FaLaLaLaLa

We begin the 5th year of the ADVENTure in Carols as we have the previous four, with a version of Deck The Hall(s) which is, of course, the source of the website’s name.

And, as usual, I like to find a version that isn’t like any other you’ve heard.  And I think I may have gone as far as I can go here.  You’ve got a Rhapsody In Blue opening, then a fife and drum part that slams into a Now Sound trumpet spectacular, winding into a Beach Boys wordless break and then into a full Sgt. Pepper rocking fanfare….  I mean where else can you go?

I owe a debt of gratitude to FaLaLaLaLa member and audio archaeologist, PDMan, for bringing this song (and the 3-LP set from which it sprung) to my attention.

I think this carries the pomp and circumstance necessary to start off my 5th annual collection here at FaLaLaLaLa.

And, as in years past, I have no idea where it’s heading.  The playlist is not planned out.  I choose songs each day, and so even I don’t know what the whole collection will sound like at the end.  I do know, however, that it will come from my heart and enthusiasm for this music, the people who created it, and the many friends and strangers who come here each year to listen and discover and share their passion for great Christmas music.

If you’re new here and haven’t heard the past 4 collections, CLICK HERE and you can download them all.

Let the ride begin!

And be sure to come back each day between now and Christmas to get a new free song download.

We’re going to begin the 5th Christmas season at FaLaLaLaLa.com with something we haven’t done before.  Here we have the first FaLaLaLaLa Exclusive Interview.

With the release of Christmas Favorites by The Hollyridge Strings on Collectors’ Choice Music, I thought it would be great to get to talk to the man behind the music–composer, conductor and arranger, Stu Phillips.

Mr. Phillips was gracious enough to accept my invitation and we spent almost an hour on the phone talking about many aspects of the music.  I’ve edited it down to the important parts (it still clocks it at a little over 30 minutes).

Take a listen.

If you’d like to learn more about the history of Stu and the Hollyridge Strings, head on over to Stu’s site and purchase his autobiography, Stu Who?

And be sure to purchase a copy of this classic album for yourself.  Heck, why not get one for every member of the family…?

[amazon-product]B001G5IJXS[/amazon-product]

The ever gift-giving Queen of Television provides us with a collection of mostly contemporary Christmas songs for free download.  It’s not a car, but it’s something…

Here’s the tracklisting:

1. Faith Hill, “Joy to the World” from the album Joy to the World
2. Tony Bennett, “I’ll be Home for Christmas” from the album A Swingin’ Christmas
3. Il Divo, “O Holy Night” from the album The Christmas Collection
4. Josh Groban, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” from the album Noel
5. Brian McKnight, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” from the album I’ll Be Home for Christmas
6. Amy Grant, “O Come All Ye Faithful” from the album The Christms Collection
7. Harry Connick Jr., “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” from the album What a Night! A Christmas Album
8. Aretha Franklin, “Silent Night” from the album This Christmas

Get all the tracks, plus booklet and CD label (PDF’s) HERE.

NOTE: The site says you can download them for “the next 48 hours” but it’s not clear to me when it was posted.  So do it sooner rather than later.

I would be forever indebted if anybody could help me find this record…!

Please….

So I spent almost an hour on the phone last night with Stu Phillips, conductor of The Hollyridge Strings, talking about the orchestra and his memories of recording.

Once I go through the audio and fix it up a bit I’ll post it for you to listen to.  I learned quite a bit.