'The BIG Mail Out!'

Well, it has taken a LONG time to reach this point! My Christmas album, 'A Nod To Mr. Dickens' has been almost a DECADE in the making and there were plenty of times during that period that I thought it would never be completed. The fact that I have been busy therefore looking up addresses, packaging CD's and making trips to the Post Office to send copies of the finished article to friends and family all over the world is understandably then for me a triumph!

The Front Cover Of My New Album!

It's amazing how many of the people you know that you have either out-dated contact details for or no details at all bar a connection on social media or their phone number! The amount of time I have spent trying to locate this person or contact that one has been considerable but I am glad to say that it has all been worth it!

One of the lovely things to come out of making such an effort is that you re-kindle old friendships and I have heard back from a friend of mine I haven't seen since the early 1980's recently! I met Eric Pitteloud when he came to England from Switzerland to study (I think?) and though we only knew each other for about two weeks or so we managed to almost squeeze a lifetime of memories into that time! Eric was a D.J. back then at home and I think I was either on a Manpower Services Commission Scheme at Debenhams or unemployed - I'm not sure now? Anyway, we met at  the 'Speakeasy' night club in Kings Road when my old mate, Terry Har (Johns) was behind the decks.
I recall one of the big dance tunes at the time being 'The Voice Of Q' by 'Q' https://youtu.be/PAP6OAmbWO0 and Eric and I both wanting to buy the last 12" copy of The Buggles, 'I Am A Camera'. I was a selfish git in those days and bought it for myself rather than letting Eric have it to take back with him - I've always regretted that - but I don't think I had met my old mate, Alan Gaywood then so had not been around people that were likely to be generous.

I e mailed Eric to let him know that a copy of 'A Nod To Mr. Dickens' was on its way and got a lovely e mail back from his daughter, Valerie with some family photos as well! Great to see how he and his family look now and I am so glad that he has done so well in life! I have sent a few pics of me and mine back this morning and we all plan to try and keep in touch more often from now on. I have even been offered the chance to go and stay with them in Switzerland for a while, which would be great! I haven't got a passport these days though and finances are not great but things might change!

So, you see, the 'old fashioned' way of getting involved with Christmas still has its advantages and brings some joy! Ironically, I wrote a new Christmas song called 'Heart Full Of Joy' only the other week so I must have known!

More soon...

'Back For Another Year!'

Well folks, it's beginning to get near that time of the season again! Creeps up on you, doesn't it? I hope you are all well and have not had too bad a year since my last post. That sounds like a pretty big ask though the way the world is at the moment but I'm wishing you all well anyway!

2017 has been a year of extremes for me. I've either 'worked wonders' or things have gone incredibly badly - there hasn't been a lot in between. I won't bore you with the bad stuff  but focus instead on the GOOD! My big news for this year is that my LONG delayed (I never thought it would ever happen in the end) Christmas album, 'A Nod To Mr. Dickens' is now a reality!

As you know if you read this blog regularly, I sadly lost my old mate, Alan Gaywood last year in July and was left his entire CD collection. Well, with 1,500 CD's of my own already I had no room for another 2,500 and so had no option but to do a good few orders to some of the online 'de-cluttering' websites. While this was sad (I would have loved to keep more of them than I have) it did allow me to find the extra cash required to fund completion of 'A Nod To Mr. Dickens'. I could only afford to have 100 pressed up (so in time the CD is going to be WELL collectible!) and plan to distribute most of them myself to friends and family this year. As ever, my producer, Harvey Summers has done a FABULOUS job on the mixing and mastering of the record and I am very proud of what we as a team have achieved. Obviously, I would have preferred to accomplish the task without losing Alan but at least the album will stand as a testament to our friendship into the future...

I shall 'unveil' the album cover art work here nearer to Christmas!

On the subject of new Christmas music, my favourite rock band, Cheap Trick have just released their first Christmas album! I've not got it yet but I'm sure it will be a blast and I am looking forward to hearing their version of 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' by Wizzard. CT have been quite prolific of late (following a long hiatus caused by legal action between the band and their old drummer, Bun E. Carlos) and so they have continued to be like a 'crutch' for me in the modern age as I've been listening to them for well over 30 years now!

Tom Chaplin of Keane also has a new Christmas album out on Nov 17th called, 'Twelve Tales Of Christmas'. There are no Mp3 previews up on Amazon for the record yet but it looks like another mix of originals and traditional festive classics so far. There is a 'Strictly cash-in' double CD compilation album 'by' Rev Richard Coles  out on Dec 1 as well featuring a mix of classical pieces, tenor singers, choirs and the like and Gwen Stefani releases the album, 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas' on the same day. Sadly, I find her voice a bit nasally and irritating so I doubt I will 'play' as far as that one is concerned but you should check it out if you like bubbly pop.

With plenty more festive releases to come no doubt (love the pun?) I look forward to waxing lyrical with you all again in the run up to the big day!