'My Christmas Album - But What To Call It?'

if you read this blog regularly you will know that I am a bit of an amateur recording artist. I love being creative in as many forms as possible and have always loved putting words together whether it be for written articles, blogs, letters or as song lyrics.

When I was asked at school what I wanted to be when I got older I said "A Journalist". When my careers advisor virtually laughed in my face and asked if I had any other thoughts I said "Pop Star". As you can well imagine I was not given much encouragement to pursue that line of work either! Adults should listen to kids more, however, as had I been given more help and been encouraged to follow my dreams I reckon I could have had the life I desired. As it is, I have spent most of my life doing what other people thought I aught to be doing and now, late 40's, am 'washed up and out of the race' as far as any meaningful paid work is concerned...

The world does not make it easy for people with 'flair, however, and never has. If you cannot PROVE that you can do something by getting the relevant 'bits of paper that say you can' nobody will give you a chance and that is EXTREMELY frustrating when you feel that you have a natural talent for something and just need help and assistance while doing the job to sharpen the edges of your skill base.
The fact us, pieces of paper can NEVER make a great lyricist nor a great vocalist nor can they make a poor writer into a brilliant Journalist. Natural talent for something cannot be taught or learn't - you either have it or you don't - just take Scott Mills and Judy Murray's 'Strictly' performances, for example. Try as hard as they both might, neither of them have the tools required to do the job and as such are capable only of reaching a 'moderate standard' as dancers.

Anyway, I'm beginning to sound like an arrogant twit so I will stop digging and get back to talking about my new Christmas album...

I am really excited about the album but cannot think of a good title for it? My GENIUS Producer, Harvey Summers (check out his 'Jupiter' album) is currently mixing and mastering it and so my task is to come up with the title, write the sleeve notes and think about photos for the artwork. Harvey knows what a Christmas nutter I am! He has nicknamed me 'Mr.Christmas' because of how I get carried away on the wave of the Crimbo spirit. I LOVE that tag so am wondering whether 'Tony May - Mr. Christmas' would be a good name for the album or not? If any of you have a view on that please let me know!

As far as the artwork is concerned, I would love to have the money to pay a professional photographer to get some great pics of me dressed as 'Santa' in various Christmas related locations for it but that isn't going to happen unless I win the lottery. Since I have not even had a £10 (or £25 as it is now) for well over a year that doesn't sound likely. I have got a selection of festive photos I've taken of me 'over the years' but the quality of them isn't that great. I want to include a 16 page booklet with the CD (if I can afford to get to that stage with the project) and the idea with that is to include some of my festive stories along with the usual track list, notes and thank you's. Its all rather ambitious but I'm determined to do the whole thing properly if I'm going to do it at all.

Christmas, like life, is all about 'hopes and dreams'. When else is there a better time to sit quietly and dream about the things you really want to make happen for yourself and for others? I guess I've shown my true colours there by saying 'myself' in front of 'others' there , haven't I? Still, if you were 49, unmarried, without a job, a place of your own or a girlfriend/boyfriend I think you might also end up a little 'selfishly' wanting something good to happen for yourself, don't you?

Anyway, as long as I can dream I may as well dream for the best outcome rather than the worst. If I never manage to ever get any of my albums properly released at least I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I DID make them and make at least some use of the talent I have been given.

Lots of love to you and yours - good luck with your dreams xxx

P.S) The three videos you see here are of tracks to be featured on my Christmas album. I wrote the last two, 'The Toy Museum' and 'A Snow Story' and the first is my version of the classic David Essex hit 'A Winter's Tale'. I hope you like them.