'A Simple Chatty One!'

Well, I don't know about you but I don't think I have ever seen as wet a Christmas as this one! My friends at Horam who run 'The Steelyards Collective' have seen the little stream that runs through their property become a raging torrent of flood water! All of the lawn and some of their driveway is now under water and yet it STILL keeps raining! I sincerely hope that the wet weather 'gives over' soon else even the house will be under threat...

I'm relaxing today (at last) and listening to one of the best Christmas albums ever recorded - 'Wilde Winter Songbook' by Kim Wilde. I LOVE tracks like 'Hope' and Kim is so obviously a 'Christmas person' that her love of the season, of family and of Christmas comes through in every word she sings. I used to 'have a thing' for Kim when I was a teenager and would still LOVE to meet her!

Funny how Christmas always makes you think about people isn't it? Some are of course sadly missed but others come into what I call the 'Rupert Holmes bracket'. By that I mean that Rupert wrote a song called 'The People That You Never Get To Love' (from the LP 'Partners In Crime') which is about how we all potentially miss out on a lifetimes happiness by either being shy and missing an opportunity or by just missing someone who makes your heart skip a beat in silly ways like she is in the 'up' escalator while you are traveling in the 'down' one!

Two Christmas Trees & Two Santas!

There are a few 'celebrities' I would so dearly love to be able to spend a 'quality hour' with for a chat and a coffee and Kim Wilde is one of them. I'd LOVE to tell her (going red, no doubt!) how I used to gaze lovingly at her photos for ages and how she is the writer of one of the songs I want played at my funeral ('Someday') because I feel it sums my inner self up better than any other song I've ever heard...

If I did have just one precious hour with Kim I would want it to be at Christmas time and in the foyer of the Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton.

The comfy and Christmassy Rendezvous Hotel foyer.

 I LOVED my stay at that hotel whilst visiting my beloved 'Grassington Dickensian Festival' as the owner has a real sense of both 'showbiz' and Christmas. It would be so lovely to sit and talk quietly with Kim about hopes, dreams, fame, family and to swop 'Christmas stories'. Sadly, 'my hour' would be up before I'd know it and I would then leave Kim knowing pretty much that we would never meet again. What special memories I would have to replay EVERY Christmas though, eh? And I'd have the chance to recount the story of 'how I met Kim Wilde' to everyone willing to listen for the rest of my days! (lol)

It's Ho Ho Ho all the way at the Rendezvous Hotel!

So, who would you want to meet if you had just one hour this Christmas? Others I would love to spend some time with would be, Claudia Winkleman and of course my beloved, Marilyn Monroe but purely for an interesting chat I would also love to meet and spend an hour with, Trevor Horn (Buggles), Tony Mansfield (New Musik), Bruce Forsyth, Donny Hathaway & Geoffrey Williams.

As is, I am just going to be thankful this year that a) I have lovely memories of The Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton and b) I have some AMAZING people in my life that I DO know who love me and look out for me. Hopefully, 'I'm worth it' as the ad says!

Finally, I cant end without saying a few words about Harrods. I saw a fascinating documentary on T.V. the other day about Harrods at Christmas and have to say that I was blown away by it for a number of reasons. Sure, Harrods is EXPENSIVE and realistically mainly a 'playground for the mega rich' BUT they really do put the pizzazz into Christmas and do a lot for under privileged kids each year with some of their profits. Old Charlie Dickens would certainly approve of them for that even if some of the obscene amounts of money their customers spend on ridiculous items is harder to justify. At least the store is no 'Scrooge' though and their staff certainly genuinely seem to LOVE working there and care deeply about how Harrods is a British Institution. In these days of failing High Streets everywhere I'm actually very pleased that Harrods is still as profitable and popular as it has always been. I don't mind people making a profit if they do something to the best of their ability, work hard for their customers and genuinely care about others at Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all at Harrods, all who get a buzz out of shopping there and all who benefit from their charitable acts each Christmas...

'The Christmas Spirit Still Lives On, Robbie Williams & A Radio Show Not To Miss!'

Well, we are already now towards the end of the first week of December and Christmas fast approaches. I've not quite been 'on form' this year so far as the festive spirit is concerned but have not given up on getting 'that special starry eyed glow' this year just yet!

I have had first-hand experience this last week though of people being both 'naughty' and 'nice', which has been both disheartening and heart-warming. Thankfully, I have seen more GOOD than BAD and been humbled and encouraged by the kindnesses that one or two people have shown me lately. One person I know found £5 but insisted I have it as 'my need was greater than his'. I didn't know what to say but accepted in good grace as the offer was so lovely and genuinely meant that it would have been almost cruel to say no...

Now,  if there is one thing in this world with a longer memory than an Elephant (or my incredible mate, 'Autograph Keith!') it is a 'punter'. and as a perpetual non-starter in the 'winning' stakes I remember 'nice' things long term because they mean a lot to me so I hope one day my chance to be kind to this generous soul will come along...

Another person treated me to a taxi ride following a lovely morning of chat and fun and tomorrow I am off on a coach trip to see the Rochester Dickensian Festival thanks to another good friend. I might be unlucky in love and other areas but I am most certainly fortune to be surrounded by such good, kind and thoughtful people - and that feels really special at this time of year especially...

Right! Next I want to draw your attention to the event above! Yes folks, me and my old mate, Jeff Belton are returning to the airwaves to bring lots of fun, laughter, silliness and GREAT music to your home this Christmas! If you go to the Conquest Hospital Radio website here: https://conquesthospitalradio.co.uk you can listen in online for FREE - and we won't charge you either! (lol)

The show is going to be a BLAST and 'Sir Jeffrey' and I have been 'up to our tricks' already recording a special festive play to make you giggle we've written. Daft doesn't come close and as for the Acting skills? Well, you can turn off your house fans because the breeze coming from Sir Lawrence Olivier's grave is incredible! (lol) You will LOVE the characters - their changing accents and their laughs! (lol)
Oh yes, if 'sanity really isn't your thing' then tune in online on MONDAY 23RD DEC from 9AM -12 MIDDAY!

Finally, I have to say that I am LOVING listening to the new ROBBIE WILLIAMS Christmas Album - 'The Christmas Present' at the moment! Williams is a great lyricist and WAY more than just a 'cheeky, good looking bloke with tattoos that used to be in Take That'. The album is split into two sections - The Past and The Present and both are fab! Whatever you do make sure you get a listen to his 'Swingin' take on the Slade classic, 'Merry Christmas Everybody' - only Robbie could pull that off!

Oh well, toodle pip for now! I hope your Christmas shopping is going well and I'll be back with more soon! Have fun!

'Great Fun In Grassington'

I had a lovely time up in Yorkshire at the Grassington Dickensian Festival! Its rather a LONG way to go from Hastings for a two day break but well worth it in my opinion.

Grassington is a traditional Yorkshire village full of those quaint, olde-worlde stone buildings and its situated high up in the hills so the air is always fresh and clean. I was lucky this time to see real snow on the rooftops of the buildings while I was there and the scenery all around Grassington was also similarly festive looking with its dusting of the powdery stuff!

Even luckier was the fact that none of the pavements were slippery or dangerous as the amount of snow in the area had not been enough to lay on the paths and roads just 'decorate' the tops of things. This was just as well as there are lots of cobbled stone walkways and paths in Grassington and there are a few steep-ish climbs on your way around the village, which could be quite a hazard in bad weather.

Grassington is not very big and you can walk around the market in the town square and look at most of the stalls in around an hour if that is all you want to go there for. The Dickensian Festival works though because of the spirit in which the locals 'get into' both the Christmas spirit and the swing of dressing up in Dickensian clothes!

I met the Town Crier while I was there and he was delighted when I congratulated him and the people of the village for making Grassington the 'Murray Walker of Christmas Attractions'. When people are enjoying themselves and are happy to do all they can to create a lovely, old-fashioned Christmassy environment the enthusiasm they give off is infectious and so most of the fun in going to the festival is in the 'hanging around' to soak up as much of the atmosphere, hear as many of the carol singers, brass bands and other musical performers as you can and watch the many different Morris Dancing groups that 'do their turn' throughout the day.

I took over 100 photos (some of which you can see here) and have a good deal of fun footage to edit and upload to my Youtube channel (Maybrick44) as soon as I can. If you take a look at those films you will see what I mean (I hope!) and get a flavour of what it feels like to be in Grassington on a cold December day.

I was especially lucky to get the footage I did when I did as the longer the day went on the more packed the place became! While it was nice to see people enjoying themselves it does make 'taking your time to savour' something more difficult when you are constantly likely to be in somebodies way. My advise to you therefore if you want to experience the festival in a more laid back and leisurely way is to arrive as early as you can...

During my time in the village I ate a LOVELY warm bowl of Apple crumble and custard (£3) to keep the chill of the season at bay AND went over to the local school where they were selling a variety of fresh cakes, teas and coffee's (another £3). Some of the school children were dressed up as 'urchins' and one of them was ringing a bell and calling people over for 'teas, cakes and coffeees!'. I spoke to some of the mums who were taking part and joked about the use of child labour and had a few nice words with an elderly couple while I sat and munched my chocolate cream slice and drank my tea!

There was also a Tombola but I forgo that as I didn't want to have to carry anything. Back in the village there were regular calls of 'Chesnuts! Hot Chestnuts!' from the street sellers and I managed to listen to a REALLY good Choir singing 'Joy To The World' as well as hear one of the brass bands play a festive take on Jona Lewie's, 'Stop The Cavalry'.

There was also a HILARIOUS double-act of 'Scrooge' sitting in a wheel around cart with a blanket over him and his 'Mad Hatter' like 'friend', who was wheeling him. 'Scrooge' was in a good mood and taking much pleasure from abusing people, wishing them ' a horrible Christmas' and 'singing' Christmas carols as badly and off-key as he could to annoy people!

As the light started to go so the many twinkling lights around the village began to come into their own and just before it was time for me to go it actually started snowing! What a perfect setting for a festive break, eh?

P.S.) I also handed out a few free copies of my, 'A Nod To Mr. Dickens' Christmas album while I was on holiday. My old mate, Alan Gaywood was on my mind as it was his CD collection that paid for the trip and I felt he would appreciate me showing a bit of kindness to some of the BRILLIANT and Christmassy individuals whom I felt were going the extra mile to make Christmas brilliant for others. Hopefully, Charles Dickens would approve of that sentiment as well! I even wanted to give a copy to Scrooge and his 'friend' but they disappeared and I couldn't find them again!

 I  did give a copy to the lovely ladies on the 'crumble & custard' stall (they were also selling other things including mulled wine) who were kind enough to pose for a photo and  also to one of the mums at the school. She had a small boy there and I told her that he would most probably like, 'If Santa Was A D.J.'!

It will be interesting to see if I hear anything from any of the people I spoke to and gave a copy of the album...

I'll write more of my 'adventures' in Yorkshire soon...

'Festive Fun On The Jeff Belton Show'

I had a really fun time this morning as the 'special guest' of Jeff Belton on his 'Full English' Breakfast Show on Conquest Hospital Radio. Jeff is very much a 'big kid' like me and I think we are going to be friends, which is nice. He contacted my old boss, Alan 'Johnny Mason' Esdaile about me after I appeared on Alan's 60's and 70's show on the station when he found out that I had a Christmas song out (it was actually an album) and I went to meet him at his house for a chat. We got on like a house on fire and so he booked me to appear on the show today. I'm hoping to get hold of a CD with the show on it as Jeff played about 5 or 6 of my songs so I really did feel like the 'star guest'!

Jeff Belton - Complete with cracker party hat!

Its AMAZING what the power of encouragement can do, you know? Just gaining a bit of recognition for my 'musical achievements' of late has made a HUGE difference to how I feel and the feedback from 'A Nod To Mr.Dickens' has been pretty much universally positive!  

I could get used to this 'radio lark' I tell you and will definitely consider volunteering up at The Conquest myself in the future if I get the chance. I say 'if' as its a worrying world we live in these days and as I'm off up to Yorkshire (to the Dickensian event at Grassington) I've got the 'jitters' about being in amongst a large crowd at this time of year. How HORRID is that? Surely we should not have to worry more about the risk of terrorism than think about the TRUE spirit of Christmas and 'good will to all men', should we?

Two idiots in their element!

With talk of 'driverless cars' and 'automated criminal justice systems' not far into the future now though I realise how far off base I have become with the modern world. I guess that's why I LOVE remembering my childhood and trying to recreate my idea of what Christmas means and is all about on record. Jeff LOVES 'If Santa Was A D.J.' and I still think that track is a 'hit in waiting'. It was truly WONDERFUL to play the fool with Jeff live on air this morning and have some good, clean and honest fun for a change. We had a listener tune in from Russia and so Jeff and I waxed on about the KGB secretly listening in and how they might all be doing the Gap Band dance in Moscow! (lol)

The world could be a much better place I reckon if we could all just accept our differences and learn to 'give each other some personal space sometimes'. The snag with the human race is that we are a) eternally nosey and b) rather greedy and selfish - not a goods combination when you are talking about people, land and cultures!

The festive scene In the studio!

Personally, I think there should be more 'fun' D.J.'s like Jeff Belton on the radio! One minute he's 'rambling on' in a Tony Blackburn kind of way, the next he is talking to his own impression of Frank Spencer! What a BOY! (lol) No wonder he picked a crazy old buzzard like me to appear on his show! I even took a couple of Christmas crackers with me and we pulled them live on air! I actually 'won' one of the prizes and got one of those little spinning tops (which I love!). Maybe me and Jeff could become the next 'Mark And Lard'? I still remember creasing up with laughter when I heard them play Lards scratchy version of 'Mull Of Kintyre' on the air- complete with its 'dodgy' jumps and skips!

Jeff, signing my autograph book...

Jeff is going to see if he can get a recording of the show uploaded to Mixcloud - if he does I will post a link! 

Merry Christmas!

'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!

'R Kelly Hits The Spot!'

I have been looking for some new Christmas music to introduce you to this year but haven't found much... Imagine my surprise then when I stumbled across the new '12 Days of Christmas' set by R.Kelly and was pleasantly surprised at how sensitive and festive the songs on it are! Now, to be fair, Mr.Kelly has written some corkers in the past - especially 'You are Not Alone', which I played to death when Michael Jackson died and even tried to sing at karaoke as a tribute to Michael.. 'I Believe I Can Fly' being another great song of his. Sadly, all too often, much of the man's material revolves around sex and is pretty throw away so, while I respect R.Kelly as a songwriter of enormous potential talent I rarely listen to him as a whole album of his usual stuff would bore me rigid (if you'll excuse the terminology!)...

The songs on '12 Days Of Christmas', however do seem to show that the man has a good heart though! 'I really like 'Snowman' (above) and having flicked through the rest of the album on Amazon via the mp3's think I will probably buy the album. R.Kelly's voice has always been o.k. for me - its just what he has been singing I've not liked. He's no Luther Vandross or Donny Hathaway but he does have a nice, soulful and mellow voice when its matched up to good material.

Another act who have a good Christmas single out this year is ABC. I really liked them in the 80's   (The Lexicon Of Love is a great album) but went off them after 'When Smokey Sings' came out as they went all dance-floor and the songs were less interesting. 'A Christmas We Deserve' is not available at the moment on Youtube so I can't steer you in the direction of the video but check it out via the mp3 somewhere on the net...

Finally, I see that Spandau Ballet's, Tony Hadley has released a Christmas album. The reviews are not that great though and I could not find any mp3 previews of it to have a listen to so I will wait until I get a chance to hear some of it before I get too excited! Maybe one day I will finally get my Christmas set 'in the wracks' alongside them all and give them some festive competition!

'My Christmas Music - A Jolly Update!'

I am glad to be able to announce that my Youtube Christmas single for this year is now recorded and mixed! I decided this year to do a 'very different' kind of Christmas song in the shape of a pop/punk version of 'Jingle Bells'. Why would anyone in their right mind want to record such a thing? Well, it has been rather an angst riddled year this year and as such I wanted to record something with a bit of bite to it. seeing as I am also friends with one of Punk Rocks earliest pioneers, Sue Butchers, ('Siren', 'Debar', ex-wife of Max Splodge etc, etc) I thought why not do a punky duet?

Sue Butchers

I am now VERY glad that I did because, thanks to the always awesome Mr. Harvey Summers (my friend and Producer) the song has turned out splendidly!

Harvey Summers

 The next stage in the process will be to try and film/put together some kind of video for the song. That's going to be a bit of a challenge at this time of year as poor light and wet, miserable days do not make for good videos. If we were to get some SNOW, however, that would be different!!!

Anyway, I think you are going to LOVE the song - especially if you liked Dick Emery's Vicar character because I do my own Vicar impersonation on the song and he eventually gets into the spirit of the punk anthem and gets the choirboys to do a lot of 'O1i! Oi! Oi!'s in the chorus!! HA HA

On the 'Mr. Christmas' album front, I am hoping to receive the final mix and master of the album before the end of the year. The set has been long delayed due to unavoidable and extremely unfortunate circumstances concerning 'Old Harv' as I like to call him. Thankfully, all that is now in the past and he and Broadoak Studios are now powering on into the future at full speed! You won't find a better Producer or nicer guy than Harvey and I can't wait to hear the final mix of the album!

In fact, I am so thrilled with the 'Mr. Christmas' set that I am seriously considering commissioning, Artist, Sally Woodworld (Priston), to design the cover artwork for the album. Sally is an amazingly gifted Artist and I'm sure her connection to all things natural and traditional events like 'Jack In The Green' will mean that my rather wistful and traditional songs will inspire her to greatness! At this stage we are just 'talking shop' but I'd really love it if she could come up with some custom made pieces for use with the album. Here is one of Sally's most beautiful works taken from her photos on Facebook...

October/Winter Is Coming By Sally Woodworld

I'm sure you can see now why I am so excited at the prospect of having Sally produce some artwork for me! How awesome is the above!!

I will keep you posted on developments and look out for my 'Jingle Bells' video single on Youtube in late Nov or early Dec.

You can see more of Sally's wonderful works of art here...Sally Woodworld's website

'It's Too Early To Talk About Christmas They Say!'

Since my last post I have been getting quite a bit of flack for even thinking of the festive season in October HA HA.

While I have every sympathy with those who chastise me for 'talking about Christmas when we haven't even had Guy Fawkes Night yet', it is a fact of life that for a lot of people (including me) on low incomes it is imperative to start thinking of Christmas shopping as early as October. I know quite a few of you start shopping for next years gifts even as early as the January sales but I do try to get my 'Christmas gift list mojo working' around this time in order to give me as much time to a) find the money for the items I need and b) to ensure I don't get into a mad panic at the last minute. December is always a special time of the year with all the decorations and Christmas lights and so I love to be free of stress and be able to simply 'think good thoughts' during that month and enjoy the Christmas fairs, activities and the general build up.

I HAVE made a small start to my christmas gift list this year but its slow progress at the moment. With this in mind I've been browsing on Amazon.co.uk and have found a few new Christmas albums out shortly to tell you about!

Now, what guy wouldn't like to wake up to Kylie Minogue in his (or hers!) Christmas stocking(s)! Well, Kylie has a new Christmas album due out on November the 13th simply called 'Kylie Christmas'.  The album looks like being the usual combination of old festive favourites and originals and will be available in both a normal CD and a CD 'Deluxe' version featuring a DVD.

The album includes a duet with Frank Sinatra apparently! This quite a feat seeing as 'old blue eyes' has been dead now for a while but you know how it is these days - modern technology can have you singing along with anyone in a jiffy (not fair to the deceased artists in my opinion though). I've never been a huge Kylie fan but it will be interesting to see what the album is like as Christmas music is about more than the artist who is singing and if a record makes me feel festive i'll buy it!

Now, one lady who always makes me feel festive is the lovely, Kim Wilde. I used to have a HUGE crush on her when I was at school and so I'm glad to see that on November the 6th a 'Deluxe' version of her excellent 'Wilde Winter Songbook' album will be released. As with the Kylie set, the 'Deluxe' version comes with a second disc DVD and considering the first disc also includes a few 'extra tracks' Kim is going to be on my own shopping list again this year.

The extra tracks on the album appear to include a cover of 'Last Christmas' by Wham, a cover of 'Keeping The Dream Alive' by Freiheit, two new Christmas songs and a couple of remixes. Hmm, not sure the remix route is such a good idea Kim but I'd gladly discuss the subject with you under the mistletoe if you like! HA HA

There are also new Christmas sets out soon from Peter Andre (Oct 30th), The Overtones (27th November) and yet another compilation called 'Ultimate Christmas' (Oct 30th) which is a 4 CD budget release featuring a wildly eclectic selection of artists!

Finally, if you want to take a real trip back to the 1970's The Osmonds have a 'new' Christmas album out as well on the 13th of November. The blurb on Amazon suggests it is a new recording but the sleeve makes me wonder if its not a re-release? Anyway, if The Osmond boys are you're thing (or were) then its well worth checking out...

Oh well, back to thinking of October, Guy Fawkes night and all that is to come before we get into Chimneys, Reindeer and my annual dose of 'Arthur Christmas' (they STILL haven't released the game!)

Toodle pip!

'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.

'Wilde Winter Songbook'

I used to fancy Kim Wilde like mad when I was at school! I liked most of her records as well until the late 80's and then I kind of just stopped listening to her... Well, I am glad to say that Kim IS still making records and has a new festive collection of songs out on Nov 4th entitled 'Wilde Winter Songbook'. I love the cover and listening to the snippets on Amazon.com it sounds like there are some nice Christmas gems amongst the tracks. I'm not convinced so far by the more 'obvious' material like the duet with Rick Astley ('Winter Wonderland') but new songs like 'Hope' and 'New Life' sound great and I also like the jaunty kind of 1950's american Christmas sounding 'Hey Mr Snowman'. All in all its good to catch up again with Kim and I still wouldn't mind if she turned up in my Christmas stocking!