It's a brand new holiday compilation CD featuring 20 new tracks ...
just released by ItsAbout Music ...
and there are some tunes on here that we just know you're going to love!
ItsAboutMusic Bids A Merry Christmas With New Compilation Featuring The Buckinghams, Michael Stanley, Andy Pratt, Michael Sembello and Others
11/16/2010 – Philadelphia, PA - With the rapidly approaching holidays Philadelphia record label ItsAboutMusic.com has released another extraordinary new Christmas compilation featuring some rare and inspirational tracks from the likes of the Buckinghams, Michael Stanley, Andy Pratt and other artists from the label's roster. Produced and mastered by ItsAboutMusic.com president Dean Sciarra, Its About Christmas Volume 2 hits the streets on November 16, 2010.
Featuring:
Rick Bell of the band ‘It’s Only Roy’ starts off this collection with a Beach Boys-ish tune he wrote and performed entirely called "Santa's Bag". If you like this track and his other on this disc “Glad To Be Home For Christmas”, then you should really check out the album by his band which features a tribute to Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys entitled “Gentle Soul.” It will blow you away!
The Buckinghams certainly need no introduction since they have been around since the mid-Sixties with hits like “Susan” and “Kind OF A Drag” and “Don't You Care.” Their Christmas offering is a track called "Christmas 12 Months A Year".
Greg Roz has been an IAM artist for years but his selection called “First Real Christmas” will appeal to any Steely Dan fan.
Michael Sembello is a name you all should know from his gigantic hit “Maniac” from the film Flashdance. His track "I Really Don't Want Much For Christmas" is also featured on this brand new CD.
Ben Arnold comes from IAM's home town of Philadelphia where he is a minor legend for all the magical music he has created since the late '80s. His song “Reindeer Game” appears nowhere other than on this disc.
Brian McDade hails from Scotland and offers his romantic ballad called “The Christmas Snow.”
Trisha O'Keefe resides in the Pocono Mountain area where she has made a name for herself as one of the most talented female vocalists around. Her original tune “Christmas With You” is a heart wrenching holiday classic.
The band In The Know comes from New York and features the talented pianist Peter Vitalone. Their instrumental version of “What Child Is This” is a slick and subtle jazzy version that will fit into anyone's holiday playlist.
Then comes the legendary Andy Pratt with his original tune called “Sing For Christmas” with its classic sixties treatment – bells and all.
The talents of the king of Mid-West Classic Rock Michael Stanley are on display as he favors us with his rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
For those of you who still think the Led Zeppelin song “Dazed & Confused” was written by Jimmy Page, we're here to remind you that it was in fact written by Jake Holmes who in his own inimitable political humor gives us “Chinese Christmas.”
James Hollihan is a wonder to behold on guitar. He single-handedly performs as a guitar orchestra on his version of “The Nutcracker Overture” from the album The Nutcracker Suite.
James Cain hails from Memphis and is one heck of a great Country singer / songwriter as proven by his tune “Christ Out Of My Christmas.”
B.E. Taylor has made a major name for himself over the years with all of his Christmas albums and his holiday tours. “Feel The Love Of Christmas” comes from his album B.E. Taylor Christmas #2.
David Hoffman was a log time member of the Ray Charles band. His horn work is the stuff of legend. His tune “Christmas In Your Heart” will warm your cookies.
Paul Adams is one of the best World Music artists anywhere and his version of “Carol Of The Bells” will prove it to you.
The alternative band Brave The Day brings to us a live version of “O Come Emanuel” that was recorded for a TV show in Delaware. Rebecca Miller's astounding voice and Josh Kesler's unorthodox guitar tuning make this a stunning version of the holiday classic.
The late Sal Ditroia was a staple on guitar for many years all the way back to his studio work on such amazing recordings as those by The Monkees and Melanie. His acoustic version of “Little Drummer Boy” is included on the compilation.
And finally, Barbara Montgomery is a jazz femme fatale who is not only a credible artist but a supporter of artists through her work at The Farm House – a retreat for artists with a commitment for the mentoring of youth. She winds up the CD with her version of “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas.”
Song samples available at: http://itsaboutmusic.net/samples/IAM_Artists/It's_About_Christmas_Vol_II/album.m3u
From those of us at ItsAboutMusic.com we'd like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years each and every year.
And thanks so much for support of our artists. It is greatly appreciated! The last 10 years wouldn't have been possible without you.
For more information visit www.ItsAboutMusic.com/newreleases.html
William James / Glass Onyon PR
And, thanks to Billy James, we're able to share a couple of tracks with our readers here today ... so I picked a couple of my immediate favorites.
I really like Rick Bell's "Santa's Bag" ... and it fits right into the '60's sound our list members love and enjoy so much.
Every year dozens of new Christmas tunes are released ... but most of them NEVER see the light of day when it comes to radio programming ... and that's a real shame. Where are our NEW holiday classics going to come from if nobody ever gives this music a shot?
Think about it ... in the last 10-12 years, how many NEW Christmas songs have made the play list and been given the chance to catch on?
Not many ...
Let's see ... there's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey ...
and then there's always "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Vince Vance and the Valiants ...
Hmm, isn't it interesting that the two newest modern day Christmas Classics both have the same name? That certainly makes it easy for programmers to remember, doesn't it?
Well, all I can tell you is that "Santa's Bag" belongs on the radio RIGHT NOW!!! It's a GREAT new Christmas song ... catchy, upbeat ... SO much music passing itself off as "quality" Christmas remakes lately seems to go out of its way to stretch EVERY note into four ... the pace is SO incredibly slow that there's absolutely NOTHING holly or jolly about it ... as if stretching each note out forever is supposed to imply a more heartfelt performance ... when, in fact, it only induces snooze control.
Here's a track that fits in RIGHT NOW!!! Play THIS one instead of the 400th rendition of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" you're going to play this week and see if your audience responds. It's GREAT track ... kudos to Rick Bell for capturing the sound and spirit of Christmas. (DeeJays ... you can play this clip right from the website ... I'd be curious to know what kind of reaction you get to it!)
We're also spotlighting "First Real Christmas" by Greg Roz. (If the Rick Bell track reminds you of The Beach Boys, then I think you'll find that one's got sort of a Al Jarreau / Michael Buble feel to it! The "It's About Christmas" news release above mentions a Steely Dan similarity but I don't hear it ... in fact, to MY ears, the vocals sound a little bit like Stephen Bishop ... who I'll bet could record a GREAT Christmas Classic if he were so inclined!!!)These are just two of the great new tracks featured on the brand new "It's About Christmas, Volume 2" CD ... and it is SURE to stick in your head after a couple of listens ... it's got a neat little jazzy feel that you'll find yourself humming for the rest of the day. We are happy to be able to feature BOTH of these brand new tracks for you here today in Forgotten Hits!
Before we hit the big holiday we're hoping to be able to feature at least a couple more cuts from this hot new CD, especially from Forgotten Hits List Members like The Buckinghams and Andy Pratt ... so stay tuned!
(Visit the link above and you can sample ALL of the tracks on this CD for yourself. You'll also find information there as to how you can order your very own copy!)
