Help: Need suggestions for songs

Subject: Need suggestions for songs
From: ToneDeafDave
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 09:27 PM

Being a fond father, I can refuse my daughter (who works for Rhino Records - a creditable organization who re-issue lots of good stuff of one kind or another) nothing. She has asked me for advice on putting together a candidate track list for a Christmas Folk Music record. If you read her letter, which I have appended, you will see that it is a bit off the beaten track for us purists - but I would be grateful for any suggestions... Sarah's letter follows. I'll be grateful for any help she and I can get!

Hey Dad! I want to submit an idea to Rhino for a Folk Xmas CD. I was hoping that you could spread the word to your folk internet community, asking for track suggestions. I want LOTS of track suggestions, because there is always a weeding out process, resulting from compatibility of the tracks, and licensing issues.

There would be a few things to remember, in making submissions. Obviously, you and I would want to see the Young Tradition and obscure fiddle players from Nova Scotia on this thing. HOWEVER, this type of cd will have a much better chance of actually being approved, and actually selling units, if we all bear in mind what someone shopping in a WalMart in Illinois would think of as 'folk'. If we put enough tracks by people like Joan Baez, Bob Denver, Buffy Ste. Marie, Donovan, The New Seekers and The Limeliters, and beef it up with the Ewan MacColls, Richard Thompsons and Alison Kraus's, we can still have some room left to expose the Steeleye Spans, Fairport Conventions, Young Traditions, etc.

Christmas is about tradition, and we would want this record to feel familiar, respectful and beautiful. Sonicly (is that a word?) I'm thinking vocals, either with accoustic instruments or a capella arrangements.

Please let all your contacts know, or spread the word discreetly. Please let all that make submissions know that, if the record were to be released, that I would make best efforts to thank, in the liner notes, every person who submitted the idea for a track that was used.

And yes, I've already thought of Steeleye Span's "Gaudete." I've compiled some ideas already, but I would love to hear suggestions from the experts!

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 09:37 PM

I think you'll get a lot of folks here suggesting John McCutcheon's "Christmas in the Trenches." And BTW, Sandy (Folk-Legacy Records) has an excellent Christmas CD of traditional (but not at Wal-Mart) music.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Crowhugger
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 11:03 PM

Yup, Spaw. You beat me to it.

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 11:03 PM

Hey, Spaw! Have you heard our first Boarding Party album? That slang-rhyming Englishman, Dave Diamond, is one of the perpetrators. That was the recording that brought our Web Guru to us. He loved it so much he volunteered to handle all that fancy stuff for us.

Nice of you to mention the Christmas CD with Dave and Cathy, Ed Trickett, and Skip Gorman on fiddle. Even got Gordon Bok to read the mis-titled benediction in those rumbling, resonant tones of his. Fun project!

Let me add my own word of admiration for Cathy and Dave. I think people are so awed by Cathy's great banjo and hammered dulcimer playing that they overlook the rock solid guitar work of the lucky guy who gets to work with her. Super folks!

Sandy

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Crowhugger
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 11:11 PM

Fond Father,

Not knowing your daughter's experience with point of sale marketing, and having only consumer experience of my own, I wonder: With the right cover art and a good position by the checkouts, a tone-deaf, laryngitic accordion player would sell. It seems to me that the only role of content selection is to sell it to the purchasing department.

Sincerely, Cynical about mass marketing folk music, but delighted for any obscure musician who'll rake in royalties if it flies.

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: GMT
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 06:53 AM

Dirty Linen had a review of christmas records at http://kiwi.futuris.net/linen/feature/67xmas.html there may be some insperation there Dave.

Gary

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 05:20 PM

There were lots of suggestions back in November/December for alternative (i.e., not expressly Christian) Christmas/Yule songs - can't remember the exact thread name, but there were lots about the Wren, and then the Huron carol amongst them.. I'd certainly buy another folk album of festival songs, I'm sick to death of the bloody Kings College Cambridge, and have already corrupted my priest with the Cheiftains 'Bells of Dublin'.

Have fun and let us know what happens please!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From:
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 07:15 PM

You might want to check into the Nollaig Chridheil recording put out by B&R Heritage Enterprises. There are a number of Gaelic Songs on it, along with a fiddle cut by the wonderful Winnie Chafe of Cape Breton. They have a web-site at B&R Heritage Enterprises

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: ToneDeafDave
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:45 PM

Thanks to all so far, don't stop folks, when you are on a roll. I've told my daughter to check in directly - so you may hear from Sarah in person. She's Sarah Diamond (unless she adopts a psuedonym), and when I am not Tone Deaf Dave McFish, I'm David Diamond (for the infinitesimal minority who didn't know that important information).

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 01 Mar 00 - 08:27 PM

Your daughter really has the record company style down--

Here are a couple--though I must say that there are so many collections of X-mas stuff out that it will be hard to come up with a unique package--Here are some Dark Christmas songs--

PP&M-Soul Cakes John Prine-Christmas in Prison (he has a great X-mas CD) Ian and Sylvia--The Cutty Wren Donovan--The Little Tin Soldier

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: GUEST,Pixie
Date: 01 Mar 00 - 09:03 PM

Emmylou Harris' "Golden Cradle" (Irish Lullabye) with Nancy Ahern on harmony vocals and Brian Ahern on gut string guitar? The whole (if old and somewhat beaten) album is full of "Christmas plums" including "Light of the Stable".....this sounds like a great project! Hope its made available through some easy channels for those of us in the wilds of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia!

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 01 Mar 00 - 09:10 PM

Emma Christian does a great version of Birth in Bethlehem. The version I have is on a CD called Celtic Voices (women of song) Narada..Yours,Aye.Dave

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: AndyG
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 06:15 AM

I cannot praise this album highly enough, (and as far as I know it's all PD material)

A Garland of Carols
Coope Boyes & Simpson, (No Masters NMCD13)

AndyG

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 09:46 AM

NIce contributions, but remember, in order to sell, it is not enough that the music sound good, it has to have shelf appeal--we need to think of Christmas stuff from folkies who had moments of fame on the pop charts--

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Fortunato
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 10:00 AM

Having heard the alleged Dave Diamond, sometimes ToneDeafDaveMcFish, sing with the Boarding Party, I'm not sure ToneDeaf is entirely accurate.

Rhino is cool. Sarah could do worse.

cheers, fortunato

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 11:01 AM

I'd vote for "Mary Had A Baby" by Bruce Cockburn and "Merry Christmas From The Family" by Robert Earl Keen. The Roches have a nice Christmas CD also.

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Bert
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 11:22 AM

Didn't Tom Paxton do a Christmas CD?

Also, being real silly, I'll sing Stars & Snowflakes for 'em.

Bert

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Bert
Date: 02 Mar 00 - 11:27 AM

Hmmm, wonder why that didn't work, guess it didn't like me plugging one of my own songs, bummer.
The link is www.mudcat.org/bert/songs/stars.html

Subject: RE: Help: Need suggestions for songs
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Mar 00 - 09:27 AM

Wynonna Judd's version of Jesse Winchester's 'Let's Make a Baby King'
Red Clay Ramblers 'Hot Buttered Rum'
Brave Combo 'Little Drummer Boy'
Chad Mitchell Trio 'The Virgin Mary'
Ronnie Gilbert 'Borning Day'