Android Phone!

Thank You

1/3/2019

Thank you.

I have been so excited to be able to run the Sounds of Christmas these past twelve seasons, and I wanted to start this off, once again, by thanking you for listening - whether you just found us this year, or you've been listening all along, or you're somewhere in the middle. I am so grateful that I was able to spend at least part of the holiday season with you!

For years, people have been asking us to stay on year-round. While we've been fortunate enough to have a growing audience over the last decade, I didn't really think there would be many who would really listen to a Christmas music station throughout the year.

Then, near the end of December 2017, I watched "A Christmas Carol" again, as I try to do at least once every December. And this part really struck a chord with me. “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” So we decided to do it.

Instead of signing off after Epiphany, as we did for the first ten years, we stayed on year-round. And while our daily audience did decreased by a huge percentage, it was gratifying to see that some were still listening - maybe not every day, but often enough that we noticed.

I'm sure there are some who will continue to scoff at this. There might even be a few who are really annoyed at the idea of Christmas music all year long. My hope, though, is that whenever you feel like you could use a dose of Christmas spirit, you'll remember that we're still on.

And if you like what we do, and feel so moved that you'd like to help, we'd be happy to have your financial support to help keep us going! You can just click below and donate on the Paypal link, putting whatever you can or whatever you want to in our virtual hat!

I would like to also thank the artists that advertised this year, helping to get us on, and keep us on, for this twelfth season! I'm adding links to each of their names, so you can click on any you like to check out their music (and if you're so moved, pick up a copy or download tracks).

Thanks to all in our Class of 2018, includingEngelbert Humperdinck, LeAnn Rimes , Laurie Berkner, Katie Garibaldi, Kenny Davies, Sarah Smith, Ryanhood,
Cremaine Booker, Rehya Stevens, Reuel and Michele with Keto Club Plus.

Thanks again for listening. I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year. May 2019 bring you all you hope for and more! And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken

Wolfman and Casey

12/12/2018

Hi All!

We're very excited to be bring back some fun shows for this weekend!

First, we invite you to Wolfman Jack's Christmas Party! This is a two-hour Christmas special that Wolfman Jack hosted, featuring some of his own holiday thoughts and skits, along with some of his favorite seasonal songs!

You can tune in to Wolfman Jack's Christmas party Saturday night at 10:00pm (Eastern). And if you aren't able to catch it this weekend, we'll be airing it again next Saturday at 7:00pm (Eastern).

Leading up to Wolfman Jack's Christmas Party this Saturday is a very special treat from Casey Kasem. We'll be airing Casey's original Christmas Countdown from 1971, featuring the top forty Christmas songs of all time (at least up until that point).

You can tune in to the Christmas Countdown this Saturday at 7:00pm (Eastern). We'll air it again next Saturday at 9:00pm (Eastern), so you'll have one more chance to catch it next weekend!

And this Sunday, we'll have another Countdown for you. Casey will count down the top Christmas songs once again, but this time, it's from 2005! You can catch this one Sunday starting at 6:00pm (Eastern). And we'll air it one more time, next Sunday at the same time!

Hope you get the chance to enjoy these fun shows! And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken

Alice's Restaurant

11/18/2018

I grew up with Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant" as a Thanksgiving tradition. The rock station I listened to as a teen played it every year. I understand other rock stations around the country did this, as well, at least from time to time. So I like to think I'm not alone. To be honest, though, I have no idea who this song became a rock staple (and I believe some classic rock stations continue to play it annually).

I get that not everyone shares this tradition. My wife had no idea this song even existed before she met me. She puts up with it each November, with her characteristic good humor. Come to think of it, other members of my family do that, too.

And if you aren't familiar with "Alice's Restaurant", I hope you'll do the same.

I'm continuing the Sounds of Christmas tradition of playing this song once again this year. Actually, twice again.

I'll be airing the original version of Arlo's tune on Thanksgiving Day at approximately 4:00pm (Eastern). And later on Thanksgiving night, I'll be playing Arlo's 50th anniversary edition of that same song (around 10:00pm Eastern).

Whether you've enjoyed this as part of your own Thanksgiving tradition, or it's something brand new to you (or you're somewhere in between), I hope you can tune in this Thursday. Even if you're listening outside the U.S., and none of this makes any sense at all to you.

Thanks so much for spending part of your holiday season with us!

And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

Grinch Creeps

11/1/2018

I’ve noticed this happens every year.

For the last few weeks, I’ve started seeing articles, blogs and posts again, 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 some are just people who like to complain, period.

I remember working in the receiving department of a large, box bookstore about twenty-five 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?

In fact, I remember when I was in college (and even high school), that 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.

It’s not just retail.

Remember the musical version of “Scrooge”? Albert Finney starred. It came out in 1970. A few days after Halloween.

Oh, sure, at least that’s November, right?

Elvis Presley’s 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 had released a Christmas album a month earlier.

So over sixty years ago, no one complained that Frank Sinatra was rushing the season when his Christmas album 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).

As you probably know, I run an online Christmas radio station. My interest in this is obviously not coincidental.

Our new season begins each year on November 1.

Most of our listeners tune in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of those, most actually listen the two weeks before Christmas.

That said, we do have listeners on November 1. In fact, we’ve grown to the point where we usually have listeners in all fifty states, and in another 20-30 countries, within the first week 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.

And unlike some stores, there’s no danger of our running out if you don’t show up early. Just don’t let the Grinch Creeps get you!

And just so you know...

The bookstore I worked for no longer exists, so I didn’t see the point in mentioning it. You probably know what a big box bookstore is like (or was like), and I doubt my experiences there were so very different from others.

I have no financial interest in the movie “Scrooge”; that was just one particular Christmas movie that I know the release date for. Other holiday movies have certainly been released later in the season, and others have been released before. The original "Miracle On 34th Street was released in June, and that was 1947.

The Sounds of Christmas does, of course, play songs by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Sometimes, I even listen to them early. Along with many others.

I am not aware of any kind of official release schedule for Bob’s Candy Canes. You can find out more about them HERE. They do not pay for any advertising on my station. Nevertheless, they are my personal favorite, which would make them the unpaid Official Candy Cane of the Sounds of Christmas.

The Sounds of Christmas 2018

11/1/2018

We’re back!

Actually, we never really left. But the new season of Christmas music has officially begun! I know not everyone was ready for it, yet, but whenever you are, we’re up and rolling and ready for you!

I would like to thank the wonderful folks that have helped get us up and running so we can bring you this new season!

First, thanks so much to Engelbert Humperdinck! He recently released a terrific new Christmas album! You can find out more about him, his music and his latest tour on his website HERE!

I'd also like to thank all of the folks that are joining the Sounds of Christmas family for the first time this year, including LeAnn Rimes, Rehya Stevens, Sarah Smith, Reuel and Michele Amburgey's Keto Club Plus!

And I'd like to thank Kenny Davies, Laurie Berkner, Katie Garibaldi and Ryanhood,
who are all back again this year to help keep us going!

By the way, you can find each of them on our front page, with links to their websites (or where you can grab their latest holiday release). Please check them out when you get a chance, especially when you hear their music this season!

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing this very early part of the season with us!
And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken

Listen To The Sounds Of Christmas

11/1/2018

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.

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!

Listen To The Sounds Of Halloween

10/3/2018

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. 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 (between the embedded player and Engelbert Humperdinck). 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.

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'll keep the Halloween music going all the way through Halloween night! Then, on November 1, it's 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! And the Great Pumpkin!