Hi, everyone! To date, I have six Christmas songs that I've written but have never put onto a CD. I also have a co-worker (also a musician, coincidentally) who's been pestering me for years – literally – to record his particular favorite. Today he decided to push me along a bit: he called up a friend of his at a recording studio who said he'd charge $250 to make a six-song demo CD, nicely mixed and all that. I know nothing (zippo, zero, nada) about studio rates, so I don't know if this price is good or bad, but now I think I'd better get the songs recorded there or somewhere before my co-worker resorts to setting up microphones at my office desk!

Most of the songs are pretty conventional stuff – some feel-good fluff, some humor, some typical singer-songwriter angst – but there's one song that has been known to offend a few people, and I'm undecided as to whether to do the "ballsy" thing and include the song on the CD, or to do the polite thing and leave it off.

No, it's not my song about celebrating both Christmas and Hanukah when I had a Jewish boyfriend! I suppose some people might be offended by that song, too, but that one's definitely "in".

No, I'm talking about my song that tells the Christmas story from Joseph's point of view (I didn't think he'd been getting enough press!). It follows the Biblical tale closely, but when I was writing it I tried to imagine the very-human emotions that Joseph might have felt upon hearing the news of Mary's pregnancy, and to convey his anger and bitterness in some pretty strong words... words that some might consider sacrilegious.

Of course, the story turns out all right in the end (after the angel gives Joseph a good talking-to)! Most folks who hear the song understand that I was trying to portray "my" Joseph character as a real person, with shortcomings included, but a few don't like to think of him as being any less holy than the other members of the Holy Family.

Ever since one Catholic friend of mine yelled at me over the song, I've been careful to preface my performances with an explanation of what the audience is about to hear. I would definitely print something to the same effect in the CD liner notes and put some sort of alert on the outer cover, but of course some folks might miss seeing it before listening!

I don't want to print out the lyrics on the thread, but I suppose I could PM them to anyone who's interested in reading them. So what do you think? Should the song go in or stay out? Will reviewers at radio stations, etc., reject my stuff because of one song like this... or will they be positively impressed that I've dared to share it with them? Should I be naughty or nice?!? :^)

Thanks in advance for your input,
Sharon