Runaway Orchestra featuring Sophie Madeleine

A few weeks ago Der Bingle's fave English songstress, Sophie Madeleine, announced a new CD featuring her vocals.  "Runaway Orchestra", by The Runaway Orchestra, was released in the UK by Mr. Bongo, and is available from their website. 

Runaway Orchestra features musicians Tam Nightingale, Hana Pirahna, The Dirty Pretty Strings, Sam Frank, and others, as well as Sophie Madeleine.  The CD contains 10 songs, beautifully arranged and performed by this eclectic, superbly talented collection of musicians.

The opening song is "Happy Together", made popular by The Turtles (and later performed by one of Frank Zappa's bands).  The description of this song on the Mr Bongo website says it has been "re-worked as a delicate love song".  Perhaps, maybe so.  It is a beautiful rendition of the song.  But, its conversion to a minor key (disclaimer: Der Bingle has no formal music training, so maybe it's not minor, maybe it's a 7th, I don't know, but it's different) gives it a haunting, ominous tone.  Yes, it's a delicate love song, but perhaps it's a love song from a stalker.... Forgive me, musicians, for a misinterpretation, but it has taken on a chilling air.

Bob Dylan's "If Not For You" is expertly performed by The Runaway Orchestra.  Truth be told, there is not a weak song on the CD.  I love the arrangements and production.  Talent exudes from this collection.

Want a strong closing number?  Let's end with the Beatles' "Two Of Us".  Sophie Madeleine and Tam Nightingale pair their vocal work for a memorable duet.

Any time there is new music available from Sophie Madeleine, I'm happy.  Her collaboration with The Runaway Orchestra is terrific.  Please check it out on Spotify, and if you like it, go to Mr Bongo and purchase the record, and support these amazing musicians.

Runaway Orchestra on Facebook
Buy it from Mr Bongo
Sophie Madeleine

Spring is on the way

Hello readers!   It's been a long time since my last post.  I'm waking up after a long post-Christmas hibernation.  Most of the Christmas music blogs are also still in the off-season rest mode, save for a few comments out on the Falalalala Fireside.

Winter in Kansas City has been interesting this year.  Last season ('11-'12) was very mild and practically snowless, with less than 4 inches of snow total for the season.  This season, the '12-'13 Winter has been better.  Well, better to Der Bingle, who *loves* the cold and snow.  Temperatures have been closer to average, with many days of highs in the 30s.  I like a good cold Winter.  Our snowfall was below average once again this year until mid-February, where we were hit with two snowstorms within a week, both of them producing 9-12 inches of snow.  My sons built a snow resort in the front yard after the second storm.

And now this week, with the first day of Spring only a couple days away, we have four systems coming through, all bringing snow.  Probably not a huge accumulation, but it could build up over the next few days.  Then, that will probably be it.  Maybe some continued cold weather, but snow after March 20 is pretty rare in these parts.

So, what's up here at Merry and Bright in the off season?  Not sure yet, to be honest.  I'm hoping to switch to comedy mode for a few posts.  A local used record store was going out of business (although they may have backtracked on those plans), so I bought up a number of comedy records from some of the classics - Abbott & Costello, Phyllis Diller, Jonathon Winters, Smothers Brothers.  Subject to checking on digital availability, I may post some of those out here.

A certain favorite jazz singer of mine is releasing an album of jazz standards later this year - we'll have full coverage when that happens.  A certain favorite singer/songwriter/ukuleleist is also preparing a new album that I'm really looking forward to.

And we'll see what else Der Bingle can conjure up over the next few months to keep the spirit of Christmas alive through the year.  I have some Christmassy ideas floating around that I need to get started on. 

Last but not least - greetings to my new readers from New Concord, Ohio!

That's it for now.  Hibernation is over.  Time to re-energize.  As they say:

Spring has Sprung
The Grass is Riz
I Wonder Where
The Flowers Is?

Cheers....

Loose Ends 2012 (pt 2)

Christmas Day 2012 has come and gone, but it's still the Christmas season here at the Bingle household.  The trees are still up, the lights are still on, and the music is still playing.  The season will continue for at least another week, until the oldest Bingle daughter and her husband come to visit.  A longer Christmas season - love it!

I have a few more loose ends to tie up here on Merry and Bright.  I wish I could give all of these artists the time and recognition they deserve, but the best I can do is mention them here and encourage everyone to visit their websites and Facebook pages.  So, here goes...

Abi Ann:  Abi is a fresh, young country pop singer with a terrific voice.  She released a new Christmas single this year, "Santa Can You Hear Me" that is a fine, catchy little tune.

Abi Ann website:  Abi Ann
Abi Ann Facebook:  link

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Loop Line:  Loop Line is a Minneapolis-based band that is working on an "always in-progress Christmas movie".   A couple songs from the movie of the future are available on Bandcamp here, and the band's Facebook page is here.

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Radio Station KDXH has a streaming playlist of holiday tunes featuring artists from the St. Louis, MO area.  Here it is!  link

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Acoustic indie/folk act inColor, and a few special guests, gave us a 4-song EP this Christmas, available on Bandcamp. 

inColor link

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And, one more:  Animal Spirit treated us with a couple yuletide songs this season, also on Bandcamp, here.

 

I'm sure that there are others that I've overlooked - I'll check the e-mail archives.  In the meantime, please check out these artists and if you like what you hear, please support them by purchasing their music.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  Der Bingle wishes each of you a happy and safe holiday!

Christmas Eve Celebration

It's Christmas Eve.  Time for celebration, time with family and friends, preparation for Christmas Day festivities, last-minute shopping, or the many other things that we do on this great day.

My last couple of shares have been about the side of Christmas for children - traditional stories and carols about Santa, toys, gifts, and joy.  Today I want to return to the spiritual side of Christmas for my final share of the season.

"A Festival of Lessons and Carols" is a 1965 release on the Argo label from England.  It is a recording of the Christmas Eve celebration at King's College Chapel in 1964 (fitting, as that was my first Christmas Eve).  Hymns, carols, readings, and lessons for the celebration of Christmas culminate in a Prayer and Blessing, with a final hymn, "O Come All Ye Faithful" closing the joyous gathering of Christians.

I have recorded this as only two mp3 files, one for each side of the album.  While recording it, I thought it best to retain the continuity on each side of the record, instead of breaking it up into several separate tracks.  However, I have also included a link to a zip file with the two wav files, in case you would like to re-edit and separate the tracks.

And, I have included scans of the booklet that was included with the record.  It has all of the carols and readings for you to enjoy.

Peace and joy to each of you, and thank you for visiting Merry and Bright this season.  As always, it has been my pleasure to introduce you to new yuletide music, or to reunite you with the sounds of years long ago.

Merry Christmas!

A Festival of Lessons and Carols - mp3

A Festival of Lessons and Carols - wav

Jillaine: Jazzy Christmas To You II

This is a late, late, late in the season review of a new Christmas album this year, but it is never too late to review such beautiful Christmas music.

Jillaine, our favorite jazz singer here at Merry and Bright, released "Jazzy Christmas To You II" in 2012, only one year after "Jazzy Christmas To You", her debut collection of Christmas songs. "Jazzy II" picks up right where its predecessor left off, giving us another amazing album of both secular and spiritual songs for the season.

The album kicks off with a rousing, bluesy rendition of "Please Come Home for Christmas". It’s a unique interpretation of the song, with a sassy soulfulness made memorable by Jillaine and her superb band. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" follows, with Jillaine in a duet with James Archibald. It is another entertaining, original take on an old classic, with a little honky-tonk piano break by Zach Wiggins that gives the song a little extra kick.

With "Last Christmas", Jillaine achieves the nearly-impossible: performing a version of the song that I really like :-)   Key to the success is the stripped-down accompaniment of Craig Adler's acoustic guitar and Linda Chaston on synth, along with Jillaine’s restrained vocals. Taking this song that is usually over orchestrated and turning it into a more subtle performance gives it an introspective, melancholy quality that I’ve never heard before.

The spiritual selections – "I Wonder As I Wander", "O Come O Come Emmanuel", and "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night" are beautiful. Jillaine dials back the jazzy and performs these with tremendous strength and reverence. "Emmanuel", especially, is a moving performance, full of true, heartfelt Christmas spirit.

Sass and swagger abound in "I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" and especially "Santa Blues", co-written by Jillaine and Justin Jensen. Jillaine struts though these songs, bending the notes to suit, having a blast with her band..

"Jazzy Christmas To You II" is another beautiful record. Jillaine gives us a variety of styles, selections, and fresh, original arrangements, nailing them all. The musicians accompanying her are tops, cats, and the bee's knees.

If Rudolph's nose isn't glowing yet, it will when he hears "Jazzy Christmas To You II"!

Man, I can't wait for Jazzy III....

Jillaine Records

Amazon Link

Also on iTunes, etc

Buy this record!  :-)
 

Santa Claus!

As Santa is making his final preparations for his annual journey - packing the toys, checking that list one last time, moving some names from "Naughty" to "Nice" (Santa is pretty good-hearted and forgiving, you know), I thought it would be a great time to share out some stories and songs from the man himself.

"Santa's Own Christmas" is a 1967 release from Capitol with 9 tracks featuring tales from Santa's workshop and some of Santa's personal favorite Christmas Carols.  I always kind of thought that "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" might be a favorite :-)

I don't have much more to say about this one, except I really like it.  I like the concept that Capitol created for the children of the late '60's.  I can imagine this record being played many, many times on a child's little, blue, all-in-one record player (yeah, I spun Bing Crosby and Lorne Greene on mine over and over and over....).  This is a great album as we get closer to Christmas Day.

download link