Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!

Subject: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 04:10 PM

Goodwill to Men (and presumably women) is the name our own Seamus Kennedy's album of Christmas music - and I have been enjoying it immensely over the last few days. It is a wonderful collection of songs, beautifully performed and recorded. I have a block of 10 or so Christmas CDs that randomly playing - and Seamus is among them, frequently singing Mary's Boy Child (Caribbean Carol), Scarlet Ribbons, Away in a Manger, Adeste Fideles (all you pre-Vatican II Catholics will remember all the words, too).

Thank you Seamus. The whole family loves it!

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 04:52 PM

Jed, thanks a million for the kind words. I didn't expect you to post on the threads. It so happens that it's also my favorite recording of the 12 or so that I've done. A lot performers don't like to listen to their own stuff. Between recording (multiple takes), adding tracks, mixing, editing and mastering, we never want to hear the songs again; but we've got to sing them if we want to sell the recording! Is this a paradox?
Any recording 'Catters feel this way too?

However, I love listening to my own Christmas CD at Christmastime, because when I hear the great backup musicians and the arrangements, I forget that it's me singing! So it's in my CD player on random play along with Bing Crosby, Mario Lanza, Artisan, the Chieftains and my other favorite Christmas CDs.

Merry Christmas, Jed and to all Mudcatters everywhere.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 05:02 PM

I didn't want to start another thread about the Christmas concerts over the last 2 weekends where my musical guests were The Pyrates Royale, a hilarious group of singers and musicians which includes our very own Mudcatter, Celtic Soul - sister of Carole C.
These guys and gals - oops, sorry - Pyrates are a hoot and a joy to work with.
The audiences loved their musical silliness and parodies, but they also liked it when they sang "straight."
We had a vocal jam at the end of each show where we sang a few traditional carols, and to hear the harmony chords ringing would make your hair stand up. Them Pyrates can sing, AAARRGH!
Thanks Peg, Fletcher, Molly, Cat and Drake. It was a pleasure working with youse guys and I hope we can do it again.
Merry Christmas.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 06:07 PM

Jed is correct as one would expect... it's a wonderful CD indeed.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 07:15 PM

I have it but it is "packed away" somewhere with all my other Christmas CDs and LPs. Very frustrating.
So I'll sing:
"Venite adoremus. Venite adoremus. Venite adoremus. Dominum."

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: MMario
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 08:52 PM

Cantet nunc io chorus angleorum!

Seamus - the one thing that is worse then not getting to hear your Christmas concert is to NOT hear you with the Pyrates! whimper, whine, whinge! *pout*

oh well - I can hear you all in my imagination - wish I could have heard it live.

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 10:38 PM

Seamus----------I had mine on earlier today. Thanks for making it. It was what I needed and what I'd been missing, but hadn't noticed.

To you and yours --- a fine holiday !!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 04:07 AM

Jed, Sinsull, Art, Mmario, WYS, thanks!
Keep the spirit going all year!

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Big Mick
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 07:49 AM

Sure wish I could have seen that show!!! As if my buddy Seamus needs someone to lighten things up..............hahahahahaha. This must have been one fun show.

Seamus.....Happy Christmas, my friend.

Mick

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 10:21 AM

I had the music on all day yesterday - I switched a couple of times between playing random selections of 10 Christmas CDs (including Seamus) and a whole collection of 10 folk and classical plus the 10 Christmas CDs. This morning everyone is wandering the house humming or singing Seamus's Mary's Boy Child!

Merry Christmas, y'all.

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 03:44 PM

To answer your question, there certainly are songs I'd rather never sing again, but we do because the audience wants them, or indeed, they're on CD's and it would be nice for people to hear what they're getting...with you there all the way, Seamas.

As for the gig, it was a kick! We had a real blast, and it was an honor to share a stage (and a lil Irish Whiskey) with you!

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 02:31 AM

Y'know, eventually, I'm gonna sing with all the singing Mudcatters in a show somehere. It's just a matter of time, and geography and finances, but sometime....

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: kendall
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 11:28 AM

I'm not big on Christmas music, but, I'm big on Seamus Kennedy.

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 11:35 AM

kendall - that sounds like an Eyore statement!! No humbugging on Christmas!! ;-) I'm big on both.

All the best to you Kendall - and all - now back to Christmas.

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 10:12 AM

I guess Christmas real is over. It is with reluctance that I put away this CD, maybe 'til July or so!!

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 10:19 AM

I think Seamus should take our seldom-used PortaStudio on the road and pile up tracks!

~S~

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 10:49 AM

Let me add my hallelujah's and huzzahs! Seamus, you've added a wonderful freshness to old songs, and warmed our Christmas up here in picture post card Christmas land. You will be a part of our Christmas every year..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 01:25 PM

Oh, jeeze youse guys!
My guest at my Christmas concerts this year was the wonderful Ed Miller, the pride of Edinburgh, Scotland, now living in Austin TX.
He is one of the finest singers anywhere and a great storyteller to boot.
He did a moving recitation of the Christmas story in Lowland Scots dialect, which he translated into "English."

Ed also told the story of being in Stornoway with a lady who was a Gaelic speaker. She sang a Christmas song in her native tongue saying it was an old Gaelic air. Ed recognized the melody and sang the English version at our show. The tune was "Morning Has Broken."
The audience singing along was a thing of beauty.

Happy New Year Mudcatters.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Big Mick
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 07:55 PM

A Seamus,

I wish I could have been there for that moment. Seamus, after hearing you do Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore, alternating an gaeilge/bearla, I made my mind up that I would ask you to do two things. 1) send me the verses in Irish. 2) Find the time when we are together and have you sing the Irish and I sing the alternates in English. I hope we can do that sometime, my friend. It would be an honor I would long remember. You moved me with that rendition that you sang that night more than you know.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 09:44 PM

Ed is truly is an excellent singer and story teller - he's a fine man too! It must have been a fine show.

You'll have to do your next Christmas CD with Ed. Now there's a thought!

;-)

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 11:25 PM

Fair enough Mick.
I'll kill 2 birds with one song. I'll post the lyrics here on the Mudcat for you. And we'll do it together in Muskegon this year.
Jed, how about a Mudcat Christmas album?
All the singing and pickin' 'Catters do a set of Christmas CDs?
Just a thought.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: KT
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 12:01 AM

Okay, Seamus! I don't have this one yet. Bring one with you on the 23rd!!!! Watch for a PM!!   KT

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 12:05 AM

SEAMUS IS COMING TO ALASKA!!!   I am sooooo happy. Hurry up and get here buddy.

Mike



















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Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 12:36 AM

I'm really looking forward to seeing all you AK ' Catters.
Alaska Mike and his delightful spouse, Tawmmie. and maybe KT or dare I hope - Ebbie.
Turn on the Northern Lights for me, and I'll see y'all Jan 23rd.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 01:09 AM

It's a deal, Seamus. And count me in for a Mudcat Christmas CD. Let's get to work. Maybe I need to coordinate this one. Unless someone else wants to. Let me know, folks.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: KT
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 01:29 AM

A MUDCAT Christmas CD!!! What a great idea!!!   KT

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Mantid
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 08:56 AM

Seamus, we were at your concert with Ed. FANTASTIC!! Those songs and stories are going to keep me warm all winter. I may have to keep the CD in the player long after the Christmas decorations are long put away. Thanks for the memories.

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: GUEST,Guest, Big Tim
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 12:09 PM

A very refreshing CD indeed. Like Kendall, I'm not a great fan of Christmas music, or at least the sort that we're usually subjected too, but I've thoroughly enjoyed this one. Keep it going young man!

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 02:01 PM

Seamus - got a check and note today from the third printing of A SMILE AND A TEAR. Thanks very much! Maybe that oughtta be my favorite Seamus Kennedy record!!

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 03:13 PM

Mick,Tim and Jed, a copy of my new one On The Rocks is on its way to you. Mantid, thanks for the favorable review!!
OK Mick, let's get the Christmas CD under way.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: open mike
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 04:56 PM

do let us know in a seperate thread titled mudcat christmas c.d.
where and how to submit entries to the project! it would be great
to have it available by next christmas-time! (how about expanding
the idea to be winter/solstice/hanukah so it could include other
cultures and religions besides Christian?!)

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 10:57 AM

A Mudcat Christmas? Good idea, maybe even a good title!

Seamus - I am going to be playing in Savannah on Feb 14 (I'm doing a series of "Irish in the US Civil War" dates in GA that week). I'll find a way to visit you at the Savannah Irish Festival on the 14th. I'm trying to convince Danny O'Flaherty he needs me to play at his place on the way back - Sun/Mon, so I expect Sat is the only day we'll have at the festival. It's pretty short notice to hook up with Danny, but it may work out.

I will have film maker Judy Lanahan with me, one of the North Texas Irish Festival organizer folks (she produced and runs the film that accompanies the CW show). We'll make Judy buy us a beer! Oh yeah, I don't drink - well, make mine a water then, with plenty of ice!

Anyway - I look forward to saying hello in Savannah.

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Fortunato
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 11:45 AM

Jed, my friend, you belong to a very elite club: Teetotaler Irish Musicians. Let's see there's you and...well, shit there must be some others.

Ducking and running,
Chance

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:10 PM

LOL - Chance. Yes, I am a rare bird in deed! Can't help it, though. I loved good beer and ales but my damned liver turns it into poison for me. Nothing I can do about it - just the roll of the genetic dice!

You know the story about the "queer" Irishman, eh? He's the fellow who prefers women to drink!

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 01:40 PM

Dang. I don't think I can make it. I expect to be on the ferry heading south the week before your Anchorage gig, Seamus. (And the $450 or so bucks it would cost me to head north would pay my fare south. It don't compute.)

When are you coming to Juneau again??

Subject: RE: Merry Seamus Kennedy Christmas!
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 03:39 PM

Jed, I'll PM you about Savannah.
Ebbie, I'm afraid we're doomed never to meet, instead passing like ships or ferries in the night. Juneau ain't in my immediate future, I'm sorry to say.

Seamus